Head coach Leon Birnie has named his 21-player squad for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2024 in Colombia.
The squad features 13 players based in Aotearoa New Zealand and eight who play internationally in Australia, England, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United States.
Two players selected, Milly Clegg and Ruby Nathan, have been capped for the Ford Football Ferns, as well as three players, Aimee Danieli, Manaia Elliott, and Emma Pijnenburg, who have been called up to senior national team squads.
Sixteen of Birnie’s side for the 2024 tournament were part of his FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup team in 2022.
New Zealand squad
Amber Bennett (Cashmere Technical, Aotearoa New Zealand)
Zoe Benson (Eastern Suburbs, Aotearoa New Zealand)
Kiara Bercelli (U.C. Sampdoria, Italy)
Daisy Brazendale (Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand)
Milly Clegg (Racing Louisville, United States)
Lara Colpi (BSC Young Boys, Switzerland)
Aimee Danieli (Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand)
Manaia Elliott (Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand)
Helena Errington (Unattached)
Ella Findlay (Western Springs, Aotearoa New Zealand)
Marie Green (Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand)
Suya Haering (FFC Turbine Potsdam, Germany)
Olivia Ingham (Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand)
Maddie Iro (High Point University, United States)
Ella McCann (Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand)
Zoe McMeeken (Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand)
Ella McMillan (Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand)
Ruby Nathan (Canberra United, Australia)
Olivia Page (Sheffield United, England)
Emma Pijnenburg (Feyenoord Rotterdam, Netherlands)
Rebekah Trewhitt (Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand)
Head coach Leon Birnie said: “We believe this is a strong squad with a lot of experience both at age-group level and, for some of the players, of the senior and professional game.
“I have worked with a lot of these players for a number of years, so it is a privilege to be taking them to another FIFA event.
“All of the teams at the tournament are going to be strong, but we are excited about challenging ourselves at this level and proudly representing Aotearoa New Zealand on the global stage.”
Aotearoa New Zealand have been drawn in Group E at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2024 with Austria, Ghana and Japan.
The team will play Japan on September 3 (NZT), before facing Austria on September 6 (NZT) and Ghana on September 9 (NZT).
Tournament draw
Group A
- Colombia
- Australia
- Cameroon
- Mexico
Group B
- France
- Canada
- Brazil
- Fiji
Group C
- Spain
- United States
- Paraguay
- Morocco
Group D
- Germany
- Venezuela
- Nigeria
- Korea Republic
Group E
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Ghana
- Austria
Group F
- Korea DPR
- Argentina
- Costa Rica
- Netherlands
Fixtures
Game to be played on Tuesday September 3, 2024 (NZT)
Japan v New Zealand
El Techo Stadium, Bogotá, 1pm (NZT)
Game to be played on Friday September 6, 2024 (NZT)
Austria v New Zealand
El Techo Stadium, Bogotá, 1pm (NZT)
Game to be played on Monday September 9, 2024 (NZT)
New Zealand v Ghana
Pascual Guerrero Stadium, Cali, 11am (NZT)
Full schedule
The full tournament schedule can be downloaded here >>>>
READ MORE: Mascot unveiled as anticipation builds for FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup >>>>
Past winners
2002: USA
2004: Germany
2006: DPR Korea
2008: USA
2010: Germany
2012: USA
2014: Germany
2016: DPR Korea
2018: Japan
2022: Spain
This story was first published on August 20, 2024.
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