Wellington’s turned on the sunshine for the friendly match between the Football Ferns and world champions USA in Wellington on Wednesday.
The game in Wellington and one at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday come at the start of a year where the Ferns have a home Fifa Women’s World Cup to look forward.
The fans turned out in droves with 12,508 fans filling Sky Stadium for the game – a new record for a Ferns match – against the United States.
Kyler Wilson, 10, and Kiri Wilson, 8, were thrilled to be attending the game with mum Keely Machmer-Wessels.
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BRUCE MACKAY/Stuff
12,508 people showed up for the game at Sky Stadium.
Machmer-Wessels – originally from the US but based in Porirua – thought it would be interesting to see strikers on the US team prove themselves without Sophia Smith and Megan Rapinoe present.
“People here are gonna be really wanting to show they can score goals.”
Kiri said her favourite player was USA superstar Alex Morgan, “like everybody else”.
Morgan was popular with the fans as they filtered into Sky Stadium, with a group of 11-year-olds particularly enthusiastic about seeing her play.
Erin Gourley/Stuff
Football fans Kyler Wilson, 10, Keely Machmer-Wessels, and Kiri Wilson, 8, are excited to watch the Football Ferns play the United States National Women’s Team in the friendly match at Sky Stadium.
Kellie Yanek, another US supporter, was hoping the Football Ferns would come close but ultimately wanted the US to win. She was excited to see midfielder Kristie Mewis play.
”She’s my favourite player … she really made a comeback after she went down with an injury.”
On their way in to the stadium, kids Hunter and Zac were with mum Janine Hearn, hoping to see the Football Ferns win.
“We’re backing them,” said Janine, but Zac thought it was “highly unlikely” they would win.
BRUCE MACKAY/Stuff
Janine Hearn and children Zac and Hunter were hoping the Football Ferns would win.
Natalia and Michael Anastasiadis were hoping to see “amazing soccer” in the lead up to Fifa. It was great to see the world champions in Wellington.
“I love supporting women’s sports,” said Natalia.
“We already have tickets for Fifa and we’re looking forward to it,” said Michael.
Michael Toy and Joe McGarry were decked out in USA merch as they walked up to the stadium.
Bruce Mackay / STUFF
The record 12,508 fans at the Football Ferns against the world champions USA included two cruise tourists
“I love the game, and I love cheering on the US national teams,” said McGarry. He was hoping to see a bit of a “blow-out” from the US, who had been suffering a bit lately.
Rose Lavelle was Michael Toy’s favourite player because “she looks like she could take out anyone on the field … she’s just fierce”.
The previous record attendance for a Football Ferns home game was set in 2018 in a game against Japan with an attendance of 7236 people.
The USA won the game 4-0.
Bruce Mackay / STUFF
The Ferns lost to the USA but won over new fans as a record number turned out to watch the friendly.
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