Women’s World Cup 2023: Everything you need to know about New Zealand

New Zealand World Cup 2023 fixtures, betting odds and statistics

[STATISTICS]

You can read all about Norway, Philippines and Switzerland by clicking on their names here.

How did New Zealand qualify?

New Zealand have qualified as co-hosts.

New Zealand’s major tournament record

World Cup

Best World Cup result: Group stage- 2007, 2011, 2015 & 2019.

OFC Nations Cup

Best OFC Nations Cup result: Winners- 1983, 1991, 2007, 2010, 2014 & 2018.

AFC Asia Cup

Best AFC Asia Cup result: Winners- 1975.

Olympic Games

Best Olympics result: Quarter-finals- 2012.

New Zealand at World Cup 2023

(Alamy Stock Photo)

The Football Ferns are familiar faces at major international tournaments, having featured at all four World Cups and all four Olympics since 2007.

However, they’ve only ever gone beyond the group stages once, this coming in 2012 when they beat Cameroon, advancing as a best-ranked third-place team, before losing to USA in the Olympic quarter-finals.

At the World Cup, New Zealand have never so much as won a match, accumulating a measly three draws from 15 fixtures to date.

Four years ago, in France, they lost all three matches and scored just one goal, which was an own goal, heading home following defeats at the hands of Netherlands, Canada and Cameroon.

Now led by Jitka Klimková, this team are desperate to make history.

Recent friendly results suggest they’ll face an uphill battle as, in 2023 alone, they’ve lost twice to USA, twice to Argentina, once to Portugal and once to Nigeria, conceding 20 goals and scoring zero in these matches.

They did hold Iceland to a 1-1 draw in April, Hannah Wilkinson the scorer of their only goal of the year so far, but that merely provides a singular straw upon which to clutch.

As co-hosts, New Zealand will feature in the tournament’s opening match on 20 July, facing former world champions Norway in front of 50,000 supporters at Eden Park in Auckland.

After that extremely tough challenge, they’ll take on debutants Philippines in Wellington before meeting Switzerland down in Dunedin.

Given that Norway are favourites to top the group, and Philippines are rank-outsiders, that last game is likely to determine if New Zealand reach the knockout phase for the very first time, or bow out earlier as usual.

New Zealand team news

Meikayla Moore, Kate Taylor and Ava Collins were all in the provisional squad but did not make the cut.

New Zealand′s key players: Ali Riley

(Alamy Stock Photo)

New Zealand’s second-most capped player of all-time, 12 short of Ria Percival’s national record, captain Ali Riley remains a key defender, even at the age of 35.

Riley started all three matches at the 2007 World Cup, doing so as a teenager, and will feature at a fifth World Cup this summer, something only eight women have achieved to date.

At club level, she spent six years at Rosengård in Sweden, winning nine major trophy, enjoyed very brief spells at Chelsea and Bayern Munich before returning stateside, joining NWSL expansion club Angel City FC in 2022.

So far in 2023, Riley has featured in all 15 of Angel City’s matches, used as a full-back on both sides, highlighting her versatility.

Despite her age, she’s still playing week in, week out in the strongest women’s league on the planet, something many of her teammates cannot claim.

New Zealand′s key players: Betsy Hassett

(Alamy Stock Photo)

Another veteran of this team is Betsy Hassett, who’ll be looking to add to her tally of over 140 caps at this tournament.

The winger scored a brace in the 2018 OFC Nations Cup Final against Fiji and was one of just two Kiwis to score at the most-recent Olympic Games, netting in a 6-1 drubbing at the hands of the United States.

Now, in what’ll surely be here last tournament, the 32 year old will be desperate for her first-ever World Cup goal.

At club level, Hassett won the FAWSL title in 2014 with Manchester City, as well as a league and cup double at Ajax three years later, before a spell in Iceland with Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur and then Stjarnan.

Since last summer, she’s return home, joining A-League outfit Wellington Phoenix, for whom she’s scored just two goals in 15 appearances, both coming in a 5-0 win over Canberra United in January.

Nevertheless, as the second-top scorer in this squad, Hassett remains a key player for her national team.

New Zealand′s key players: Hannah Wilkinson

(Alamy Stock Photo)

If New Zealand are going to spring a surprise in this tournament, it’s likely going to be thanks to Hannah Wilkinson’s goals.

To date, she’s scored 27 goals for her country, needing eight more to leapfrog Wendy Sharpe and Sarah Gregorius on the all-time list, still 27 short of Amber Hearn’s national record.

Wilkinson is though the only Kiwi to score at multiple World Cups, netting a 94th minute equaliser against Mexico in 2011 and then another equaliser against China four years later, also to salvage a 2-2 draw.

The 31 year old striker bounced around clubs in Europe, featuring for Vittsjö GIK, Sporting CP, Djurgården and MSV Duisburg before moving Down Under in 2021, signing for Melbourne City.

With the A-League club, Wilkinson has scored 20 goals in 28 appearances, bagging a stoppage time equaliser in her most-recent club match, with City losing the subsequent penalty shootout to rivals Melbourne Victory.

At this tournament, as has been the case for 13 years, the Football Ferns can rely on Wilkinson’s goals.

New Zealand′s possible starting line-up for World Cup 2023

New Zealand′s full squad for World Cup 2023

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Group A table