The lure of playing a World Cup opener in her hometown with her family watching on from the stands has seen Auckland-born Australian football international Indiah-Paige Riley switch nationality to New Zealand.
In a major coup for New Zealand Football, the one-cap Matildas forward, who plies her trade for Danish club Fortuna Hjørring, has committed her international future to her country of birth with Fifa approval.
She is the second player developed in the Football Australia system to switch nationality to New Zealand this year, with former Australian age group international Ally Green making her Football Ferns debut against Wales after opting to represent her mother’s country of birth.
Riley was born in Auckland but moved to Australia when she was 12.
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She was nominated for A-League Women young footballer of the year after a breakout campaign with Brisbane Roar in 2020 and subsequently landed a move to Fortuna Hjørring, one of the top clubs in Scandinavia.
Riley helped Fortuna Hjørring win the Danish Women’s League and reach the round of 16 of the Uefa Champions League in her first season in Europe last year. They were eliminated by eventual champions Barcelona.
Former Football Ferns coach Tom Sermanni had tried to convince Riley to play for New Zealand during his tenure, but the lack of fixtures due to the Covid-19 pandemic restricted the opportunity to select her.
She was also in line to represent New Zealand at the Under-20 Women’s World Cup, only for the tournament to be cancelled.
That opened the door for Australia to pick her for two games against Germany and the Netherlands last year, but Riley was never called up again after making her international debut as a substitute in a 5-2 defeat to Germany.
After being alerted to Riley’s eligibility, current Football Ferns coach Jitka Klimková reached out to her after taking over from Sermanni as national team coach last year, and she was able to convince the 20-year-old to switch to New Zealand.
Riley’s one-time switch was approved by Fifa a few weeks ago, meaning she will be available for selection for their scheduled friendly against Japan in October – a welcome boost after a barren run in front of goal.
“We’ve been going backwards and forwards for around three years now and Jitka reached out last year and that is when it got more serious and things started to happen,” Riley said.
“It wasn’t an overnight decision. I only made the decision fully only a few months ago.
“There is definitely a strong connection to New Zealand because I was born there, I grew up there and I’m 100% a New Zealander, I just played all my football in Australia.
“I do have a lot to owe Australia for where I am now but for me, going forward, I want to represent where I come from and my family as well, because we’re all from New Zealand.”
Riley said the chance to play at a World Cup on home soil next year was a major factor behind her decision to switch nationality.
She will have a much greater chance of being selected for the Football Ferns than the Matildas given the gulf between the two nations.
Riley said it would be a moment to cherish to play the opening game of the World Cup at Eden Park with her family watching on from the stands.
“It would mean so much to me but it would also mean so much to my family,” she said.
“My whole family was born in Auckland as well and I wasn’t just thinking about me in this decision, I was also thinking about representing my family as well.
“Even if I’m not playing at the World Cup, to see how far women’s football has come and to know the opener is in Auckland where we’re all from is really exciting.”
Riley has informed Football Australia of her decision to play for New Zealand and said she left on good terms.
“For me to start the process, conversations had to happen between the two federations so they’re aware and they know the situation.
“I was up front and honest with them. I was so grateful and said my thanks to them.”
She was now looking forward to what she hoped would be a long and successful international career with New Zealand.
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