Both of New Zealand’s national futsal teams, the Ford Futsal Ferns and the Futsal Whites, will travel to Lingwu, China this April to feature in the CFA International Futsal Tournament, hosted from April 8th - 13th.

They will both play three international fixtures at Lingwu Sports Centre in their first international activity of 2026.

These matches are the first for the Ford Futsal Ferns after their involvement in the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup held in the Philippines last year. They face (FIFA Rank 15) China across all three matches.

The Futsal Whites will take on European opposition in (FIFA Rank 29) the Netherlands as well as the host nation (FIFA Rank 88) China, with a third opponent set to be confirmed prior to the tournament commencing. 

Ford Futsal Ferns Head Coach Nic Downes has named a squad featuring nine players that represented New Zealand in last year’s FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup, alongside three debutants who have impressed in the Ford Futsal SuperLeague this season.

FORD FUTSAL FERNS SQUAD | CFA International Women’s Futsal Tournament

*Indicates a debut Ford Futsal Ferns callup

Shivanthi Anthony | Bloomsbury Futsal, England
Alosi Bloomfield | Papakura City FC, NZ
Libby Boobyer | Capital Futsal, NZ
Jordana Bremner | Papakura City FC, NZ
Jamie Evans | Waikato Rapids, NZ
Hannah Hegarty | Canterbury United Futsal Pride, NZ
Ella James | Capital Futsal, NZ
*Molly Judd | Capital Futsal, NZ
Hannah Kraakman | Bloomsbury Futsal, England
Britney-Lee NIcholson | Canterbury United Futsal Pride, NZ
*Pepi Olliver-Bell | Capital Futsal, NZ
Sydney Sparks | Papakura City FC, NZ
*Ashley Vincent | BOP Surge, NZ

Futsal Whites Head Coach Marvin Eakins has named an exciting squad, with every player having experience on the international stage, and seven of the fourteen featuring at the FIFA Futsal Men’s World Cup in 2024.

FUTSAL WHITES SQUAD | CFA International Men’s Futsal Tournament

Mike Antamanov | Auckland City FC, NZ
Sean Beresford | SSV Jahn Regensburg, Germany
Jordi Ditfort | Waikato Rapids, NZ
Phil Fatialofa | Capital Futsal, NZ
Hamish Grey | Zambu CFS Pinatar, Spain
Hemi Innes | UTS Northside Futsal Club, Australia
Dylan Manickum | Auckland City FC, NZ
Ethan Martin | ZVV Kroeven, Netherlands
Adam Paulsen | Auckland City FC, NZ
Matthew Peden | Grifoni Futsal Team, Italy
Thomas Picken | Bloomsbury Futsal, England
Casey Sharplin | Waikato Rapids, NZ
En Watanabe | Capital Futsal, NZ
Cooper Wink | Waikato Rapids, NZ

CFA INTERNATIONAL FUTSAL TOURNAMENT MATCH SCHEDULE

Ford Futsal Ferns v China

8th April, 7:30pm local time | 9th April, 12:30am NZT

10th April, 7:30pm local time | 11th April, 12:30am NZT

12th April, 7:30pm local time | 13th April, 12:30am NZT
 

Futsal Whites v Netherlands

9th April, 4:30pm local time | 9th April 9:30pm NZT

Futsal Whites v TBD

11th April, 4:30pm local time | 11th April. 9:30pm NZT

Futsal Whites v China

13th April, 7:30pm local time | 14th April, 12:30am NZT

Select matches at the CFA International Futsal Tournament are set to be broadcast by the CFA with details to follow on how to watch the matches.

Article added: Tuesday 17 March 2026