The Football Ferns will head to the Women’s World Cup on home soil after playing a team from every confederation outside Oceania, having locked games against Iceland and Nigeria in Turkey.
New Zealand will continue their preparations for the World Cup with friendlies against world number 16 Iceland and world number 45 Nigeria at the Mardan Sports Complex in Antalya on 8 and 12 April (NZT).
They will be the Football Ferns’ final forays overseas before the World Cup kicks off in July, the last chance for players to stake their claim for selection before the wider squad assembles in New Zealand for a two-month camp from late May.
The game against Iceland will serve as a special advantage for the Football Ferns, who have been in the hunt for a European nation after being drawn alongside Norway and Switzerland in Group A.
Iceland failed to qualify for the World Cup after finishing behind the Netherlands in their group during UEFA World Cup qualifying and then losing to Portugal in the play-offs.
However, they beat the Football Ferns in their last meeting, winning 1-0 in the 2021 SheBelieves Cup, and should provide a stern test for a team coming off a run of five straight defeats, including a 5-0 loss to Portugal.
Meanwhile, Nigeria is a team the Football Ferns have never played.
They qualified for this year’s World Cup after reaching the semi-finals of the African Women’s Cup of Nations.
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Football Ferns midfielder Daisy Cleverley competes for the ball with Iceland’s Berglind Bjord Parvalsdottir during their final clash of 2021.
They will be the first African nation the Football Ferns have played since losing to Cameroon at the last World Cup in 2019.
Despite their low ranking, they boast a squad full of professionals from Europe and North America, including star striker Asisat Oshoala who has scored 19 goals for Spanish giants Barcelona this season.
“These are two good sides and a great test for us entering the tournament,” said coach Jitka Klimkova.
“We played Iceland a little over a year ago, so this game is a good opportunity to see how we improve.
“We also wanted to face an African side, so we have come up against every other confederation and Nigeria is the perfect opponent.
“As a team we were disappointed with the results against Portugal and Argentina, so I know everyone wants to get back on the pitch and show what we can do.”
Klimkova will announce her team for the tour next Tuesday.
Football Ferns (NZT) Schedule
Saturday, April 8 at 01:00: in Iceland; Mardan Sports Complex, Antalya
Wednesday, April 12, 01.00: in Nigeria; Mardan Sports Complex, Antalya
