Football Ferns coach Michael Mayne is building towards the 2027 Football World Cup. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Players who lacked confidence or were riding the pine at their professional club often struggled to find their feet at international level with the Football Ferns but coach Michael Mayne believes times are changing.
New Zealand's top women footballers are linking up around the world and having an impact in several club competitions - all of which Mayne said was causing him a selection headache as he rebuilds the team ahead of the 2027 Football World Cup.
"I think in the past we've probably been in situations where we've got players in professional clubs but probably not seeing a lot of playing minutes," Mayne said.
"That obviously has a massive impact on not just us preparing for tournaments and tours, but also individually, for players and their own confidence.
"So that's been a big shift in terms of we've got a lot of players playing good minutes now at good clubs, and we've also seen a lot of players in our group now that are actually in the same clubs so we're still able to drive our our own standards, even in clubs, because they've got that connection now."
Mayne said there was now six clubs that had more than one New Zealander playing there. This includes Malia Steinmetz and Grace Wisnewski at FC Nordsjaelland, Liz Anton, Olivia Chance and Jacqui Hand all at Kolbotn, Claudia Bunge and Georgia Candy at Melbourne Victory and the majority of the Wellington Phoenix squad.
It is just shy of a year since the Football Ferns' last coach resigned following months of turmoil and Mayne, who was charged with the team's rebuild on and off the field, has faced just about every possible outcome.
The Football Ferns have had two wins, a loss, a draw and cancelled matches so far this year. But their biggest test is yet to come when they play the world number two and Olympic champions USA in October.
Mayne spent the first half of the year getting players to understand his playing style after formally being appointed to the head coach role in May, when he shook off the interim title. He is happy with the progress they are making and can also see room to grow the team.
"I'm very future focused with our campaign plan and I think the biggest thing for me is just to be clear with the direction that I believe we can take this team and the way we unlock the potential.
"It's taking the work we've started and trying to stay relatively consistent, with short timeframes that we have with the players, in real alignment in the language and how we want to execute our roles on the pitch but obviously just stepping that up against higher ranked teams.
"We know within the group that we've got plenty there to go and compete with these teams and perform against them, but with a new playing model we're still weaving players into the to the group."
After nearly a decade working in New Zealand talent development pathways Mayne said he had "a relatively good knowledge" of the depth of talent and he can identify those who might be ready for the national side.
"As they've been moving into professional football those conversations are starting to be had a lot earlier around what gives them the opportunity or puts them in a shop window for selection."
Maya Hahn got her first chance at senior international football this year. Photo: www.photosport.nz
Mayne has brought in new talent this year and said there were two or three players that he was looking at ahead of the October window that had not been involved in the three prior tours in 2025.
"I am trying to really build competition in positions and in fighting to to be part of this team every window."
The Football Ferns are ranked 31 places below USA but Mayne said he could understand why the hosts wanted to play New Zealand.
"I've got a theory on this. I think the Football Ferns have always been a team that, for top teams, they know that this team won't roll over, and we're always up for a challenge and we always compete.
"So we're never an easy game.
"They look for these games because they can obviously go and work on parts of their plan, but they know that we're a tough opposition that always turns up and gives them a good fight on the pitch."
When the Football Ferns meet USA in Kansas on 30 October it will be the 22nd time the two sides have faced each other at senior international level.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
