Football is the biggest team participation sport in Aotearoa New Zealand, according to Sport NZ’s Active NZ Participation Survey, with over 170,000 players registered to play in 2024. 

142,000 players took part in New Zealand Football football and futsal programmes this year, a 6% growth from 2023, with an estimated 30,000 players also playing through New Zealand Secondary Schools. 

Girls and women’s participation has exploded following the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, with 27% growth since 2022 for players in New Zealand Football programmes, supported by legacy initiatives from the tournament to create more opportunities to experience the game. 

There has also been a significant growth in participation from under-represented ethnicities, with Māori, Pasifika, and Asian players up 14% from 2023. 

Alongside players, refereeing has also seen a major increase, with 44% more community referees picking up the whistle in the last 12 months. 

New Zealand Football CEO Andrew Pragnell said:

“The growth of football and futsal in Aotearoa New Zealand in the last few years is enormous, but the FIFA Women’s World Cup really has had a significant impact, which is exactly what you want to see as a result of a mega event being hosted here. 

“It is really encouraging to see a large growth in girls and women’s players, as well as for under-represented ethnicities, but we don’t want to sit still in this area, there is always more we can do and already have in motion. 

“It is really important that we recognise so much of this success should be attributed to the brilliant mahi of the thousands of volunteers across the country who make the game possible, everyone involved in football and futsal should be proud of their efforts. 

"With Kiwi players performing at the top level of the sport, a full programme for our national teams including the FIFA World Cup qualifier finals hosted in New Zealand next March, the continued success of Wellington Phoenix, the major impact of Auckland FC, and thousands of players playing across the country every week, football is only going in one direction and everyone should be excited about where the game is headed"

Article added: Wednesday 18 December 2024