Jitka Klimková’s tenure as Football Ferns head coach will begin against Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallists Canada, with a two-game series confirmed for October 23 and 26 (Canada time).

“To play our first game against the Olympic champions is a great way to get started,” says Klimková.

“Even though there are many challenges to playing games at the moment, it is also a no-brainer. We want to play games, and we want to play games against the best – because this is what can make us better much quicker.”

“I’m excited to get the squad together, to get on the field and to get to work. This is the start of our campaign for our home World Cup.”

The games are an important first step for building towards the home World Cup in 2023, says New Zealand Football CEO Andrew Pragnell.

“Of course we’re delighted to have secured this series against Canada,” he says.

“Despite the challenges posed to international football by the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s vitally important that we are able to get Jitka and the squad together, and begin planning a route to success in 2023.

“Our expectation is that all future international windows for the Football Ferns will be filled, and filled with high quality opposition.

“The preparation for our opening game at Eden Park starts now, and opponents don’t get much higher quality than Olympic Gold medallists.”

Given the restrictions around New Zealand’s quarantine requirements, New Zealand Football can confirm that for this international window the squad and staff will be predominantly drawn from Europe and North America.

Canada is a familiar opponent to the Football Ferns, with the two sides having met 13 times in their history and been drawn against each other in the group stages of the 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cups and most recently playing each other in an invitational tournament in China in 2019. Aotearoa New Zealand and Canada also have FIFA Women’s World Cup hosting rights in common, with Canada hosting the 2015 edition of the tournament.

The Canadians feature record international goal scorer Christine Sinclair, while in the dugout is head coach Bev Priestman, who was at New Zealand Football from 2009-2013. During her time in Aotearoa Priestman rose through the ranks from head of women’s football to head of football (now the technical director role). She was heavily involved in developing the national strategy for women’s football and the Whole of Football plan (along with former Football Ferns head coach John Herdman, now Canada Men’s National Team head coach).

Game dates

23 October, 3:00 pm (Canada ET)/24 October, 8:00 am (NZT), Ottawa, Ontario (TD Place)

26 October, 7:30pm (Canada ET)/27 October, 12.30 pm (NZT), Montreal, Quebec (Stade Saputo)
 

Article added: Wednesday 29 September 2021