OFC’s direct automatic qualification spot for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ will be decided on Wednesday night when New Zealand and Papua New Guinea meet at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland in the Oceania Qualifiers final.
Both sides now find themselves one win away from next year’s tournament, after winning their respective semi-finals at FMG Stadium in Hamilton on Saturday – Papua New Guinea defeating American Samoa 1-0, and New Zealand beating Fiji 5-0.
The winner will qualify for the finals in Brazil, whilst the loser will get a second chance through the intercontinental play-offs.
New Zealand
The Football Ferns are just one game away from qualifying for their seventh FIFA Women’s World Cup™, the most of any other OFC member association, and will have the opportunity to do so in front of a home crowd on Wednesday night.
New Zealand’s run to the final has been smooth-sailing, scoring 24 goals without conceding through their four matches. Undoubtedly, they come into the final as favorites, having not lost to any current OFC member association in a FIFA Women’s World Cup™ qualifying match, and having not conceded in such a fixture since 2007.
“I think personally, very excited. I think building off of the game the other night, everyone else is excited as well and I think just looking to go to work tomorrow.” said Captain Kate Taylor.
“We know there are potential threats, but we also have seen some opportunities. We just want to put on a show for our supporters.” said Head coach Michael Mayne.
Papua New Guinea
The Bilums are familiar with this stage of the qualifying process but will be attempting to get past the final hurdle for the first time on Wednesday night and qualify for their inaugural FIFA Women’s World Cup™.
“It’s exciting for the last few days – the girls are happy to get there. They know themselves they’ve been working so hard and to get here is a big bonus for them and we’re looking forward for the game tomorrow.” said Bilums Head coach Ericson Komeng.
“The girls deserve to be here. They’ve been working so hard for the last couple of months, playing a tough team like New Zealand, we just have to focus on ourselves and how we can compete and play a good final tomorrow.”
Papua New Guinea have finished as runners-up to OFC’s direct qualification spot on three previous occasions and lost to Panama 2-0 during the intercontinental play-offs at the last qualifying campaign for the 2023 finals.
Like New Zealand, Papua New Guinea are yet to concede through their qualifying campaign, topping Group B of Round 2 in Fiji, and defeating American Samoa 1-0 in their semi-final with a lone goal from Keren Kalapai.
Fixture details
New Zealand v Papua New Guinea | 7:00PM Wednesday, April 15
North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
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