New Zealand Football is pleased to confirm that the Ford Football Ferns will continue their preparations for 2023 with an international friendly against former world champions Japan on 9 October 2022 at Nagano U Stadium, Nagano.

“It’s really important to secure a range of high-quality opposition in the lead up to the world cup, so we’re delighted to have this game against Japan locked in,” says Gareth Jennings, New Zealand Football General Manager of High Performance.

“With the draw for the World Cup confirmed for October, we’re focused on preparing the team for a range of potential opposition, and we know Japan will offer a great challenge for the Ferns in that they’re a very organised, technical team,” he says.

The Ford Football Ferns last played Japan in June 2018 at Sky Stadium in Wellington, going down 3-1, with Meikayla Moore scoring her debut Ford Football Ferns goal in the first half.

Nadeshiko Japan enjoyed much success in the 2010s. They won the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2011, and were finalists at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015 and Olympic silver medallists in 2012. They made the semi-finals of the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in February, going down to eventual winners China PR in a penalty shootout, having previously won the tournament in 2014 and 2018. They are one of the 10 teams to have so far qualified for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, and are currently 13 on FIFA’s global rankings.

Match details

Japan vs Ford Football Ferns
9 October, KO TBC
Nagano U Stadium, Nagano

Article added: Monday 20 June 2022