Our Legacy


A fitting legacy of co-hosting FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 will be the enduring impact on our game and diverse communities in the years that follow the tournament. Legacy Starts Now reflects the drive, innovation, and commitment to elevating the spirit and power of wāhine, girls and women.

This plan has been developed through meaningful collaboration with the six federations, Māori Football Aotearoa, Oceania Football Confederation, New Zealand Football Stakeholders, the NZ Government, and the wider football community. Legacy Starts Now is by football, for football, for all.

Our Vision​​​​​​​


Legacy starts now.

Co-hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 offers an unprecedented opportunity to supercharge football in Aotearoa New Zealand for everyone. We will deliver opportunities, experiences, and development pathways, and build and strengthen partnerships through being bigger, better and bolder.

Our Game Plan


Our game plan inspires, strives for excellence, is innovative and is an investment in our girls and women while standing proud and united in New Zealand.

It outlines how we as football in New Zealand, and our partners, will collectively bring our vision to life and celebrate the powerful impact of having FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in our backyard.


Latest News

Grounding Principles

This plan is grounded in the following two principles to signify a commitment to both the people and the land of Aotearoa New Zealand:

​​​​​​​

1. Mana Wāhine

Elevating the spirit and mana of wāhine, girls and women.


2. Tūrangawaewae

A place to stand - our place of belonging.

Our foundation, our place in the world, our home.

Strategic Pillars | Pou

Power of
​​​​​​​Opportunities
​​​​​​​Whakamana

Leading the way by breaking barriers
​​​​​​​

Our Vision
​​​​​​​We will be bigger, better, and bolder by inspiring our wāhine, girls and women to be the best they can be, and by investing in future leaders of our game.
​​​​​​​

Our Game Plan

A professional pathway is a reality for our elite female players to stay and perform at home in Aotearoa.

Heroes are present and visible, hope is created for all New Zealanders, success is celebrated at all levels of our game and our wāhine, girls and women have meaningful choices and opportunities.

Development programmes are accessible, inclusive, and the impact is felt within our diverse communities and football whānau.

Leadership, governance, and management of our game reflects Aotearoa New Zealand’s demographic make up.

Pathways​​​​​​​
Ara​​​​​​​

Paving the way for future generations
​​​​​​​

Our Vision
We will be bold in our commitment to our future, and better in our celebrations of our achievements across all levels of our game.
​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​

Our Game Plan

Our Football Ferns are visible and proudly connected to our country.

More wāhine as National League coaches and referees and administrators.

Clubs are supported and our future leaders have opportunities to lead and influence their clubs and communities.

Support for players preparing for life after high performance football.

Clear game and competition formats drive quality experiences for wāhine, girls and women.

​​​​​​​

Partnerships
​​​​​​​Mana Ngātahi
​​​​​​​

Growing the game through meaningful relationships​​​​​

Our Vision

We will be bigger, better, and bolder in building, growing and nurturing meaningful partnerships in Aotearoa New Zealand and across the Oceania confederation.
​​​​​​​

Our Game Plan

More Māori having positive experiences and making meaningful connections throughout the game.

Strong and meaningful partnerships developed with Māori, and organisations across Aotearoa representing diverse communities.

New Zealand Football and Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) working collaboratively and collectively to achieve shared vision and greater outcomes for football across the region.

Strategic and commercial partners purposefully aligned to support women’s football.
​​​​​​​

People and Places
Tiaki
​​​​​​​

A game for all and a place of connection
​​​​​​​

Our Vision

​​​​​​​We will be bigger, better and bolder in connecting our people and communities and improving our places.​​​​
​​​

Our Game Plan

Our membership represents the diversity of New Zealand.

Accessible and equitable gender-neutral facilities are available across Aotearoa.

Safe spaces for all forms of play are accessible and affordable.

Clubs are inclusive and treat all people equally regardless of gender.

Every school and kura is supported to experience football and futsal.

Our communities are proactive around safeguarding practices for our children, young people and vulnerable adults.
​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​

Where will Aotearoa United take you?

What is the meaning behind the brand?

Interested in reading more?