A series of friendly matches during the May/June international window will provide clues about the form of New Zealand’s rivals ahead of the Paris Olympics.
Group opponents France, Colombia and Canada all have two matches in the window, while the Football Ferns will play a two-match series against FIFA Women’s World Cup quarter-finalists Japan.
It’s the last international window before the Women’s Olympic tournament kicks off on July 25, 2024, giving coaches their last chance to tweak selections of their 18-player squads who’ll go to Paris.
Here’s who New Zealand’s Olympic opponents will test themselves against:
France
Les Bleues have a double date with England as part of EURO 2025 qualifying.
Coach Herve Renard’s side are top of their EURO group with six points, thanks to 1-0 victories over the Republic of Ireland and Sweden. The Lionesses are second on four points.
Their home and away games pit the teams ranked #2 and #3 on the FIFA women’s world rankings against each other.
Colombia
Back-to-back friendlies with La Vinotinto in Venezuela provide Colombia (ranked #23) the chance to extend their recent good form after a 1-0 win against Mexico and a 3-0 win against Guatemala.
Prior to those wins, Colombia lost 3-0 to the United States in March, in the quarter-finals of the Concacaf W Gold Cup.
Venezuela will have out-of-contract Wellington Phoenix striker Mariana Speckmaier in their squad.
Canada
The last double-header between Canada, the reigning Olympic champions, and Mexico, in November 2021, produced a 2-1 victory for El Tricolor Femenil and a 0-0 draw.
Ranked #31, Mexico are theoretically similar in performance to New Zealand so the two-match series could be an indicator of the potential gap between Canada and the Ferns.
Friendly fixtures
# indicates current FIFA women’s world ranking
Game to be played on Friday 31, 2024 (NZT)
Venezuela (#52) v Colombia (#23)
Estadio Metropolitano de Lara, Cabudare, Venezuela, 11am (NZT)
Games to be played on Saturday June 1, 2024 (NZT)
New Zealand (#28) v Japan (#7)
Estadio Nueva Condomina, Murcia, Spain, 2am (NZT)
England (#2) v France (#3)
St James’ Park, Newcastle, 7am (NZT)
Game to be played on Sunday June 2, 2024 (NZT)
Canada (#9) v Mexico (#31)
Stade Saputo, Montreal, Canada, 6am (NZT)
Game to be played on Monday June 3, 2024 (NZT)
Venezuela (#52) v Colombia (#23)
Estadio Metropolitano de Lara, Cabudare, Venezuela, 9am (NZT)
Game to be played on Tuesday June 4, 2024 (NZT)
New Zealand (#28) v Japan (#7)
Estadio Nueva Condomina, Murcia, Spain, 2am (NZT)
Game to be played on Wednesday June 5, 2024 (NZT)
France (#3) v England (#2)
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, 7am (NZT)
Canada (#9) v Mexico (#31)
BMO Field, Toronto, Canada, 11.30am (NZT)
Olympic fixtures
Games to be played on Friday July 26, 2024 (NZT)
Canada v New Zealand
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, 3am (NZT)
France v Colombia
Stade de Lyon, Décines-Charpieu, 7am (NZT)
Games to be played on Monday July 29, 2024 (NZT)
New Zealand v Colombia
Stade de Lyon, Décines-Charpieu, 3am (NZT)
France v Canada
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, 7am (NZT)
Games to be played on Thursday August 1, 2024 (NZT)
New Zealand v France
Stade de Lyon, Décines-Charpieu, 7am (NZT)
Colombia v Canada
Stade de Nice, Nice, 7am (NZT)
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