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<\/a>New Zealand captain Kate Taylor at FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup Qualifiers 2027, OFC Qualifiers, Final Press Conference, North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, Tuesday 14 April 2026. Photo: Blake Armstrong \/ www.phototek.nz<\/p>\nNew Zealand<\/p>\n
The Football Ferns are just one game away from qualifying for their seventh FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup\u2122, 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.<\/p>\n
New Zealand\u2019s 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\u2019s World Cup\u2122 qualifying match, and having not conceded in such a fixture since 2007.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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.\u201d said Captain Kate Taylor.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know there are potential threats, but we also have seen some opportunities. We just want to put on a show for our supporters.\u201d said Head coach Michael Mayne.<\/p>\n
Papua New Guinea<\/p>\n 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\u2019s World Cup\u2122.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s exciting for the last few days \u2013 the girls are happy to get there. They know themselves they\u2019ve been working so hard and to get here is a big bonus for them and we\u2019re looking forward for the game tomorrow.\u201d said Bilums Head coach Ericson Komeng.<\/p>\n \u201cThe girls deserve to be here. They\u2019ve 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Papua New Guinea have finished as runners-up to OFC\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Fixture details<\/p>\n New Zealand v Papua New Guinea | 7:00PM Wednesday, April 15 Watch LIVE and FREE on FIFA+ HERE<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Papua New Guinea captain Ramona Padio at FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup Qualifiers 2027, OFC Qualifiers, Final Press Conference, North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, Tuesday 14 April 2026. Photo: Blake Armstrong \/ www.phototek.nz<\/p>\n
North Harbour Stadium, Auckland<\/p>\n