The Futsal Ferns are set to compete in the PFF Women’s Tri-Nation Futsal Invitational 2023 between October 18th - 22nd at Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila, Philippines.

New Zealand’s National Women’s Futsal team will play the Philippines and Indonesia in at least three matches during the tournament, the first full international fixtures for the Futsal Ferns since they last played against China in 2019.

PFF Women’s Tri-Nation Futsal Invitational 2023 Fixtures

4pm, October 18 (9pm NZT) | Indonesia vs New Zealand

6pm, October 19 (11pm NZT) | Philippines vs Indonesia

6pm, October 20 (11pm NZT) | New Zealand vs Philippines

4pm, October 21 (9pm NZT) | 2nd place vs 3rd place

4pm, October 22 (9pm NZT) | 1st place vs Winner (2nd v 3rd)

These matches mark the beginning of the Futsal Ferns’ preparations for the 2025 FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup. Following FIFA’s recent confirmation of dates and participating nations, the Futsal Ferns will have a chance to qualify for the inaugural competition through the one full qualification spot given to nations from the Oceania Football Federation. 

Details on the OFC qualification process are yet to be confirmed but will likely mirror the OFC Futsal Nations Cup format, which recently saw the New Zealand Men’s Futsal team, the Futsal Whites, earn a historic first qualification to the FIFA Futsal Men’s World Cup after winning the 2023 edition of the Oceania tournament earlier in October.

Futsal Fern’s Head Coach Nic Downes is excited to get started with the squad in preparing for the journey to qualifying for the 2025 FIFA Women's Futsal World Cup. 

"There is of course a huge amount of excitement. It's been far too long between games and the squad are all really looking forward to being back on court.

[The Women's Futsal World Cup] was the missing piece of the puzzle, in more ways than one. It gives us that end goal and creates opportunities where that hasn't been before. Now we can finally put our plans in place to build towards that event. 

It's a huge announcement, not just for us in New Zealand, but for all female futsal players around the world, current and future. To finally have the pinnacle event for the world's best to compete against each other is a wonderful thing.

We had some success on court here in NZ before we went to China in 2019. Those games against opposition outside of OFC were so valuable and that informed what we have done since then. These matches in the Philippines will be an opportunity to finally see where we are at now."

Downes has named an exciting squad featuring several players who have featured for the Futsal Ferns previously, as well as several new selections to the national environment.

Futsal Ferns squad to compete in the PFF Women’s Tri-Nation Futsal Invitational 2023

Sarah Alder | Capital Futsal, NZ | 3 Caps / 1 Goals

Shivanthi Anthony | Papakura City, NZ | 6 Caps / 2 Goals

Libby Boobyer | Capital Futsal, NZ | 0 Caps / 0 Goals*

Danielle Bradley | Melbourne Evolution FC, Australia | 3 Caps / 0 Goals

Jordana Bremner | Papakura City, NZ | 0 Caps / 0 Goals*

Maxine Cooper | Papakura City, NZ | 6 Caps / 6 Goals

Mackenzie Falco | Canterbury United Pride, NZ | 0 Caps / 0 Goals*

Emily Gillion  | Papakura City, NZ | 0 Caps / 0 Goals*

Francesca Grange | Bloomsbury Futsal, England | 3 Caps / 0 Goals

Ella James | Papakura City, NZ | 3 Caps / 2 Goals

Hannah Kraakman | Bloomsbury Futsal, England | 3 Caps / 5 Goals

Tessa Leong | Bloomsbury Futsal, England | 3 Caps / 0 Goals

Dayna Manak | Bloomsbury Futsal, England | 6 Caps / 4 Goals

Britney-Lee Nicholson | Canterbury United Pride, NZ | 6 Caps / 5 Goals

* Indicates their first Futsal Ferns’ call-up.

Nic Downes is encouraged by the depth of the squad, naming an impressive list of players plying their trade domestically and overseas.

"We've been able to develop a wider squad over the past couple of years in the absence of games and the level of competition to be part of this team was the highest it’s been yet. We have players playing their futsal outside of NZ who will bring a different kind of experience to the group, and we've some new faces who have performed consistently well across the domestic competitions."

The Futsal Ferns’ involvement in this tournament is significant as it marks the first time since 2019 that all of New Zealand’s National team programs are back competing in international matches.

The tournament will be livestreamed by the Phillippines Football Federation, with details on how to access these livestreams to be confirmed.

Following the Futsal Whites’ recent success in qualifying for the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup at the OFC Futsal Nations Cup, this is a hugely exciting time for futsal in New Zealand, with viable pathways to the global stage now available to the entire playing base.

Make sure you follow NZF Futsal on social media for updates and coverage of the Futsal Ferns.

Article added: Monday 09 October 2023