With less than two months until the Football Ferns kick off their home World Cup campaign, NZ Football chief executive Andrew Pragnell admits their results in the lead-up have been concerning.
Along with Australia, New Zealand will host the global tournament, facing Norway in the opener at Eden Park on July 10, but if their recent run of friendly results are anything to go by, the Ferns face an uphill battle getting out of their group.
Only two teams can advance to the knockouts, with Switzerland and the Philippines rounding out the rest of their pool.
The Football Ferns haven't won a game in their last 10 friendly fixtures and have been outscored 25-2, with their last victory coming in September.
Pragnell confesses the defeats have caused nervousness, but he also sees plenty of positives.
"I'd be lying, if I said it wasn't concerning, particularly those results in the February window," he told Newshub.
"There have been some high points - the games against Korea and Iceland - so there is some momentum to seize on, but I think the ability is there, it's making sure they're finely tuned and ready going into this window."
The NZ women have just seven weeks to turn their form around, before welcoming the world's best to New Zealand shores. Pragnell is confident the right plans are in place to help coach Jitka Klimková succeed.
"I've had brief conversations, she's been overseas and is returning very shortly," he said. "The big thing for us now is they have a two-month camp - the longest we've ever had with the Ferns - making sure that we leave no stone unturned, that we bring in expertise where we need to and make sure they're ready to go for kickoff on July 20."
Pragnell also confirms that the new All Whites coach will be announced before their friendly against Sweden on June 16.
