The Ford Football Ferns continue preparations for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 with games against Mexico and the Philippines in Los Angeles for the FIFA September international window.

The Ferns will play Mexico on 2 September, 4pm KO (local time) at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, and the Philippines on 6 September, 5pm KO (local time) at Titan Stadium, Cal State Fullerton.

With an eye on the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 draw in October, when the Ferns will discover their group opponents for next year’s tournament, these games offer the team an important opportunity to continue preparing against a range of styles of play says Ford Football Ferns head coach Jitka Klimková.

“Mexico have a good balance between possession and transition, and are very organized in defence,” she says.

“They are very technical, creative, and good on the flanks with their combinations. On attack they’re always looking to put the crosses into the opposition box, so we will be prepared for how we know Mexico has historically played,” she says.

“I know they had tough time at the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship and didn't get the results they were after, but Mexico is a team that can surprise anybody.”

This will be the first time the Ferns have played the Philippines, a team that has enjoyed a rapid ascent in recent years, and in July this year won the AFF Women’s Championship – their first international trophy.

“Philippines play a little bit differently – they don’t have a traditional style of play like South Korea, Japan or China. We will study them and prepare our players to respond to the challenge,” Klimková notes.

Currently number 53 on FIFA’s rankings (their highest ranking to date), the Filipinas sealed qualification for their first FIFA Women’s World Cup in February this year after reaching the semi-finals of the AFC Women’s Cup. Led by former Matildas head coach Alen Stajcic the youthful squad had an average age of 24 for the AFF Women’s Championship. The majority of their players from that tournament are spread throughout the US and Europe, with several playing in the Philippines.

The Ferns have played FIFA ranked 36 side Mexico four times, with their first clash played at the 2011 Cyprus Cup.

The most memorable moment between the two sides came at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup, when a 19-year-old Hannah Wilkinson scored a dramatic equaliser in the fourth minute of stoppage time to deny the Central Americans their first FIFA Women’s World Cup win.

More recently, the Ford Football Ferns beat Mexico 2-1 in a behind closed doors friendly as part of the build up to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, thanks to goals from Rosie White and Sarah Gregorius. Overall, the Ferns have a record of one win, one draw and two losses against Mexico.

Match schedule for September FIFA window

V Mexico

2 September, 4pm KO LA time/3 September, 11am KO NZT, Dignity Health Sports Park
 

V Philippines

6 September, 5pm KO LA time/7 September, 12pm KO NZT, Titan Stadium, Cal State Fullerton

Article added: Tuesday 23 August 2022