Ahead of this year's FIFA Women's World Cup, New Zealand and Nike unveil the new 2023 playing kits for the Football Ferns. The national kit showcases the country's unique and iconic culture and landscapes and sees the team moving away from using white playing shorts. A big win.
NikeThe New Zealand 2023 away jersey comes inspired by the country's landscapes through a new look of a much-loved pattern that captures a longtime symbol of New Zealand's national identity - the Silver Fern.
The black kit utilises a striking all-over print of a handmade Silver Fern pattern. To create the distinct pattern, Nike designers used black and silver spray paint techniques, this same technique can be seen on the away kit.
NikeFor the Ferns away kit, the white shirt is paired with teal blue shorts and comes as part of the global shift away from female athletes wearing white playing shorts. The kit pays homage to the 1991 qualifying squad, a memory made even more special as the country co-hosts the game's biggest stage for the first time.
New Zealand FootballThe move away from white shorts has been warmly welcomed by the players, says Football Ferns centurion Hannah Wilkinson: “The new jersey is epic, it’s just epic. I also really, really love the fact that we have colour in our jerseys which is a little bit different. That blue colour is an amazing change, and even better, the absence of white shorts now is fantastic for women with any kind of period anxiety. It’s always been something that women athletes, not just footballers, have had to deal with. In the end, it just helps us focus more on performance and shows a recognition and appreciation of women’s health.”
New Zealand 2023 World Cup kit release date, price & how to buy
The New Zealand 2023 Women's World Cup kit will be available for retail from April 5 at the New Zealand Football store. Here's a closer look at the home and away jerseys with links to purchase: