Aotearoa New Zealand’s squad for the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup, taking place this November in the Philippines, has been named.

Head coach Nic Downes has selected 14 players, eight based domestically and six playing overseas in Australia, England, and Japan.

The full squad is:

Shivanthi Anthony – ASV Pescadola Machida, Japan
Alosi Bloomfield – Papakura City x NRF, New Zealand
Danielle Bradley – Melbourne AKU FC, Australia
Jordana Bremner – Papakura City x NRF, New Zealand
Jamie Evans – Waikato Rapids, New Zealand
Ellena Firth – Papakura City x NRF, New Zealand
Hannah Hegarty – Canterbury United Pride, New Zealand
Ella James – Papakura City x NRF, New Zealand
Hannah Kraakman – Bloomsbury Futsal, England
Dayna Manak – Bloomsbury Futsal, England
Britney-Lee Nicholson – Canterbury United Pride, New Zealand
Catherine Pretty – Bloomsbury Futsal, England
Jess Verdon – Papakura City x NRF, New Zealand
Sophie Williams – Melbourne AKU FC, Australia

The inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup features 16 teams: four from Asia (hosts Philippines, Iran, Japan and Thailand), four from Europe (Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain), three from South America (Argentina, Brazil and Colombia), two from Africa (Morocco and Tanzania), two from North America (Canada and Panama), and Aotearoa New Zealand from Oceania.

Aotearoa New Zealand qualified for the tournament by winning the 2024 OFC Futsal Women’s Nations Cup, defeating Fiji 7-1 in the final in the Solomon Islands.

The Futsal Ferns have been drawn in Group C alongside Japan, Portugal and Tanzania.

The team will start their campaign against Japan on 23 November, before facing Tanzania on 26 November and Portugal on 29 November.

All matches will be played at PhilSports Arena in the Manila Metropolitan Region.

All New Zealand games, as well as the semi-finals and finals, will be live and free on TVNZ. 

Prior to the start of the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup, the team will tour Thailand from 9–16 November as preparation for the tournament.

Article added: Thursday 06 November 2025