Leon Birnie has named a 21-player squad to represent the Young Football Ferns at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, to be played in India next month.

“We’re really pleased with the squad we’ve assembled for this World Cup,” says head coach Leon Birnie.

“This is a talented squad with good depth across all positions, and we’re really excited to see them make their mark on the world stage.”

There are two goals for the team this tournament, he says.

“Our purpose with this age group is to develop players and enable them to get experience against some of the best in the world in their age group,” he says. “This will help them to develop so that in the future they can make that step up to the U-20s and Ford Football Ferns.

“The second goal, that the players have identified for themselves, is to get out of the group and be the second ever New Zealand team to progress beyond the group stage at this tournament.”

Young Football Ferns FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup squad (club, home federation, school):

Aimee Danieli; Auckland United FC; NRF; Epsom Girls Grammar School

Alexis Cook; Northern Rovers FC ; NRF; Westlake Girls High School

Charlotte Eagle; Melville United AFC; WaiBoP; Hamilton Girls High

Charlotte Mortlock; Cashmere Technical ; Mainland; Burnside High School

Ella McMillan; Phoenix Academy; Capital; AUT

Ella McCann; FC Nelson; Mainland; Waimea College

Emily (Milly) Clegg; Auckland United FC; NRF; Mount Albert Grammar

Helena Errington; Western Suburbs; Capital; Wellington Girls College

Kiara Bercelli; Alamein FC; Mainland; Te Kura

Lara Smith; Wellington United; Capital; Wellington Girls College

Lara Colpi; Western Springs AFC; NRF; Epsom Girls Grammar School

Madeleine Iro; Cashmere Technical; Mainland; Christchurch Girls High School

Manaia Elliott; Melville United AFC; WaiBoP; St Peters Cambridge

Marie Green; Ellerslie AFC; NRF; Baradene College

Megan Simpson ; Nomads United AFC; Mainland; St Andrews College

Olivia Ingham; Phoenix Academy; Capital; Onslow College

Olivia Page; Eastern Suburbs AFC; NRF; Baradene College

Rebekah Trewhitt; PN Marist FC; Central; St Peters College PN

Ruby Nathan; Auckland United FC; NRF; Baradene College

Suya Hearing; Northern Rovers FC; NRF; Rangitoto College

Zoe Benson; Eastern Suburbs AFC; NRF; Macleans College

Two of the team played in August’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica - Auckland United duo Milly Clegg and Ruby Nathan. Birnie is pleased with the experience that they will bring to the Young Football Ferns group.

“We’ll be calling on the experiences these two had in Costa Rica, especially ahead of the team’s first game against Chile. For the rest of the team it will be their first experience of pulling on the Fern in a competitive fixture, which will be an incredible moment for them,” he says.

The team will be officially presented with their shirts tonight, and depart for India early tomorrow morning.

The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup takes place from 11-30 October in India this year, after the 2020 edition, which was also due to be held in India, was cancelled due to the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The Young Football Ferns were nominated to be Oceania Football Confederation’s representatives at this World Cup after the Oceania qualifiers could not take place due to the effects of the pandemic. In the 2018 edition of the tournament the Young Football Ferns created history when they were the first New Zealand national team to medal at a FIFA event, winning the bronze medal.

The Young Football Ferns are drawn in Group B, where they will take on Germany, Nigeria and Chile. The Young Football Ferns games will be broadcast on Sky Sport NZ.

Group B Match details

11 October, 4.30pm KO local time

v Chile

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium

14 October, 4.30pm KO local time

v Nigeria

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium

17 October, 4.30pm KO local time

v Germany

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium

Article added: Thursday 29 September 2022