The New Zealand squad have settled into their Colombian training camp ahead of this weekend’s start of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
The team will play Japan, Austria and Ghana in their group games and head coach Leon Birnie says his players are looking forward to competing against some of the world’s best teams.
“I’ve worked with a lot of them for three or four years now, and I think the most impressive thing has been probably the last 18 months (and) how much these players have grown as footballers,” Birnie said.
Sixteen of Birnie’s side for the 2024 tournament were part of his FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup team who won bronze in Uruguay in 2022.
Birnie and players Manaia Elliott, Ruby Nathan, Zoe McMeeken and Ella Findlay were interviewed by NZ Football ahead of their departure from Auckland International Airport.
Main photo: Coach Leon Birnie … looking forward to the tournament in Colombia.
Watch the interviews
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)
Aotearoa New Zealand have been drawn in Group E at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2024 with Austria, Ghana and Japan.
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 27, 2024.
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