Football Ferns Set to Face USA in October Showdown

The Football Ferns will compete against the USA on October 30, 2025, in Kansas City. This match marks the first fixture for New Zealand during the October FIFA international window. The game will take place at the home ground of the Kansas City Current, a team in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), providing a significant challenge as they face the world’s second-ranked team and reigning Olympic champions.

This encounter will be the 22nd meeting between the two national teams at the senior international level. In their recent matches this year, the Football Ferns achieved a win and a draw against Costa Rica, along with a victory and a loss against Venezuela.

Strategic Growth and Future Goals

Head coach Michael Mayne expressed optimism about the team’s development. “Our strategy in the first half of 2025 was to use the initial international windows to really work on our playing style,” Mayne stated. “It has been great to see the players buy into that with some good success on the pitch.”

He emphasized the importance of challenging the team against top-tier opponents to assess their progress. “The USA are the ultimate test for that,” he added. With the FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign set to begin in February 2026, Mayne noted the urgency to refine their skills and performance.

“Our goal is not just to qualify for the tournament, but to perform well in it,” he explained. “We have made progress, but we know there is still work to do to ensure we achieve our goal of getting out of our group in Brazil in 2027.”

Upcoming Matches and Preparations

The Football Ferns will participate in both the October and November 2025 FIFA match windows, further preparing for the upcoming qualifiers. The finals for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 – Oceania Qualifiers are scheduled to take place in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland in April 2026, making this October match a critical part of their preparations.

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