Head coach Michael Mayne declared himself “happy as” after his New Zealand team’s 8-0 win against Samoa in their opening game at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Oceania qualifiers.
Mayne said he was pleased to get the win, and for his team to avoid any injuries, as they coasted to victory at the National Stadium in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
READ MORE: Ferns off to flying start in FIFA Women’s World Cup Oceania qualifiers >>>>
Watch Michael Mayne’s post-match interview
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Results
Games played on Friday February 27, 2026
Group A
New Zealand 8 (Kelli Brown 1′, 14′, 38′, Katie Kitching 65′, own goal 81′, Manaia Elliot 83′, 90′, Deven Jackson 90+6′)
Samoa 0
Solomon Islands 0
American Samoa 1 (Alayna Fuamatu-Ma’afala 55′)
FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers — Group A
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
New Zealand
1
1
0
0
8
0
+8
3
American Samoa
1
1
0
0
1
0
+1
3
Solomon Islands
1
0
0
1
0
1
-1
0
Samoa
1
0
0
1
0
8
-8
0
Group B
Papua New Guinea 5 (Ramona Padio 5′, Nenny Elipas 15′, 90′, Marie Kaipu 43′, Phylis Pala 62′)
Vanuatu 0
Fiji 5 (Trina Davis 11′, Sofi Diyalowai 26′, 45+4′, Cema Nasau 36′, Sonia Alfred 74′)
New Caledonia 0
FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers — Group B
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Fiji
1
1
0
0
5
0
+5
3
Papua New Guinea
1
1
0
0
5
0
+5
3
New Caledonia
1
0
0
1
0
5
-5
0
Vanuatu
1
0
0
1
0
5
-5
0
Fixtures
Games to be played on Monday March 2, 2026 (NZT)
Group A
American Samoa v Samoa
National Stadium, Honiara, 3pm (NZT)
New Zealand v Solomon Islands
National Stadium, Honiara, 7pm (NZT)
Group B
New Caledonia v Vanuatu
Govind Park, Ba, Fiji, 1pm (NZT)
Papua New Guinea v Fiji
Govind Park, Ba, Fiji, 5pm (NZT)
Games to be played on Thursday March 5, 2025 (NZT)
Group A
American Samoa v New Zealand
National Stadium, Honiara, 3pm (NZT)
Samoa v Solomon Islands
National Stadium, Honiara, 7pm (NZT)
Group B
New Caledonia v Papua New Guinea
Govind Park, Ba, Fiji, 1pm (NZT)
Vanuatu v Fiji
Govind Park, Ba, Fiji, 5pm (NZT)
Fixtures — Round 3
Games to be played on Sunday April 12, 2026
Semi-final 1
Winner Group A v Runners-up Group B
FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton, 12pm (NZT)
Semi-final 2
Winner Group B v Runners-up Group A
FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton, 4pm (NZT)
Game to be played on Wednesday April 15, 2026
Final
Winners semi-final 1 v winners semi-final 2
North Harbour Stadium, Albany, Auckland, 7pm (NZT)
This story was first published on February 27, 2026