Four Wellington Phoenix players have been selected in the Football Ferns squad for this month’s internationals in North America.
Fifty cap fullback CJ Bott, goalkeeper Victoria Esson, centre back Mackenzie Barry and winger Manaia Elliott have been named in the 24-strong New Zealand squad for the matches against Mexico and the USA.
The Ferns will play two matches against Mexico in Mexico before travelling to Kansas City to face the reigning Olympic champions.
Esson (28 caps) and Elliott (3 caps) both featured in New Zealand’s most recent internationals against Venezuela in June, while Paris Olympians Bott and Barry (20 caps) have been recalled.
Bott was last called up to the Ferns for the Games in France, while Barry was part of the national team’s first squad of 2025 in Costa Rica in February.
The quartet will join up with the Football Ferns after the Phoenix women’s week-long training camp in Sydney and will rejoin the Nix a week out from their Ninja A-League season opener against Canberra United at Sky Stadium.
New Zealand’s first match against Mexico will be played in Mexico City on Friday 24 October at 3pm NZT, with the second game between the two sides in Juárez on Monday 27 October at 12pm NZT.
The Ford Football Ferns will then travel to Missouri to take on the USA on Thursday 30 October at 1pm NZT (Wednesday 29 October at 7pm local time) at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City.
All three games will be broadcast live and free on FIFA+.
