Argentina finished their first FIFA date with the best score in New Zealand

Argentina’s women’s soccer team, which will play this year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, won the opening FIFA window with a 1-0 win over New Zealand, their third win in three warm-up games of the World Cup year.

Argentina won with a goal scored by Mariana Larroquette 31 minutes into the second half., in a match at the North Harbor Stadium in Auckland. With the win, they finished third in as many appearances after friendlies against Chile (4–0) and New Zealand (2–0).

The Football Ferns, nicknamed New Zealand, are currently ranked 24th in the FIFA rankings, five places ahead of Argentina.

The German Portanova-led side finished the tour with three wins, 7 goals and a clean sheet, qualifying for the World Cup from July 20 to August 20 – for finishing third in the 2022 Copa America in Colombia.

🏆 #Women’s Selection Friendly – FIFA Date

💪 3 matches, 3 wins
⚽ 7 goals
🥅 Zero bow#All together On this road 🙌 pic.twitter.com/P67HU8NwoS

— 🇦🇷 Argentina National Team ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) February 23, 2023

New Zealand will be one of the hosts of the FIFA World Cup and the country-based Argentina will play in Group G against Sweden, Italy and South Africa.

Argentina will play against Italy on July 24 At Eden Park, Auckland. They will face South Africa in Dunedin on 28th and Sweden on 2nd August.A world power, at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton (the same venue as the second game of the tour).

In the last friendly, Argentina fielded: Laurina Oliveros; Julieta Cruz, Miriam Mayorca, Altana Cometti and Romina Nunez; Paulina Gramaglia (Ciara Cingarella), Diana Falfan, Lorena Benitez (Michaela Pereira) and Eliana Stabile; Florencia Bonsecundo (Erica Lonigro) and Mariana Larroquette.

Captain Cometti, who was on the field in the absence of Vanina Correa, said, “The pressure was higher than in the previous match. Both teams were tired, but luckily we pushed it forward and got the win. We leave this championship with a positive balance. Without a doubt, we have to keep working and have a long way to go towards the World Cup. There is distance”.

🏆 #Women’s Selection Friendly – FIFA Date

🎙️ Altana Cometti: “The pressure was higher than in the previous match. Both teams were tired but luckily we pulled through and won.” pic.twitter.com/76VhjIlbqQ

— 🇦🇷 Argentina National Team ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) February 23, 2023

The Argentina national team was invited to a series of preparatory meetings within the framework of the FIFA dates where the World Cup qualifying matches were played. The teams that won the playoffs to enter the World Cup were Haiti (eliminated Chile), Portugal (eliminated Cameroon) and Panama, who beat Paraguay last.

In this way, the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) will have three representatives, as in addition to Argentina, Brazil and Colombia will also do so. Europe will have 12 participants: Norway, Switzerland, Ireland, Spain, England, Denmark, Netherlands, Portugal, France, Sweden, Italy and Germany.

Additionally, CONCACAF (North America, Central America and the Caribbean) will consist of Canada, Costa Rica, Haiti, the United States, Jamaica and Panama, while Africa will contribute Nigeria, Zambia, South Africa and Morocco. The rest are from Oceania and Asia such as the Philippines, Japan, China, Vietnam and South Korea.

The 2023 World Cup will be the first World Cup to feature two host nations and 32 teams.

Argentina is participating for the fourth time in its history United States World Cup 2003, China 2007 and France 2019. They never got past the group stage or won a tournament. The Albiceleste, who entered the playoffs after beating Panama in the last match in France, were able to pick up World Cup points with draws against Japan and Scotland (3-3 in memory).

In the 2023 edition, the Argentines will have a historic victory in a difficult group and the first part of the preparation is very encouraging. Portanova’s side will have two more FIFA dates ahead of the World Cup.