FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™

This Is How We Football is a way of making sure female players have access to enjoy the beautiful game across Oceania, while celebrating what makes football in the region unique.

OFC Women’s Football manager Emma Evans says that: “The This Is How We Football programme aims to grow football in the Pacific, specifically focusing on creating fun, safe, environments for teenage girls.”

The journey has been far from easy. The national team did not play a match from July 2019 until April 2022 but with New Zealand co-hosting the tournament this July and August, PNG seized the opportunity to qualify by winning the Oceania Nations Cup last July. Since then, results have slid, with Nicola Demaine losing her job as manager and little to no football played over almost three months.

This was the context into which Spencer Prior arrived in November. The 51-year-old brings a wealth of management experience with Australia, Young Matildas and Thailand women’s team.

Co-host country Australia is now facing the Republic of Ireland at the tournament’s largest venue, Stadium Australia, in Sydney/Gadigal.

Stadium Australia was due to host knockout matches only, but given the significant interest in tickets, FIFA has taken the decision to move Australia’s first match to Sydney’s largest stadium.  

The kick-off time and date of the Australia v. Republic of Ireland match will still be on Thursday, 20 July at 8pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time).

She was given the nod as captain to lead the senior women team in the OFC Women Nations Cup to be played in Suva, Fiji next week. The July 13-30 event has attracted nine member associations in Oceania region and PNG is one of them. 

Nothing new to her as she has led the PNG Under 20 Women FIFA World Cup in 2016 in Port Moresby.

The draw will take place in Auckland on October 22, 2022. Taking place in the city’s Aotea Centre, the draw will reveal the match fixtures for the 32 teams competing in the ninth edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand in just over a year.

The globally televised draw show will include cultural performances and insights into the five Australian and four New Zealand host cities that will welcome teams and football fans and many surprises.