Teenager Pia Vlok headlines a strong Wellington Phoenix presence in the first Football Ferns squad of the year.
The uncapped forward is one of seven current Phoenix players named in the Ferns for their upcoming Oceania qualifiers for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027.
Vlok, 17, has been called up to the national team for the first time, three days after becoming the first Nix player to score a hat-trick in the Ninja A-League.
Centre back and stand-in captain Mackenzie Barry (22 caps), midfielder Grace Jale (35 caps) and winger Manaia Elliott (5 caps) have been recalled, while goalkeeper Victoria Esson (31 caps), midfielder Emma Pijnenburg (7 caps) and two cap fullback Lara Wall have retained their places after being part of the Ferns for their matches against the Matildas late last year.
A further five players in the 23-strong squad, Kelli Brown, Milly Clegg, Michaela Foster, Charlotte Lancaster and Grace Winewski, started their professional careers at the Phoenix.
New Zealand will play Samoa, hosts Solomon Islands and American Samoa in group A of the second round of Oceania qualifying in Honiara later this month and early in March.
The top two nations from the two groups will progress to round three to be played in Hamilton and Auckland in April, with the winner qualifying for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil and the runner-up heading to the inter-confederation playoffs.
The seven Phoenix players will join the Ferns after their round 18 A-League match against Victory in Melbourne on Friday, February 20 and will return to Wellington a week out from their round 19 match against Brisbane Roar at Sky Stadium on Saturday, March 14.
