New Zealand Soccer
Encyclopedia
New Zealand Football is the governing body for the sport of association football in New Zealand
. It was founded in 1891, and became officially affiliated with FIFA
in 1948. New Zealand was a founding member of the Oceania Football Confederation
.
NZF oversees the seven New Zealand Football Federations, as well as the New Zealand national football team (nicknamed the "All Whites"), the national junior and women's teams (nicknamed the "Football Ferns"), the men's and women's National League (the men's league is known as the ASB Premiership and the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier), with a number of tournaments
, including the Chatham Cup
. The ASB Premiership is played in the New Zealand summer between eight teams and The Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier is played in the New Zealand winter between ten teams. A New Zealand team, Wellington Phoenix FC
, play in the Australian A-League
.
In May 2007, the organisation was renamed New Zealand Football (NZF), replacing the word "soccer" with "football
" in line with the common usage in the rest of the world.
In September 2007, the New Zealand female football teams were rebranded. The women's national team changed its name from "SWANZ" to "Football Ferns", the female under-20 team to the "Junior Football Ferns" and the under-17 team became the "Young Football Ferns"
In the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, New Zealand had played their best result in their teams' history when they had a 1-1 draw with Italy. Shane Smeltz scored in the 7th minute marking the first time New Zealand has ever led a match at the World Cup. They went on to become the only unbeaten team in the tournament.
Women's
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It was founded in 1891, and became officially affiliated with FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
in 1948. New Zealand was a founding member of the Oceania Football Confederation
Oceania Football Confederation
The Oceania Football Confederation is one of the six continental confederations of international association football, consisting of Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and island nations such as Tonga, Fiji and other Pacific Island countries...
.
NZF oversees the seven New Zealand Football Federations, as well as the New Zealand national football team (nicknamed the "All Whites"), the national junior and women's teams (nicknamed the "Football Ferns"), the men's and women's National League (the men's league is known as the ASB Premiership and the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier), with a number of tournaments
Soccer in New Zealand
Association football, also known as football or soccer, is a popular recreation sport in New Zealand. The sport is administered in New Zealand by the governing body New Zealand Football ....
, including the Chatham Cup
Chatham Cup
The Chatham Cup, currently known as the ASB Chatham Cup for sponsorship purposes, is New Zealand's premier knockout tournament in men's football...
. The ASB Premiership is played in the New Zealand summer between eight teams and The Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier is played in the New Zealand winter between ten teams. A New Zealand team, Wellington Phoenix FC
Wellington Phoenix FC
Wellington Phoenix Football Club is a professional association football club based in Wellington, New Zealand. The club competes in the Football Federation of Australia A-League. Ricki Herbert has been the coach since the club's inception to the A-League in July 2007. The current club captain is...
, play in the Australian A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
.
In May 2007, the organisation was renamed New Zealand Football (NZF), replacing the word "soccer" with "football
Football (word)
The English language word football may mean any one of several team sports , depending on the national or regional origin and location of the person using the word....
" in line with the common usage in the rest of the world.
In September 2007, the New Zealand female football teams were rebranded. The women's national team changed its name from "SWANZ" to "Football Ferns", the female under-20 team to the "Junior Football Ferns" and the under-17 team became the "Young Football Ferns"
In the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, New Zealand had played their best result in their teams' history when they had a 1-1 draw with Italy. Shane Smeltz scored in the 7th minute marking the first time New Zealand has ever led a match at the World Cup. They went on to become the only unbeaten team in the tournament.
Competitions
- ASB Premiership (national league)
- Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier (top level winter league)
- US1 PremiershipUS1 PremiershipThe United Soccer 1 Men's Premiership is a semi-professional status New Zealand Association football league competition involving member football clubs of the . It is the highest level football competition in the Northland, North Auckland and West Auckland regions.The inaugural US1 Premiership...
(winter league) - Central Premier LeagueCentral Premier LeagueThe Central League is a semi-professional status league competition run by for Association football clubs located in the southern and central parts of the North Island, New Zealand...
(winter league) - Robbie's Premier Football LeagueMainland Premier LeagueThe Mainland Premier League or Robbie's Premier Football League for sponsorship reasons is a semi-professional status league competition run by for Association football clubs located in the northern half of the South Island, New Zealand....
(winter league) - ODT FootballSouth Premier League (winter league)
- National Women's LeagueNational Women's League (New Zealand)The National Women's League is the top level women's football league in New Zealand...
(national women's league) - NSLNew Zealand National Soccer LeagueThe National Soccer League is a name given to competitions in which New Zealand's top soccer clubs play each other, at least two times, on a home and away basis . At the completion of the competition, the best-performed team is declared as the New Zealand champion...
(defunct) - ASB National Youth League (youth league)
- ASB Phoenix ChallengeASB Phoenix ChallengeThe ASB Challenge Series is a friendly match series competition in which a reserve side from A-League team Wellington Phoenix compete in a series of friendly matches against opposition from the New Zealand National League, the ASB Premiership...
(ASB Premiership competition) - Chatham CupChatham CupThe Chatham Cup, currently known as the ASB Chatham Cup for sponsorship purposes, is New Zealand's premier knockout tournament in men's football...
(national men's winter league's knockout competition)
Football Federations
- Auckland Football Federation
- United Soccer 1
- Waikato/Bay of Plenty Football
- Central Football
- Capital Football
- Mainland Football
- Football South
See also
Men's- List of New Zealand international footballers
- New Zealand national football team
- New Zealand national under-23 football teamNew Zealand national under-23 football teamThe New Zealand Under-23 Football Team, informally known as the "Oly-Whites", represents New Zealand Football and New Zealand in international Under-23 football events, such as the Summer Olympics....
- New Zealand national under-20 football teamNew Zealand national under-20 football teamThe New Zealand Under 20's football team, more commonly known as the Junior All Whites, is controlled by New Zealand Football and represents New Zealand in international Under 20 or youth football competitions.-OFC:...
- New Zealand national under-17 football teamNew Zealand national under-17 football teamThe New Zealand Under 17's football team, more commonly known as the Young All Whites, is controlled by New Zealand Football and represents New Zealand in international Under 17 or youth football competitions....
Women's
- List of New Zealand women's international footballers
- New Zealand women's national football team
- New Zealand women's national under-20 football teamNew Zealand women's national under-20 football teamThe New Zealand women's Under-20 Football Team, informally known as the 'Junior Football Ferns', is the representative team for New Zealand in international Under-20 football tournaments.-By Tournament:-2006:-2008:-2010:...
- New Zealand women's national under-17 football teamNew Zealand women's national under-17 football teamThe New Zealand women's Under-17 Football Team, informally known as the 'Young Football Ferns', is the representative team for New Zealand in international Under-17 football tournaments...
External links
- New Zealand Football official website
- New Zealand at FIFA site
- New Zealand at OFC site