Latest news with #NewZealandFootball
CTV News
27-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
New Zealand returns to action in Toronto at Canadian Shield Tournament after punching 2026 World Cup ticket
Minnesota United defender Michael Boxall (15) runs during the second half of an MLS soccer match against CF Montreal in St. Paul, Minn., Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) TORONTO — Michael Boxall has scored just one goal for New Zealand, but it was one of consequence. Rising high, the Minnesota United defender headed home a corner from substitute Francis de Vries in the 61st minute to open the scoring March 24 in 86th-ranked New Zealand's 3-0 win over No. 151 New Caledonia in the Oceania Football Confederation qualifying final at Auckland's Eden Park. 'It took a long time to get there,' a chuckling Boxall, who made his New Zealand debut in 2011, said of opening his scoring account in his 55th international appearance. The victory sent New Zealand to the 2026 World Cup, its third trip to the soccer showcase after 1982 and 2010. The All Whites' first games since their qualifying success come at the four-team Canadian Shield Tournament, against the 41st-ranked Ivory Coast on June 7 and No. 25 Ukraine on June 10 at Toronto's BMO Field. New Zealand won't play host Canada, ranked 30th in the world, at the tournament. 'To face two top 50 sides, in a tournament situation, in one of the FIFA World Cup 2026 host venues, is the perfect challenge for us,' said New Zealand coach Darren Bazeley. The 36-year-old Boxall, whose long throw-ins add to the attack options for both club and country, relishes the chance to represent New Zealand again. 'Obviously competition in Oceania isn't the stiffest but New Caledonia made it a tough test for us,' said Boxall. 'And yes, we definitely excited to get back (in action) now that we've punched our ticket for 2026.' And like Canada, he welcomes the chances to face elite opposition at the new Toronto tournament. 'The last few (FIFA international) windows, we've kind of only been up against teams from our confederation,' Boxall said in an interview. 'So we need to prepare ourselves to play against world-class opposition … It will be a huge step up and it will be a good marker to see where we're at and what we need to work on heading towards the World Cup.' New Zealand failed to get out of the group stage in its previous trips to the World Cup. In 1982, the All Whites lost all three games to Scotland (5-2), the Soviet Union (3-0) and Brazil (4-0). In 2010, they fared better, drawing Slovakia (1-1), Italy (1-1) and Paraguay (0-0) but still went home early. New Zealand is unbeaten in seven matches, having won six straight — including five in World Cup qualifying — since drawing the United States in an international friendly. Its last loss was 3-0 to Mexico in a friendly at the Rose Bowl on Sept. 7. The famous win over New Caledonia came some 33 months after New Zealand lost 1-0 to Costa Rica in an intercontinental playoff in Doha, Qatar, for the last berth at the 2022 World Cup. Boxall started his MLS career with the Vancouver Whitecaps, who selected him first overall in the 2011 MLS Supplemental Draft out of University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) where he was the Big West Defender of the Year in 2010. In 2012, Boxall he returned home to join Wellington Phoenix in the Australian A-League. In 2105, he joined South Africa's SuperSport United, helping the team to back-to-back Nedbank Cup titles. He returned to MLS in 2017 with Minnesota United, also home to Canadian goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair and forward Tani Oluwaseyi. Playing for the All Whites in Toronto comes with a bonus of reduced travel time. Boxall is a road warrior when it comes to playing for New Zealand. 'The last window I missed a flight on the way to New Zealand and had a flight cancelled on the way back,' he said. 'So I'm not seeing too many flight issues in the hour-and-half trip of whatever it is from here to Toronto (one hour 58 minutes in actuality). So that will be nice.' Bazeley's 23-man Toronto roster features five changes to the squad called up for the Oceania Qualifiers. Saint-Etienne attacker Ben Old returns from injury with Portland Timbers defender Finn Surman also back after missing the previous international window by agreement with his MLS club. There are recalls for goalkeeper Nik Tzanev (Northampton Town) and defenders Callan Elliot (Auckland FC) and Bill Tuiloma (Charlotte FC). New Zealand is slated to face Norway in October in Oslo in an international friendly that will likely feature two top scorers from England's Premier League in All Whites captain Chris Wood, who plays his club football for Nottingham Forest, and Norway star Erling Haaland (Manchester City). With New Zealand enjoying its highest world ranking since October 2013, Boxall believes his team is indeed on the rise. 'The talent's there. And it's just about us getting all on the same page against teams that are ranked higher than us and doing the job against them.' Boxall, wife Libby and their two kids split their off-season between Minnesota and their home in New Zealand. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 27, 2025. Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
RNZ News
12-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Football Ferns could get home advantage in World Cup qualifiers
Macey Fraser of New Zealand and Pattaranan Aupachai of Thailand during the International Womens Football match, New Zealand Football Ferns Vs Thailand, Apollo Projects Stadium. Photo: Photosport New Zealand will host the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 Oceania Qualifiers semi-finals and final in April next year. The Football Ferns will get home advantage if they make it beyond the group stages, as they try to qualify for a sixth World Cup in a row. Much like the All Whites did in March when they defeated New Caledonia in Auckland to secure a place at the men's tournament in Canada, Mexico and the US next year. The women's matches will take place between 7 to 18 April next year, with host cities still to be announced. The winner of the final will automatically qualify for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 in Brazil. Prior to the finals, group games will be played in the February and March international window, in Fiji and the Solomon Islands, with the top two sides in each pool qualifying for the semi-finals. New Zealand Football chief executive officer Andrew Pragnell said getting hosting rights was "significant". "Bringing our senior national teams home on a regular basis is a big priority for us as an organisation, so it is great to be able to confirm these very significant games will be played in Aotearoa. "The game is in a great place right now at all levels, from community football, where numbers are exploding, to the professional level, with the introduction of Auckland FC and their rivalry with Wellington Phoenix, and of course at international level with the All Whites returning to the FIFA World Cup next year and, all going well, the Ferns doing the same in 2027." The 2027 World Cup will have 32 teams, the same as the 2023 edition in Australia and New Zealand , which was the first to have 32 teams, up from 24 in the 2019 tournament hosted by France. From the 2031 edition onwards it will be a 48-team World Cup with a 12-group format, increasing the total number of matches from 64 to 104 - the same as the expanded men's World Cup in 2026 - and extending the tournament by one week. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Search For Women's Football Teams Coaches Continue
