The United States Women’s National Team is gearing up for the 2026 CONCACAF W Championship, playing a crowded friendly slate that has seen several new talents incorporated into the group. The current set
of matches opened with a defeat and a win against Portugal (1-2, 3-1) as Emma Hayes continues to take the program in her desired direction. New Zealand was added to the calendar in late August, with the Oceanic side looking to qualify for a sixth consecutive and seventh overall World Cup and ideally advance past the group stage for the first time. Kansas City, Missouri’s CPKC Stadium – an 11,500-seat soccer-specific stadium that opened in March of 2024 with a natural grass surface – hosts the fixture.
This is the 22nd all-time meeting between the two programs, with the USWNT enjoying a 19-1-1 advantage and claiming the most recent friendly match-ups in January of 2023 (4-0, 5-0). Ranked 33rd internationally by FIFA, New Zealand is in the midst of a relatively light year with a draw and a win against Costa Rica in February (1-1, 1-0) and a late-spring split with Venezuela (1-3, 2-1). The Football Ferns enter the Oceania Football Confederation’s second round of World Cup qualifying in February, seeking to claim the region’s sole automatic spot at the final tournament. The current slate opened with a pair of defeats against Mexico (0-1, 0-2).
After Jitka Klimková went on leave and resigned, Michael Mayne was named to an interim role for the Olympics before receiving a full-time appointment in May of 2025 on a contract through the next World Cup. The 40-year-old is the first domestic-born head coach to lead the program in two decades and previously served as an assistant with the program as well as working with the Under-17 and Under-20 sides, notching a bronze medal at the 2018 U-17 World Cup. He is cited as having “an understanding of the international game, high levels of integrity and strong standards and values, with deep knowledge of football in [New Zealand].”
Mayne named a 24-player roster for the friendly, with six changes from the previous window. Domestic outfits Auckland United and Wellington Phoenix share 5 call-ups, while 12 talents are on the books at European sides. Notable absences include Betsy Hassett, Rebekah Stott, Grace Jale, Ally Green, and Ruby Nathan. CJ Bott and Grace Wisnewski were “forced out due to injuries,” replaced by Lara Wall and Rebecca Lake.
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GOALKEEPERS (2): Victoria Esson (Wellington Phoenix), Alina Santos (University of Denver)
DEFENDERS (11): Katie Bowen (Inter Milan), Meikayla Moore (Calgary Wild), Claudia Bunge (Melbourne Victory), Kate Taylor (Dijon), Michaela Foster (Durham WFC), Elizabeth Anton (Kolbotn), Mackenzie Barry (Wellington Phoenix), Grace Neville (Ipswich Town), Manaia Elliott (Wellington Phoenix), Laura Wall (Wellington Phoenix), Rebecca Lake (Vancouver Rise FC)
MIDFIELDERS (4): Annalie Longo (Auckland United), Katie Kitching (Sunderland), Maya Hahn (Viktoria Berlin), Emma Pijnenburg (Feyenoord)
FORWARDS (7): Gabi Rennie (Eskilstuna United), Jacqui Hand (Kolbotn), Indiah-Paige Riley (Crystal Palace), Milly Clegg (Halifax Tides), Hannah Blake (Durham), Kelli Brown (Newcastle Jets), Deven Jackson (Melbourne City)
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Mayne has shifted the formation to a 3-5-2 and sought to “implement a new playing style,” hoping to “control possession.” There is a “clear intent to hit cross-field switches out to the wingbacks” and “work [the ball] around the back and into the midfield,” with misplayed passes causing issues in dangerous areas. The attack will take risks and attempt to play into the box as quickly as possible, occasionally catching the opponent off guard with a back-post runner or numerical disadvantage.
Victoria “Vic” Esson picked up three starts at the 2023 World Cup and should be the number one for the foreseeable future after starting every recent match under Mayne. The veteran 34-year-old goalkeeper joined Wellington Phoenix in June after three seasons and five trophies in Scotland with Rangers, providing “a wealth of experience” and “leadership from the back.” She is described as “courageous, commanding, proactive, and always ready to take charge of her box,” while also venturing far from her line in order to chase the ball. Total Football Analysis points to her “shot-stopping ability,” even if her subdued style “saves the best for big games” yet “doesn’t bring the excitement factor.”
