Football world at Katie’s feet

Marlborough teenager Katie Pugh’s footballing odyssey continues. The 17-year-old will cap off another top season this month with her second trip around the world, representing her country at the FIFA under-17 World Cup.

Last year Katie travelled to the Dominican Republic for the 2024 showpiece, this time around she is off to Morocco with the New Zealand team.

The event kicks off on October 20 with NZ drawn in a tough pool alongside Japan, Zambia, and Paraguay.

Katie, who is based in Wellington, has enjoyed a standout year, turning out for both the under-18 and Women’s Reserve teams with the Wellington Phoenix Academy. She was the top scorer for the second-placed U18 Academy team in the Women’s Central League.

After the World Cup, she will play in the top National League. Katie flew out last Monday for Morocco, excited to be rubbing shoulders with the world’s elite once more.

“I’m trying not to think about it too much,” she said, “so I can get some rest.”
“I know how it is going to pan out – like last year – you just want to get into it.”

Katie, who plays as a striker, will join with seven other Kiwi players who also attended the previous World Cup.

“[The World Cup] is a big, tough competition”, said Katie. “It’s a lot different to the Oceania qualifiers because there is a whole broader range of teams.”

The Kiwis will have time to acclimatise to North African conditions, arriving 14 days before their first pool match. They have just confirmed warm-up games against China and Nigeria.

“That will give us time to adapt to the heat and pitches,” says Katie. “We have been given all the opportunities to fully prepare before we start playing in the Cup.”

As New Zealand have been at every World Cup since they began in 2008 they have a high seeding, their consistency earning them a third ranking which means they have avoided most of the top nations in the draw.

However, their first opponent, Japan, will be a stern test, being well drilled and having played six international warm-up matches prior to the tournament.

The New Zealand matches will be broadcast on TVNZ.