Aotearoa New Zealand’s squad for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2025, set to begin this month in Rabat, Morocco, has been announced.

Head coach Alana Gunn has selected 21 players, 18 based domestically and three playing overseas in Australia, the Netherlands, and the USA.

Fourteen of the players named were part of Gunn’s side that won the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship 2024, the qualifying tournament for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2025.
 

The full squad is:

Mikaela Bangalan – Fencibles United (Sancta Maria College), New Zealand

Laura Bennett – Melville United (Rototuna Senior High School), New Zealand

Taylah Byers – Fencibles United (Botany Downs Secondary College), New Zealand

Sienna Candy – Wellington Phoenix (Wellington Girls’ College), New Zealand

Freya Des Fountain – Wellington Phoenix (Upper Hutt College), New Zealand

Heidi Draai – Heidelberg (Berwick College), Australia

Grace Duncan – Tauranga Moana (Otumoetai College), New Zealand

Nienke Lemmens – AZ Alkmaar (Willem Blaeu College), Netherlands

Charley March – Eastern Suburbs (Westlake Girls’ High School), New Zealand

Emma Meadows – Melville United (Hamilton Girls’ High School), New Zealand

Harriet Muller – Wellington Phoenix (New Plymouth Girls’ High School), New Zealand

Piper O’Neill – Auckland United (Mount Albert Grammar School), New Zealand

Katie Pugh – Wellington Phoenix (Queen Margaret College), New Zealand

Lane Ririnui – Tauranga Moana (Mount Maunganui College), New Zealand

Holly Robins – Wellington Phoenix (Newlands College), New Zealand

Kya Solomon – Wellington Phoenix (Samuel Marsden Collegiate), New Zealand

Keira Tichbon – San Diego Surf (Cathedral Catholic High School), USA

Pia Vlok – Wellington Phoenix (Mount Albert Grammar School), New Zealand

Ariana Vosper – Auckland United (Takapuna Grammar School), New Zealand

Taylor Vujnovich – West Coast Rangers (Massey High School), New Zealand

Natalie Young – Wellington Phoenix (Cambridge High School), New Zealand
 

“I’m really happy with the group we have assembled to go to Morocco and challenge ourselves at this level,” says head coach Alana Gunn.

“The core of this side was part of the qualifying campaign last year, so the players know each other well and have strong connections on and off the pitch, especially with many of those relationships being developed at club level as well.

“Across the group we have a good mix of players and experience levels, so we believe we are in a strong position for the tests we will face this month.”

Aotearoa New Zealand have been drawn in Group F at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2025 alongside 2014 champions Japan, Paraguay, and Zambia.

The team begin their campaign against Japan on 20 October NZT (KO 2am), before facing Paraguay on 23 October NZT (KO 8am), and Zambia on 26 October NZT (KO 8am).

All of the team’s matches will be played at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Rabat, Morocco.

Every match from the tournament will be available to watch live and free on FIFA+, with Aotearoa New Zealand’s games also available on TVNZ.

Article added: Thursday 02 October 2025