Breaking Barriers: Nic Downes on Leading New Zealand to the First Women’s Futsal World Cup
- Andre Caro
- Nov 9
- 3 min read
🎧 Listen while you read:
Women’s futsal is about to make history. Later this month, the first-ever FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup kicks off in the Philippines — and the New Zealand Futsal Ferns are ready to represent Oceania after their dominant run through the OFC Championship.
In this special interview, Andre Caro (The Doctor) sits down with Nic Downes, the head coach leading the Ferns to this historic moment. They discuss how he stumbled into futsal coaching, the power of New Zealand’s tight-knit community, lessons from facing Brazil, and what this World Cup means for women’s sport worldwide.
🎙️ Interview Highlights
Andre Caro:
Nic, first off — congratulations on qualifying for the first Women’s Futsal World Cup. How did your futsal journey begin?
Nic Downes:
By accident, really. I was a football coach who didn’t get the job I wanted, and someone offered me a futsal role instead. I thought, “Sure, I’ll do that for a while.”Next thing you know, I’m coaching an under-19 girls team, learning on the fly, and now we’re heading to a World Cup. It’s been an amazing ride.
Andre:
What makes the futsal community in New Zealand so special?
Nic:
The openness. Coaches share ideas, players support each other — it’s a small country, so everyone works together. We don’t have endless facilities or funding, but the collaboration makes up for it. It’s a big part of why we’ve grown so fast.
Andre:
You qualified through the OFC Championship in the Solomon Islands. What was that like?
Nic:
A mix of nerves and pride. Most of our players had never faced that kind of pressure — knowing the winner goes to a World Cup. We had to adapt quickly, manage emotions, and stay calm. Winning it and booking our spot was surreal.
Andre:
You recently played Brazil, the best team in the world. What did that experience teach you?
Nic:
It was an eye-opener. Their speed, creativity, and unpredictability are something else. You never know what they’ll do next.Players like Amandinha — she’s on another planet. For us, it was all about learning: how to defend with structure, stay focused, and improve our time on the ball. Playing them gave us a clear benchmark of where we need to go.
Andre:
And now the World Cup. You’ve got Portugal, Japan, and Tanzania in your group — what’s the mindset going in?
Nic:
We know it’s going to be tough. Portugal and Japan are world-class. Tanzania is a bit more unknown, so that could be a more balanced match.But we’re not there to make up numbers. We want to compete every minute, fight for every ball, and show that New Zealand can hold its own on the world stage.
Andre:
How do you see this World Cup shaping the future of women’s futsal in New Zealand?
Nic:
It’s huge. Finally, there’s a full pathway: national league → national team → World Cup.That changes everything — players now have something to aim for. And beyond the elite level, it’s about more girls seeing futsal as their game. It’s fast, fun, and social — and this World Cup will only grow that interest.
⚡ Rapid Fire Round
Dream opponent: Brazil
Biggest influence: Marvin Eakins
Most underrated futsal nation: France
One word to describe the Futsal Ferns: Inspire
🌍 Legacy in Motion
The first FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup is more than just a tournament — it’s a landmark moment for equality, opportunity, and growth in futsal.For Nic Downes and the Futsal Ferns, it’s about proving that with belief, collaboration, and courage, even a small nation can make a big impact.
🎧 Listen to the full episode on Spotify:
If you have any questions or would like to discuss anything in this article, I’d truly love to hear from you. It would be my pleasure to chat.
📲 You can contact me anytime on my social media: @andrecarofutsal
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