The women’s U-20 squad has been announced for the two-match series against Australia’s U-20 team in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, starting this week, as they build toward the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2024.

The first match will take place on Thursday 11 July, kicking off at 2:30pm at Jerry Collins Stadium, and will be open to the public to watch for free as well as broadcast live on FIFA+.  

The second match will take place on Sunday 14 July, also kicking off at 2:30pm, but will be played behind closed doors at NZCIS to aid both teams' preparation for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. 

The 26-player squad features 16 players based in Aotearoa New Zealand and 10 playing overseas in Australia, England, Germany Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland and the USA. 

The full squad is:

Jasmine Barney - Nelson Suburbs, New Zealand
Amber Bennett - Cashmere Technical, New Zealand
Zoe Benson - Eastern Suburbs, New Zealand
Kiara Bercelli - U.C. Sampdoria, Italy
Daisy Brazendale - Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Lara Colpi - BSC Young Boys, Switzerland
Alexis Cook - Auckland United, New Zealand
Aimee Danieli - Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Charlotte Eagle - Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Manaia Elliott - Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Helena Errington - Bentleigh Greens SC, Australia
Ella Findlay - Eastern Suburbs, New Zealand
Marie Green - Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Suya Haering - FFC Turbine Potsdam, Germany
Olivia Ingham - Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Madeleine Iro - NC Fusion, USA
Juliette Lucas - Chattanooga FC, USA
Ella McCann - Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Zoe McMeeken - Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Ella McMillan - Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Charlotte Morlock - Northern Tigers, Australia
Ruby Nathan - Auckland United, New Zealand
Olivia Page - Sheffield United, England
Emma Pijnenburg - Feyenoord, Netherlands
Phoebe Riley - Northern Tigers, Australia
Rebekah Trewhitt - Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand

On announcing the fixtures, head coach Leon Birnie said: 

"it's excellent to confirm these matches as part of our ongoing preparations for Colombia. 

"Australia should be a good test for us and it will be great for the team to be able to play in front of a home crowd, so we look forward to seeing the people of Wellington at the game.” 

Aotearoa New Zealand have been drawn in Group E at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2024 alongside Austria, Ghana and Japan.  

They will kick off against Japan on 3 September (NZT), before facing Austria on 6 September (NZT) and Ghana on 9 September (NZT).   

MATCH DETAILS 

International Friendlies:

New Zealand vs Australia
11 July 2024 [NZT]
KO 2:30pm
Jerry Collins Stadium, Wellington
Open to the public

New Zealand vs Australia
14 July 2024 [NZT]
KO 2:30pm
NZCIS, Wellington
Behind closed doors

FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2024 – Group E Fixtures:

Japan vs New Zealand
2 September 2024 [local] / 3 September 2024 [NZT]
KO 8pm [local] / 1pm [NZT]
Estadio El Techo, Bogotá, Colombia 

Austria vs New Zealand
5 September 2024 [local] / 6 September 2024 [NZT]
KO 8pm [local] / 1pm [NZT]
Estadio El Techo, Bogotá, Colombia 

New Zealand vs Ghana
8 September 2024 [local] / 9 September 2024 [NZT]
KO 6pm [local] / 11am [NZT]
Estadio Pascual Guerrero, Cali, Colombia

Article added: Monday 08 July 2024