Football Ferns Rise in World Rankings After Securing 2027 World Cup Berth

Fresh off their Oceania series victory, New Zealand’s Football Ferns have climbed two spots in the FIFA rankings as they prepare for their 7th World Cup appearance.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 22, 2026, 10:00 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

Oceania Dominance Confirmed

The rankings boost follows a high-stakes week for the Ferns, who officially secured their place at the 2027 FIFA World Cup.

The Qualifying Final: New Zealand defeated Papua New Guinea in the final of the OFC Qualifiers to punch their ticket to their seventh World Cup.

Regional Gap: Despite being the beaten finalists, Papua New Guinea remains the second-highest ranked team in the Oceania region, currently sitting at number 57.

The "Big Climber": While the Ferns moved up two spots, the biggest movement in the region came from American Samoa, who surged 17 places to reach number 120.

Global Top Ten Shifting