New Zealand are welcoming the world of international football to Oceania in 2023 as they host the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup with neighbours Australia.
The 2023 tournament will be ground-breaking as it's the first time it has been held on the continent, with the number of teams involved also increasing from 24 to 32.
Jitka Klimkova's young team were drawn in Group A, alongside tournament veterans Norway, the Philippines and Switzerland. The co-hosts stormed to an impressive 1-0 win over Norway in the tournament opener.
1 - New Zealand secured their first ever #FIFAWWC victory, in what was their 16th match (D3 L12). Norway, meanwhile, lost their opener at the tournament for the first time since the inaugural 1991 edition (0-4 v China PR). Surprise. pic.twitter.com/rk2X4BIAFa
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 20, 2023
After making a famous start to the tournament, fans will be dreaming of a deep run at these finals and, just maybe, a shot at the trophy itself.
MORE: FIFA Women's World Cup 2023: Which teams have qualified?
Have New Zealand ever won the Women's World Cup?
New Zealand have never won the Women's World Cup. Indeed, their 1-0 victory over Norway was the first managed by either the men's or women's national team at football's grandest tournament.
Their overall Women's World Cup record makes for low-key reading for their fans with the team never getting past the group stages in their history.
After qualifying for the inaugural 1991 World Cup, they failed to build on that, with three successive tournaments missed for the Ferns before returning in 2007.
Solid progress in qualification is a positive, with four World Cups in a row reached, but a place in the knockout stages is the main goal in 2023.
New Zealand at the Women's World Cup
| Finish | Achieved | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Final | — | — |
| Semifinals | — | — |
| Quarterfinals | — | — |
| Round of 16 | — | — |
| Group Stage | 5 | 1991, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019 |
New Zealand odds to win 2023 World Cup
As co-hosts, New Zealand are expected to up their performance level at the 2023 World Cup, and a win over Group A favourites Norway is a strong start
Klimkova will be looking to reach the Round of 16, but they are ranked as firm outsiders to win the World Cup, in behind USA, Germany and England.
*Odds correct as of July 20.
| 2023 FIFA World Cup winner | Unibet (Australia) | Sky Bet (UK) | Dafabet (India) |
| USA | 3.50 | 9/4 | 3.40 |
| England | 5.50 | 4/1 | 5.25 |
| Spain | 6.00 | 5/1 | 5.25 |
| France | 13.00 | 15/2 | 11.00 |
| Germany | 9.00 | 8/1 | 8.00 |
| Australia | 11.00 | 10/1 | 11.00 |
| New Zealand | 151.00 | 80/1 | 126.00 |
New Zealand World Cup finishes all-time
New Zealand fans will be hoping 2023 is finally the year they can break their disappointing run on the World Cup stage with the group phase previously proving to be their finishing post.
*DNQ denotes did not qualify
| Year | Finish | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goal scored | Goal difference |
| 1991 | Group Stage | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | -10 |
| 1995 | DNQ | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1999 | DNQ | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2003 | DNQ | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2007 | Group Stage | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -9 |
| 2011 | Group Stage | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 |
| 2015 | Group Stage | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | -1 |
| 2019 | Group Stage | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | -4 |
| 2023 | TBC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
New Zealand FIFA World ranking history
Coming into the 2023 World Cup, New Zealand were ranked at 26 by FIFA, behind group rivals Norway (12) and Switzerland (20).
The lowest ranking New Zealand have ever reached is 26th, with their high point coming from 2013 to 2015, when they were 16th.
