New Zealand Football is pleased to confirm the first instalment of international football to be played in Aotearoa New Zealand this year, as the Women’s U-20s get set to play Australia in Auckland.

They will play a training game on 12 June at Kiwitea Street, Sandringham, Auckland. A second training game will be played behind closed doors at a later date. As these are training games, they will not be livestreamed.

These games are an important part of the team’s preparations for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Costa Rica this August and beyond, says Junior Football Ferns head coach Gemma Lewis.

“We’re really pleased to be able to back up our time in Canberra back in April with the chance to play Australia at home,” she says.

“The more opportunities for games we can get for our players to experience international football and get more minutes at that level, the better for their development.

“Looking ahead to the World Cup in Costa Rica this is especially important as we’ll be coming up against teams from other confederations, like UEFA, who have greater access to international football as they prepare for the World Cup.

“Obviously it’s good preparation for us going into the World Cup, but even going beyond this year’s tournaments it’s great that we’re building a relationship with Australia and getting these opportunities for our age group players.”

Lewis is also pleased to confirm her squad for the games, which includes five-cap Ford Football Fern Ava Collins for the first time, as well as a number of players who played in the 2021/22 A-League Women’s season.

“We want to make sure we’re giving people the chance to experience the environment and the opportunity to maximise international minutes ahead of the World Cup,” she says.

The Junior Football Ferns last played Australia U-20s in a two-game series in April in Canberra, Australia, losing the first game 5-1 and drawing the second game 1-1. This also marks the first time the two U-20 sides have played each other in Auckland since 2013.

The Junior Football Ferns’ FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Costa Rica 2022 campaign kicks off on Wednesday 10 August local time against Mexico. They will then play Germany and Colombia on Saturday 13 August and Tuesday 16 August (local times) respectively.

Match details

Junior Football Ferns vs Australia U-20s

Sunday 12 June, 2pm kick off
Kiwitea Street, Auckland
Open to the public free of charge

Junior Football Ferns Squad (player; club/university):

Alina Santos; PN Marist FC (NZ)
Alyssa Whinham; A-League Off Season Programme (NZ)
Aniela Jensen; University of the Pacific (USA)
Ava Collins; St John’s University (USA)
Ava Pritchard; A-League Off Season Programme (NZ)
Brianna Edwards; Bankstown City Lions (AUS)
Charlotte Lancaster; A-League Off Season Programme (NZ)
Charlotte Wilford-Carroll; Eastern Suburbs AFC (NZ)
Chloe Bellamy; West Coast Rangers FC (NZ)
Ella Findlay; Eastern Suburbs AFC (NZ)
Emma Pijnenburg; Western Springs AFC (NZ)
Grace Wisnewski; A-League Off Season Programme (NZ)
Jana Niedermayr; Eastern Suburbs AFC (NZ)
Kate Duncan; Auckland United FC (NZ)
Kate Taylor; A-League Off Season Programme (NZ)
Macey Fraser; Wellington Phoenix Academy (NZ)
Marisa van der Meer; A-League Off Season Programme (NZ)
Milly Clegg; Auckland United FC (NZ)
Murphy Sheaff; Jacksonville University (USA)
Ruby Nathan; Auckland United FC (NZ)
Rylee Godbold; Hamilton Wanderers (NZ)
Te Reremoana Walker; A-League Off Season Programme (NZ)
Tupelo Dugan; Arizona State University (USA)
Zoe McMeeken; A-League Off Season Programme (NZ)

Article added: Friday 03 June 2022