For the first time New Zealand Football will send a female age grade side to next month\u2019s OFC U-15 Girls Youth Development Tournament in Lautoka, Fiji.<\/p>\n
Now in its third edition, the OFC U-15 Development Tournament, in partnership with UEFA, is designed to provide young footballers with experience of an international tournament format.<\/p>\n
The tournament supports NZF\u2019s commitment to long-term exposure for players to high quality coaching, development, and competition.<\/p>\n
A squad of 16 players, featuring representatives from each of the six New Zealand Football federations, will compete at the OFC U-15 Girls Youth Development Tournament from 4 \u2013 12 May 2026.<\/p>\n
Aotearoa New Zealand has been placed in Group B with hosts Fiji, New Caledonia, and Cook Islands.<\/p>\n
Group A consists of Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Samoa, and Tonga.<\/p>\n
The winner of Group B will face the winner of Group A in the final on 12th May while there\u2019ll be play offs for 3rd, 5th and 7th places.<\/p>\n
New Zealand Football Girls Pathway Lead, Alana Gunn says the programme focuses on supporting the ongoing development of the national youth pathway, including how opportunities are designed and delivered within it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe OFC U-15 Girls Youth Development Tournament provides a valuable opportunity for a group of players to experience a national team environment at this stage of their development.<\/p>\n
\u201cNZF decided not to attend the first two editions to ensure we spent time to embed player development and identification processes deeper into the female player development system.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis tournament isn\u2019t intended as an early selection point or a defined step within the pathway, but rather as a complementary experience alongside club football and existing programmes, offering exposure for players who may benefit from it at this stage.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlayer development is non-linear, and engagement with the pathway will differ for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
The players selected for the tournament are:<\/p>\n
Joy Alinese – Hibiscus Coast \/ Mahurangi College<\/p>\n
Ruby Barber – Wellington Phoenix \/ Aotea College<\/p>\n
Jamie Bartolome – Ellerslie \/ Selwyn College<\/p>\n
Aimee Beck – Hibiscus Coast \/ Westlake Girls\u2019 High School<\/p>\n
Ruby Burgess – Dunedin City Royals \/ St Hilda\u2019s Collegiate<\/p>\n
Evie Colegate – Western Springs \/ Rutherford College<\/p>\n
Cordelia Davies – Island Bay United \/ Scots College<\/p>\n
Ashleigh Mcleod – FC Twenty 11 \/ Rolleston College<\/p>\n
Hayley Pirihi – Northland \/ Bream Bay College<\/p>\n
Sophie Roberts – Auckland United \/ Epsom Girls Grammar School<\/p>\n
Carys Seccombe – Napier City Rovers \/ Havelock North High School<\/p>\n
Elsie Sroufe – Wellington Phoenix \/ St. Mary’s Wellington<\/p>\n
Felicia Stevens – Wellington Phoenix \/ NZ Performance Academy Aotearoa<\/p>\n
Jada Szeto – Wellington Phoenix \/ Wellington East Girls’ College<\/p>\n
Isabelle Wilkinson – Hammarby IF \/ International English School<\/p>\n
Evie Wilson – Melville United \/ Hamilton Girls High School<\/p>\n
New Zealand Football will continue to work alongside clubs, Auckland FC, Wellington Phoenix, and NZ Secondary School Sport to support an aligned and flexible approach to player development.<\/p>\n
NZ Match Schedule:<\/p>\n
Tuesday 5 May: New Zealand \u2013 New Caledonia<\/p>\n
Thursday 7 May: New Zealand \u2013 Fiji<\/p>\n
Saturday 9 May: New Zealand \u2013 Cook Islands<\/p>\n
Tuesday 12 May: Final<\/p>\n
Article added: Thursday 30 April 2026<\/p>\n
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