Recruitment for the next permanent Football Ferns head coach ends this month according to New Zealand Football. The team has been coached by Michael Mayne since the middle of last year when head coach Jitka Klimkova stepped away due to an employment matter. Mayne took control of the team for friendlies and for the Paris Olympics. New Zealand Football said interim head coach Mayne would also coach the team against Venezuela next month in Spain - suggesting he has locked in the head coach role permanently. The two games against Venezuela will be the first time at senior international level the two countries have met. The first match against the world number 51 South American side will be played on 1 June with the second on 4 June. The first game will be played at the Marbella Football Centre in San Pedro de Alcántara with the venue for the second game to be announced. The Football Ferns' last scheduled international friendlies against Chinese Taipei did not go to plan with both matches called off due to concerns about the playing surface. "After the disappointment of not being able to play in the last international window due to issues outside of our control, securing matches this window was crucial so we can continue to build on the work we have implemented so far this year," Mayne said. "Venezuela are again a great fit for this stage of the campaign and have a player in [former Wellington Phoenix player] Mariana Speckmaier that is very well known to our team. "It was important for us to find games this window that can allow us to test our squad and the way we are developing our play in competitive matches, and Venezuela will offer that perfect challenge point. "The team have been really receptive to the new playing model, new language, and new ideas for how we work, so I'm looking forward to getting to Spain and supporting the team with getting some really strong performances out on the pitch against Venezuela." Wellington Phoenix assistant takes on interim head coach role Wellington Phoenix women's assistant coach Amy Shepherd will stay with the club next season and support a yet to be employed new head coach. Shepherd will take on on greater responsibility during the off-season, serving as the interim head coach until a permanent appointment is made in late July. Shepherd is believed to be the only full-time assistant in the women's competition and that backing from the Phoenix is a big reason why she said she has re-signed. "The Phoenix invests heavily in the women's programme and unlike all the other clubs in the A-League has seven full-time staff. "The facilities here are second to none. For the players be able to train at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport (NZCIS) day-in, day-out is incredible. "As a learning environment and somewhere to grow, develop and push for success I wouldn't want to be anywhere else other than the Phoenix." One of Shepherd's priorities over the next couple of months will be player recruitment, in which she will be supported by academy director and former Football Fern, Emma Humphries. "I think it's a great opportunity for me to be involved in the season planning and recruitment process. "We'll aim to set us up for success so the new head coach can hit the ground running." Humphries previously served as the assistant coach at Liverpool FC in the English Women's Super League and has experience in player recruitment.
RNZ News
09-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Search for women's football teams coaches continue
Michael Mayne addresses the Football Ferns at halftime in their international friendly against Japan. Photo: photosport Recruitment for the next permanent Football Ferns head coach ends this month according to New Zealand Football. The team has been coached by Michael Mayne since the middle of last year when head coach Jitka Klimkova stepped away due to an employment matter. Mayne took control of the team for friendlies and for the Paris Olympics . New Zealand Football said interim head coach Mayne would also coach the team against Venezuela next month in Spain - suggesting he has locked in the head coach role permanently. The two games against Venezuela will be the first time at senior international level the two countries have met. The first match against the world number 51 South American side will be played on 1 June with the second on 4 June. The first game will be played at the Marbella Football Centre in San Pedro de Alcántara with the venue for the second game to be announced. The Football Ferns' last scheduled international friendlies against Chinese Taipei did not go to plan with both matches called off due to concerns about the playing surface. "After the disappointment of not being able to play in the last international window due to issues outside of our control, securing matches this window was crucial so we can continue to build on the work we have implemented so far this year," Mayne said. "Venezuela are again a great fit for this stage of the campaign and have a player in [former Wellington Phoenix player] Mariana Speckmaier that is very well known to our team. "It was important for us to find games this window that can allow us to test our squad and the way we are developing our play in competitive matches, and Venezuela will offer that perfect challenge point. "The team have been really receptive to the new playing model, new language, and new ideas for how we work, so I'm looking forward to getting to Spain and supporting the team with getting some really strong performances out on the pitch against Venezuela." Wellington Phoenix Photo: Masanori Udagawa Wellington Phoenix women's assistant coach Amy Shepherd will stay with the club next season and support a yet to be employed new head coach. Shepherd will take on on greater responsibility during the off-season, serving as the interim head coach until a permanent appointment is made in late July. Shepherd is believed to be the only full-time assistant in the women's competition and that backing from the Phoenix is a big reason why she said she has re-signed. "The Phoenix invests heavily in the women's programme and unlike all the other clubs in the A-League has seven full-time staff. "The facilities here are second to none. For the players be able to train at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport (NZCIS) day-in, day-out is incredible. "As a learning environment and somewhere to grow, develop and push for success I wouldn't want to be anywhere else other than the Phoenix." One of Shepherd's priorities over the next couple of months will be player recruitment, in which she will be supported by academy director and former Football Fern, Emma Humphries. "I think it's a great opportunity for me to be involved in the season planning and recruitment process. "We'll aim to set us up for success so the new head coach can hit the ground running." Humphries previously served as the assistant coach at Liverpool FC in the English Women's Super League and has experience in player recruitment. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
