Junior Football Ferns face World Cup hosts in Miyagi

The Junior Football Ferns will play FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup hosts Japan in Miyagi, the area devastated by last year’s earthquake and tsunami.

Junior Football Ferns coach Aaron McFarland (centre left) with rival Group A coaches. FIFA via Getty Images.

June 5, 2012

AUCKLAND – The Junior Football Ferns will play FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup hosts Japan in Miyagi, the area devastated by last year’s earthquake and tsunami.

Following last night’s draw for the 16 nation tournament in Tokyo, New Zealand will play the opening match of the tournament against Switzerland in Miyagi Stadium on August 19, face the hosts three days later before moving to Kobe to play Mexico on August 26.

New Zealand coach Aaron McFarland said Japan’s win at the senior FIFA Women’s World Cup and the close relations forged through disasters in both countries made it an honour to play the hosts.

“We are very excited to be playing the host nation in this time of great momentum for football in Japan,” McFarland said.

“To be able to play in Miyagi also means a lot to our country as that area suffered, as we did, from an earthquake in the past two years.”

Japan are among the favourites to win the tournament, but the draw has seen New Zealand avoid fellow heavyweights Brazil, Germany, USA and the two Koreas.

The top two from each of the four pools qualify for the quarterfinals.

FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Japan 2012
August 19 – September 8

Draw
Group A: Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Switzerland
Group B: Brazil, Italy, Nigeria, Korea Republic
Group C: Korea DPR, Norway, Argentina, Canada
Group D: Ghana, USA, Germany, China

New Zealand schedule

New Zealand v Switzerland
Miyagi Stadium, Miyagi
August 19
4.20pm (7.20pm NZT)

New Zealand v Japan
Miyagi Stadium, Miyagi
August 22
7.20pm (10.20pm NZT)

New Zealand v Mexico
Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium, Kobe
August 26
7.20pm (10.20pm NZT)