New Zealand have qualified for FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2027™ and put themselves one win away from an eighth OFC U-16 Women’s Championship title, after defeating Papua New Guinea 3-0 in the first semi-final at the National Stadium in Honiara.
A decade after the two sides last met at the competition in the 2016 final, the Young Football Ferns cruised past Papua New Guinea to book their place at an 11th consecutive global finals.
Ultimately, it took New Zealand 27 minutes to find the opening goal though, the longest they’ve ever had to wait for a goal in a semi-final in OFC U-16 Women’s Championship history. Mila Clark got the breakthrough, nodding the ball past Joses at the back post, following a corner delivery off the left flank from Saunders.
Having been called into the championship as a late replacement, Papua New Guinea’s return to the last four in 2026 had been miraculous, and they fought tooth and nail to frustrate New Zealand for as long as they could.
The second goal finally came in the 62nd minute, Madeleiene Dwyer scoring her second of the tournament after Joyses failed to keep hold of her left-footed effort.
Substitute Ruby Barber then rounded out the win for the Young Football Ferns in the 77th minute, picking out the bottom-left corner after being left unmarked from a Saunders delivery off the right flank into the box.
The result means Alana Gunn and her New Zealand side can now start preparing for FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2027™ in Morocco but first have their OFC U-16 Women’s Championship title to defend in Honiara on Saturday evening.
New Zealand: 3 (Mila CLARK 27’, Madeleine DWYER 62’, Ruby BARBER 77’)
Papua New Guinea: 0
HT: 1-0
Photo credit: OFC Media via Phototek