Football Ferns set Philippines home series after Panama earthquake cancellations
New Zealand will play twice at Porirua Park as coach Michael Mayne seeks match time and a clearer view of his squad before the 2027 World Cup.
The Football Ferns will host the Philippines at Porirua Park in Wellington on 29 November and 4 December 2026 after an earthquake forced the cancellation of their October matches in Panama, NZ Herald reported. The two home games give New Zealand a chance to resume playing and assess its squad ahead of the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
The touring party returned to New Zealand after the Panama fixtures were called off, according to NZ Herald. Coach Michael Mayne told Newstalk ZB, as reported by NZ Herald, that he was about to name his team for the first match when the earthquake struck. Aftershocks and evacuations left some people in the camp uneasy, he said, but everyone got out safely.
Why the Philippines games matter for the Ferns
Mayne said the lost Panama games disrupted work the team had planned on the way to the World Cup in Brazil. He called the Philippines fixtures ‘critical’ for results, developing a winning formula and deciding what he needs to see from the playing group before next year. The team had not toured since June before travelling to Panama, he said, so the cancellation cut short a long-awaited opportunity to work together on the pitch.
New Zealand Football says the home series forms part of its 2027 World Cup preparation and that the Ferns will hold an extended training camp at NZCIS in Wellington around the matches. The World Cup draw is scheduled for 12 December, shortly after the second game. Mayne said the squad would spend the next few weeks examining which players it needs for this window.
The Ferns last played in June, when they lost 2–1 to Haiti and drew 0–0 with Morocco, NZ Herald reported. The Philippines played at the Asian Games in September and recorded a win and a loss against Peru this month, according to the same report. Those results give the two sides different recent match experience as they approach the Porirua series.
Tickets and broadcasts for the Porirua matches
New Zealand Football says tickets will go on member presale on 2 November, followed by general sale on 4 November. It lists prices of NZ$20 for adults and NZ$5 for children aged 14 and under, plus fees. Both games are due to be shown live and free on DAZN via FIFA+ and on TVNZ, the federation says.
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Sources and context
- Football Ferns to face Philippines after 7.7 quake cancels Panama gamesNZ Herald
- Ford Football Ferns End 2026 with Home Series in Wellington Against PhilippinesNew Zealand Football
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.