Football Ferns squad named for Olympic Games in Paris

An 18-player squad has been named to represent New Zealand in the women’s football tournament at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

The squad features 10 players who will be part of an Olympic campaign for the first time.

Omitted from the squad are three players who took part in the recent two-match series against Japan — Daisy Cleverley, Grace Neville and Hannah Wilkinson.

Three more from the squad to face Japan are travelling reserves for the Olympic team — Claudia Bunge, Michaela Foster and Murphy Sheaff — while 133-cap midfielder Annalie Longo is also a reserve.

Head coach Michael Mayne said: “Paris 2024 is a pinnacle event, and I am excited to get to France, assemble the team, and get to work.

“I am clear on the outcomes we want to achieve, and we will be doing all we can to collectively accomplish those goals

“With this tournament having smaller squads than something like the FIFA Women’s World Cup, we have had to make some tough decisions, but through our selection process, we have selected 18 players we believe can achieve the outcomes we want and are prepared for the challenges we will face.

“It is great to be able to give over half the squad their Olympic debuts, and I know it will be a proud moment for all of the players and staff to wear the fern in France.

“There is no doubt this can be a special event for us, and we will draw on the uniqueness of representing the entire New Zealand Olympic team to give us the edge we will need.”

READ MORE: Football Ferns to play friendly international against Zambia in mid-July >>>>

New Zealand squad

Player/caps/club

Mackenzie Barry* (16 caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, New Zealand
CJ Bott (46 caps) Leicester City, England
Katie Bowen (109 caps) Inter Milan, Italy
Milly Clegg* (8 caps) Racing Louisville, United States
Victoria Esson (23 caps) Rangers FC, Scotland
Macey Fraser* (5 caps) Utah Royals, United States
Ally Green (14 caps) AGF, Denmark
Jacqui Hand (27 caps) Lewes FC, England
Grace Jale* (31 caps) Unattached
Katie Kitching* (10 caps) Sunderland, England
Anna Leat (18 caps) Aston Villa, England
Meikayla Moore (65 caps) Glasgow City, Scotland
Gabi Rennie (37 caps) Åland United, Finland
Ali Riley (162 caps) Angel City, United States
Indiah-Paige Riley* (24 caps) PSV Vrouwen, Netherlands
Malia Steinmetz* (31 caps) FC Nordsjælland, Denmark
Rebekah Stott (102 caps) Melbourne City FC, Australia
Kate Taylor* (16 caps) Unattached

*Denotes first involvement in an Olympic campaign

Non-travelling reserves

Claudia Bunge (31 caps) HB Køge, Denmark
Michaela Foster (18 caps) Auckland United, New Zealand
Annalie Longo (133 caps) Cashmere Technical, New Zealand
Murphy Sheaff (0 caps) Kansas State University, United States

Olympic tournament

New Zealand will play Canada, France and Colombia in their group games at the tournament.

The groups

# indicates current FIFA world ranking

Olympic Games fixtures

Games to be played on Friday July 26, 2024 (NZT)

Canada v New Zealand
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, 3am (NZT)

France v Colombia
Stade de Lyon, Décines-Charpieu, 7am (NZT)

Games to be played on Monday July 29, 2024 (NZT)

New Zealand v Colombia
Stade de Lyon, Décines-Charpieu, 3am (NZT)

France v Canada
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, 7am (NZT)

Games to be played on Thursday August 1, 2024 (NZT)

New Zealand v France
Stade de Lyon, Décines-Charpieu, 7am (NZT)

Colombia v Canada
Stade de Nice, Nice, 7am (NZT)

This story was first published on July 4, 2024.

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