Ford Football Ferns head coach Jitka Klimková has named a 26-player squad to take on the world champions the USA for the Ferns’ first home games of 2023. 

The Ford Football Ferns play the USA in Aotearoa New Zealand for the first time-ever in a two-game series this month. The first game is on Wednesday 18 January at Sky Stadium, Wellington / Te Whanganui-A-Tara, and the second on Saturday 21 January at Eden Park, Auckland / Tāmaki Makaurau. This will also be the first time senior women’s international football is played at Eden Park. 

“This series takes place outside of an official FIFA window, meaning some squad members were not released by their clubs, some members will join later and others will need to depart the team early. It opens an opportunity to revisit players who are not with us regularly, look at a few new players as well as continue to make progress towards peaking in July,” says Klimkova.

“We are grateful to the clubs for collaboration with us and allowing many of our players to be involved. The games will be a great opportunity for the football community to see their Football Ferns and the current world champions just six months before the women’s world cup,” she says.    

Amongst the first time Ferns call ups are inaugural National League Championship winning duo Tayla O’Brien and Deven Jackson from Eastern Suburbs, Canterbury United Pride stalwart Rebecca Lake. Grace Neville, who has previously been a Ford Football Ferns training player, and goalkeeper Murphy Sheaff, who played all three group games in the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup 2022 becomes the latest Junior Football Fern to make the step up to the senior side.

Ford Football Ferns squad for USA series (Name; Club or College/Country; Caps/Goals)

Lily Alfeld; Wellington Phoenix FC, NZ (0/0)

Elizabeth Anton; Perth Glory, Australia (15/0) 

Mackenzie Barry; Wellington Phoenix FC, NZ (3/0)

Hannah Blake; University of Michigan, USA (6/0)

Olivia Chance; Celtic FC, Scotland (37/2)

Daisy Cleverley; HB Køge, Denmark (24/2)

Ava Collins; St John's University, USA (7/0)

Anna Green; Sydney FC, Australia (80/8)

Ally Green; Vålerenga, Norway (2/0)

Jacqui Hand; Åland United, Finland (10/1)

Betsy Hassett; Wellington Phoenix FC, NZ (137/14)^ 

Deven Jackson; Eastern Suburbs AFC, NZ (0/0)* 

Grace Jale; Canberra United, Australia (10/2) 

Aniela Jensen; University of the Pacific, USA (0/0)

Rebecca Lake; Canterbury United Pride, NZ (0/0)*  

Erin Nayler; IFK Norrköping, Sweden (78/0)

Grace Neville; London City Lionesses, England (0/0)*^  

Tayla O’Brien; Eastern Suburbs AFC, NZ (0/0)* 

Jana Radosavljevic; DSC Arminia Bielefeld, Germany (3/0)

Gabi Rennie; Arizona State University, USA (18/2)

Ali Riley; Angel City FC, USA (147/2)

Emma Rolston; Wellington Phoenix FC, NZ (14/6)

Paige Satchell; Wellington Phoenix FC, NZ (35/2)

Murphy Sheaff; Jacksonville University, USA (0/0)*  

Ashleigh Ward; Southampton FC, England (2/0)

Grace Wisnewski; Wellington Phoenix FC, NZ (0/0)

* Debut squad
^ Available only for the 18 January game


Ford Football Ferns vs USA two-game series details:

Wednesday 18 January, 2023
Sky Stadium, Wellington / Te Whanganui-A-Tara
4.05 pm kick off NZT

Saturday 21 January, 2023
Eden Park, Auckland / Tāmaki Makaurau
4.05 pm kick off NZT

Adult tickets are $20, kids $5. 

Book now from ticketek.co.nz

Article added: Friday 06 January 2023