Members of the Football Ferns have shared their thoughts on their campaign to reach next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
In the lead-up to Wednesday’s Oceania qualifiers final against Papua New Guinea, members of the squad met the media to talk about the game at Auckland’s North Harbour Stadium.
Kate Taylor
Captain Kate Taylor says leadership among the Football Ferns is playing a big part in their development as a team, with squad members being able to turn to teammates for support.
Taylor and head coach Michael Mayne attended a media briefing in Auckland.
Here are Taylor’s comments on the importance of the game and the role leadership is playing within the squad.
Rebekah Stott
Defender Rebekah Stott says the team has some ‘tweaking’ to do after their 5-0 semi-final defeat to Fiji in Hamilton.
Here’s her interview with NZ Football’s media team:
Gabi Rennie
Forward Gabi Rennie says being part of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign was the “pinnacle” of her footballing achievements.
Reaching another tournament would be “amazing”, she says in this interview with NZ Football.
Katie Kitching, Hannah Blake, Deven Jackson
Ferns Katie Kitching, Hannah Blake and Deven Jackson were the special guests on this week’s episode of football show The Unused Subs.
What’s at stake
The winners of Wednesday’s final will automatically qualify to represent Oceania at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The losers will go into an intercontinental play-off series to determine another qualifier for the Brazil tournament.
READ MORE: Three Ferns players injured ahead of FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifier final >>>>
Squads
New Zealand
(Player, caps/goals, club)
Goalkeepers
Victoria Esson (32/0), Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand
Alina Santos (3/0), University of Denver, United States
Defenders
Liz Anton (27/0), Canberra United, Australia
Claudia Bunge (41/1), Melbourne Victory, Australia
Michaela Foster (34/2), Durham FC, England
Ally Green (20/2), FC Copenhagen, Denmark
Meikayla Moore (77/4), Calgary Wild, Canada
Rebekah Stott (111/4), Melbourne City, Australia
Kate Taylor (31/3), Dijon FCO, France
Midfielders
Manaia Elliott (8/2)Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand
Maya Hahn (9/1), FC Viktoria Berlin, Germany
Deven Jackson (9/1), Melbourne City, Australia
Grace Jale (38/10), Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand
Katie Kitching (27/8), Sunderland AFC, England
Charlotte Lancaster (3/0), Newcastle Jets, Australia
Grace Wisnewski (7/0), FC Nordsjælland, Denmark
Forwards
Hannah Blake (11/4), Durham FC, England
Kelli Brown (12/5), Newcastle Jets, Australia
Milly Clegg (23/4), Vittsjö GIK, Sweden
Jacqui Hand (38/9), FC Basel, Switzerland
Gabi Rennie (46/2), Eskilstuna United DFF, Sweden
Withdrawn
Indiah-Paige Riley (37/9), Crystal Palace, England (injured)
Emma Pijnenburg (11/0), Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand (injured)
Pia Vlok (4/1), Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand (injured)
Head coach
Michael Mayne
Papua New Guinea
Goalkeepers
Betty Sam (Gk)
Emeliah Toks (Gk)
Leah Lou (Gk)
Defenders
Serah Waida
Anastasia Gunemba
Raynata Samuel
Olivia Upaupa
Yvonne Gabong
Gloria Laeli
Merolyne Sali
Grace Batiy
Salome Taboroyan
Midfielders
Ramona Padio
Mavis Singara
Michaelyn Butubu
Phillis Pala
Assaiso Gossie
Keren Samena Kalapai
Ginnimari Wambi
Forwards
Marie Kaipu
Calista Maneo
Nenny Elipas
Meagen Gunemba
Head coach
Ericson Komeng
Fixture
Game to be played on Wednesday April 15, 2026
Final
Papua New Guinea v New Zealand
North Harbour Stadium, Albany, Auckland, 7pm (NZT)
This story was first published on April 15, 2026.
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