The Football Ferns have been drawn in a favourable group for next year's World Cup in New Zealand and Australia, while the star-studded USA side will also play their group matches in Aotearoa.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Co-hosts New Zealand were automatically placed into Group A, where they were joined by Norway, Switzerland and the Phillipines.
Ranked 22nd in the world, the Football Ferns would play 12th-ranked Norway in the tournament's opening match at Eden Park on July 20.
Switzerland sat 21st in the world, while the Phillipines were 53rd.
The other big news for New Zealanders was the top two teams in the world rankings being drawn in groups being hosted on this side of the Tasman.
The top-ranked USA side, the four-time world and Olympic champions, were drawn at the head of Group E.
With the eighth-ranked Netherlands the second team drawn in that group, New Zealand would also play host to a rematch of the final from the 2019 tournament in France, won by the USA.
Vietnam and a still to-be-confirmed side would round out that group.
Second-ranked Sweden headed Group G and would play South Africa, Italy and Argentina.
Group C was also in New Zealand, with Spain the highest-ranked side alongside Costa Rica, Zambia and 2011 champions Japan.
Co-hosts Australia were set to start their campaign at the Sydney Football Stadium against Ireland before going on to play Nigeria and Olympic champions Canada in Group B.
England would be based in Australia for the opening round of the expanded 32-team tournament, kicking off against a playoff winner in Brisbane on July 22.
The 10-team inter-confederation playoffs to decide the last three spots in the tournament takes place in New Zealand from February 18-23 next year.
- RNZ/Reuters
