NZ Women’s Football Team: Nickname, History & Key Facts

New Zealand’s national sports teams carry some of the most recognizable nicknames in the world — the All Blacks in rugby, the All Whites in football. But the women’s football team took a different path, one rooted in a national symbol rather than a color. The Football Ferns nickname, introduced in 2006, ties the squad to the silver fern, an emblem that runs through New Zealand’s sporting identity. This article traces how that name came to be, what it means for the team’s brand, and how it fits alongside the All Whites and All Blacks.

Governing body: New Zealand Football (NZF) ·
Nickname: Ford Football Ferns ·
Confederation: OFC ·
FIFA ranking (current): 24th (October 2024) ·
Home stadium: Various (Eden Park, Sky Stadium)

Six key facts, one pattern: the team’s identity is built on the silver fern, a symbol that connects New Zealand’s women’s football to the country’s broader sporting heritage.

The pattern across these facts is clear: the silver fern anchors the team’s identity.

Who is the women’s football team in New Zealand?

Official team name and governing body

The team, officially the New Zealand women’s national football team, represents New Zealand in international women’s football. It is governed by New Zealand Football (NZF), the national governing body for the sport (Wikipedia article on New Zealand Football). The squad competes in OFC (Oceania Football Confederation) competitions and is the current OFC champion (Wikipedia article on team).

Team nickname: Ford Football Ferns

The team is widely known as the Football Ferns, often branded as the Ford Football Ferns due to a sponsorship partnership with Ford Motor Company (Sporting News nickname explainer). The nickname was introduced in 2006, replacing the earlier moniker “Swanz” (Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand). Multiple secondary sources credit midfielder Annalie Longo with suggesting the name (Sportico report).

What is the nickname of the New Zealand women’s football team?

Origin of the nickname ‘Football Ferns’

The name directly references the silver fern (Cyathea dealbata), a fern species endemic to New Zealand and a national emblem used by sports teams for over a century (SportsLogos.Net article on silver fern history). The fern appears on the All Blacks’ jersey and on many New Zealand sporting insignia. By choosing a fern-based name, the women’s team stepped into a long tradition of national symbolism.

Partnership with Ford Motor Company

Since 2016, the team has been officially branded as the Ford Football Ferns under a sponsorship deal with Ford New Zealand. The arrangement includes funding for player development and team operations. The “Ford” prefix is used in all official communications and merchandise.

Comparison with other New Zealand national team nicknames

New Zealand’s national teams follow a pattern: the All Blacks (rugby union), the All Whites (men’s football), the Black Ferns (women’s rugby), and the Tall Ferns (women’s basketball) all use either a color or a fern. The Football Ferns are part of this “fern” family, which distinguishes them from the color-based All Whites and All Blacks.

Why are they called the All Whites?

Origin of the All Whites nickname for the men’s team

The men’s national football team is called the All Whites, a name that emerged during the 1982 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. The story, widely reported by RNZ’s The Detail podcast, says the team first wore an all-white kit in a goalless draw against Taiwan, and the nickname stuck. It was officially adopted around 1991, following the All Blacks naming pattern.

Contrast with the Football Ferns

The All Whites name is purely color-based, while the Football Ferns name is symbol-based. Both teams are governed by New Zealand Football, but the women’s team tied its identity to the national fern, not to a kit color. The distinction matters: the All Whites have faced calls to change their name over diversity concerns (ESPN report on naming review), while the Football Ferns’ fern-based name carries no such controversy.

Who is the best New Zealand soccer player?

Historic players

There is no official “best” ranking, but certain players stand out historically. Wynton Rufer, a professional striker who played for Werder Bremen and won the OFC Player of the Century award, is widely regarded as New Zealand’s finest male player (Wikipedia article on Wynton Rufer). On the women’s side, Kelly Smith (born in England but of New Zealand descent) is often mentioned, though she played for England. The Football Ferns’ own legends include Ali Riley (most capped player) and Annalie Longo (long-serving midfielder).

Current standout players (men’s and women’s)

• Women’s: CJ Bott (Leicester City), Ali Riley (Angel City FC), Gabi Rennie (Arizona State University), Katie Bowen (Inter Milan) — all key contributors to the 2023 World Cup campaign.
• Men’s: Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest), the Premier League’s top New Zealand scorer, leads the line for the All Whites.

FIFA rankings provide context: the Football Ferns sit at 24th (October 2024), while the All Whites rank 104th (FIFA World Rankings). The implication: the women’s team consistently outperforms the men’s team in global standings.

What is the New Zealand football team called?

Men’s team: All Whites

The men’s national team is the All Whites, a name derived from their white kit. The nickname is used for all senior men’s international matches and is managed by New Zealand Football.

Women’s team: Football Ferns

The women’s national team is the Football Ferns (branded Ford Football Ferns). The nickname was introduced in 2006, replacing the earlier “Swanz” (Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand).

Youth teams and other national squads

Junior women’s teams are also called the Football Ferns (e.g., U-20 Football Ferns). The men’s youth teams are known as the All Whites (U-20, U-23). Other New Zealand national football teams include the Futsal Whites (men’s futsal) and Futsal Ferns (women’s futsal), continuing the color/fern naming pattern.

What does ‘All Blacks’ mean in New Zealand?

Origin of the All Blacks nickname in rugby

The All Blacks are the New Zealand men’s national rugby union team. The nickname comes from the team’s all-black strip, adopted in the early 1900s. Contrary to a popular myth, the name is not a typo — it’s a straightforward reference to the kit color (RNZ’s The Detail podcast). The All Blacks are one of the most successful teams in rugby history, with a winning percentage above 75%.

Cultural significance of the All Blacks

The All Blacks are a national icon in New Zealand, representing the country’s identity on the world stage. The silver fern on their jersey is a symbol of national pride. The team’s haka performance before matches is a globally recognized cultural tradition. The All Blacks’ brand has influenced other New Zealand sports teams to adopt similar naming conventions, including the All Whites and the Football Ferns.

The Football Ferns’ identity is more than a brand — it’s a deliberate choice to tie the team to a national symbol rather than a kit color. That choice has given them a distinct place in New Zealand’s sports landscape, separate from the All Blacks and All Whites. For a team that often plays in the shadow of rugby, the fern name is a quiet assertion of belonging.

For the Football Ferns, the name is more than a label — it’s a strategic asset. It links them to the silver fern, a symbol of national pride, and gives them a clear identity distinct from the All Whites and All Blacks. For New Zealand Football, the risk is that the “Ford” prefix dilutes the organic connection, but the broader naming system has proven robust. For fans, the takeaway is clear: the Football Ferns belong to the same family as the All Blacks, but they’ve carved their own branch.