Kate Taylor announced her presence on the world stage with a goal against France at last summer’s Olympics, stepping up as a young and physically imposing figure around whom the program can build for the next decade. The 22-year-old Dijon centre-back has already racked up 25 senior caps, boasting athleticism, enjoyment of “defensive combat,” and the ability to “get the ball out very cleanly, whether with her right foot or her left foot.” Meikayla Moore has impressed during her debut campaign with Calgary Wild in Canada’s Northern Super League, compiling three finishes despite her club landing outside of the playoff picture. Her arsenal includes diverting crosses, “a mean long pass” with reliable link-up play when under pressure, stepping forward to derail progression, and a willingness to test the opponent with accurate through balls into the final third. Kolbotn’s Elizabeth Anton is a versatile option who can deploy on the outside and the inside of the line, bringing “a presence and streetwise nous” that comes from her extensive experience. Her contributions include “sacrifice, speed, and the ability to read the game,” having emerged as one of the “most reliable” players from the Australian league and contributing in both phases. Claudia Bunge of Melbourne Victory has “a range of skills and reliability,” displaying the “ability to manage dangerous moments throughout a match, make last-ditch tackles, and play out from the back.” Coming off a season with five goals, coaches have praised her situational awareness and understanding of when to exercise caution in tight confines or take greater risks.
Michaela Foster has slowly become a fixture for the program since making her senior international debut in 2023, touting herself as “an exciting and composed two-footer” who will play “attacking balls forward” and provide “strong defense.” The 26-year-old Durham left fullback is something of a “set-piece specialist,” adding an element of danger on corners and free kicks with her varied and ambidextrous in-swinging deliveries. London-born Grace Neville joined Ipswich Town over the summer after several campaigns with London City Lionesses, bringing “athleticism,” “reliability, and resilience” to the right side of the formation. The Niche Cache describes her as “very good in the one-on-one with a high level of fitness,” with her forays into the attacking third occasionally bearing fruit due to her movement and willingness to put the ball on net. Kolbotn’s Jacqui Hand can be used in a variety of roles, having the “X factor” of a penchant for taking over proceedings with solo dribbling runs and long-distance shooting. Her tireless work rate sees her pushed to the wings when the goal-scoring goes cold, charging all the way up the touchline before hitting a low ball into the path of a waiting teammate.
Sunderland’s Katie Kitching is a box-to-box “who outruns just about every opponent in her path,” with “quick distribution, evident ferocity, and a powerful build” that are used to shove off contact. She knows her way around the final third and can carve out the crucial yards to both get on the end of a pass and put an attempt on net while also hitting a solid free kick that bends around the wall. Former Oregon Duck Maya Hahn racks up interceptions and shot blocks and displays creativity in the touch, good athleticism, and a testing, curling shot from distance. The 24-year-old Viktoria Berlin midfielder buzzes around the field in order to regain possession and seeks to push the pace after registering a challenge, making long dribbling runs through the half-spaces. Annalie Longo of Auckland United retired from professional football in April but is back in the squad, providing her “creativity and vision” which help to link the formation and “control the tempo of the game.” Lining up in a creative role with regular searching shots from distance and aggressive runs, her activity rate in the build-up and progression stages is incredibly high. Emma Pijnenburg is attempting to make her way in Europe, continuing to develop at Feyenoord as a “raw” talent who can slot into several different spots. Observers praise her “technical skills and winning mentality,” displaying “composure on the ball, insight, and work ethic,” with the potential to score from almost anywhere in the attacking half.
Milly Clegg spent the past season on loan in Canada with Halifax Tides from Racing Louisville but only found the back of the net a single time, still waiting to make good on her early potential fueled by “pace, skill, technique, and vision.” She has the size at five feet, nine inches tall and the athleticism to cover the width of the field, displaying the pellucid vision and a deft touch to find teammates around the final third that make her inclusion a necessity, even when unable to convert. Kelli Brown made her debut this year and has quickly become a favorite for the manager, earning praise for her “100% effort” and constant running at “maximum capacity,” buzzing around the area and putting up shots from all distances. The 24-year-old Newcastle Jets forward is a “natural goal-scorer with strong physical capabilities,” plowing past opponents and making gnashing runs through the crowd or launching from deep. Crystal Palace’s Indiah-Paige Riley is a multi-positional blue-collar player who is willing to drop back and play defense, “consistently winning her one-on-one battles” and “continually recognizing where the threat is.” “Exciting” and “electric,” the former Australia international is at her best when receiving the ball around the edge of the box and making a quick central turn toward the frame.
New Zealand is an improving group that should easily qualify for the World Cup as the best program in the Oceanic region. The USWNT is the superior side with a clear talent advantage and likely to secure a multi-goal victory. However, at the end of a three-match international slate, experimentation and even fatigue could perhaps produce a surprising result.
The match is scheduled for Wednesday, October 9th at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, 5:00 p.m. Pacific. Viewing options include TNT, TruTV, HBO Max, Universo, Peacock, and FuboTV (free trial).
