The Ford Football Ferns have confirmed they will be facing the Matildas (FIFA rank 15) for a two-match series in Australia this November. 

The first game against the Ferns’ trans-Tasman rivals will be played in Gosford, New South Wales, on Friday 28 November at polytec Stadium, kicking off at 9:30pm NZT (7:30pm AEDT).

Details of the second game will be confirmed in due course. 

The Ford Football Ferns have faced Australia over 50 times, more than any other opponent in the team’s history. 

November’s matches against Australia complete the Ford Football Ferns’ 2025 schedule, following October’s games against Mexico (two) and the USA (one), as head coach Michael Mayne continues to develop and test his side ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 Oceania Qualifiers, which begin in 2026.

The Ferns will kick off the new year in Honiara, Solomon Islands, in the Oceania Qualifiers group stage, facing Samoa, Solomon Islands, and one team still to be confirmed. 

The top two sides from each of the two groups will advance to the semi-finals and final, to be held in April in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Ford Football Ferns head coach Michael Mayne said:

“These are two really good, challenging games to end 2025 and continue our preparation as we build towards FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 qualifying. 

“As every Kiwi knows, there is something special about facing Australia, so I know the team can’t wait to test ourselves against the Matildas, a team lots of the squad have close connections with but come November a team we very much want to get a result against.”

Watch all Ford Football Ferns games live and free on FIFA+. 

Ford Football Ferns Match Schedule:

24 October 2025 KO 3pm NZT (23 October 2025 KO 8pm local)
Ford Football Ferns vs Mexico 
Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes, Mexico City, Mexico

27 October 2025 KO 12pm NZT (26 October 2025 KO 5pm local)
Ford Football Ferns vs Mexico 
Estadio Olímpico Benito Juáre, Ciudad Juárez, Mexico

30 October 2025 KO 1pm NZT (29 October 2025 KO 7pm local)
Ford Football Ferns vs USA 
CPKC Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri, USA

28 November 2025 KO 9:30pm NZT (28 November 2025 KO 7:30pm local)
Ford Football Ferns vs Australia
polytec Stadium, Gosford, NSW, Australia

TBC
Ford Football Ferns vs Australia
TBC, Australia

27 February 2026 KO 3pm NZT (27 February 2026 KO 1pm local)
Ford Football Ferns vs Samoa 
National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands

2 March 2026 KO 7pm NZT (2 March 2026 KO 5pm local)
Ford Football Ferns vs Solomon Islands 
National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands

5 March 2026 KO 3pm NZT (5 March 2026 KO 1pm local)
Ford Football Ferns vs OFC Qualifier
National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands

IF QUALIFIED:

11 April 2026 KO TBC NZT
Oceania Qualifiers Semi-Final
Aotearoa New Zealand

14 April 2026 KO TBC NZT
Oceania Qualifiers Final
Aotearoa New Zealand

Article added: Tuesday 21 October 2025