New Zealand have qualified for the 2026 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup.
Thursday’s 8-0 rout of Cook Islands guided reigning champions New Zealand to the OFC Women’s U-19 Championship final.
Wellington Phoenix trio Lily Brazendale scored twice, while teammates Isla Cleall-Harding and Poppy O’Brien were also on target as the Junior Football Ferns qualified for a 10th consecutive U20 World Cup.
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New Zealand – who boast 10 Phoenix youngsters in their squad – are now one win away from claiming their ninth successive OFC U-19 Women’s Championship title, with New Caledonia awaiting in Sunday’s decider.
“I’m extremely proud, it was our main aim coming here, to qualify for the U-20 Women’s World Cup and we’ve done that with a pretty solid performance,” said head coach Callum Holmes via FIFA.
“There’s still lots to work on and improve to get to where we want to but I’m so proud of the girls to have given themselves an opportunity to be on the plane to Poland.”
Featured image: FIFA
