LA-based football star Ali Riley captains New Zealand's Football Ferns – so it's no surprise what she'll be wishing for as the World Cup comes to New Zealand this year
Comment: In 2022 I got to welcome my New Zealand football family to the city that I call home. The Ford Football Ferns came to Los Angeles to play Iceland, USA, Mexico and the Philippines.
This coming year, we'll be welcoming the whole world to New Zealand, when this country co-hosts the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
In the US, I captain Angel City FC in the United States’ National Women’s Soccer League. It’s honestly still surreal for me. It's been so nice for me to have my two worlds, and two families collide.
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1. Inspire girls and women
My hope for the Football Ferns for 2023 is that we make history for our country. And we are part of this amazing milestone for women's soccer by hosting the best ever women's sporting event in our country. I hope that we live up to the slogan of 'beyond greatness' by creating a legacy for the Ferns who come after us.
But we also honour the Ferns who came before us. And we play with pride and humility, and respect.
'We only have one planet, so we have to treat her right.'
I hope that for football in New Zealand, well, I hope that so many little girls are inspired to pick up a soccer ball and start playing sport – any sport! But of course, I am partial to soccer.
I hope that any girls who are thinking of quitting sport or soccer decide to stay and stick it out.
And I really hope that there are even more women who become referees and coaches and managers, and even owners of football clubs.
2. Set a leadership standard
My club in LA was founded by venture capitalist Kara Nortman, actress Natalie Portman and tech entrepreneur Julie Uhrman, and it has other high-profile owners like tennis legend Serena Williams. Angel City stands for initiatives I'm passionate about like the fight for equal pay and equal media coverage for the women’s game.
The club are also really involved in their community, donating equipment to local players, food to those in need and coaching thousands of young footballers.
When we wear this crest and go out and play, we want to do well for the club, for the communities, for ourselves, for the city – there’s so many things driving us.
So I hope for the women's game globally that again, this World Cup is a huge milestone and it energises the players to continue pushing for what we deserve.
And that we can make sure that there is a minimum global standard for women's soccer – that players are not only paid what they deserve, but also have the right conditions and feel safe and protected and healthy.
And I hope that we prove to all the doubters that we're amazing athletes and amazing women, and amazing humans who really deserve to be supported and invested in.
3. Reuse, recycle
When Orlando Pride traded me to Angel City, I lived with my parents in LA until I could move into my apartment and my belongings were shipped across the country. For a month, I wore old high school clothes and my soccer gear from college. It really showed me that I have so little need for new clothes!
I also champion sustainable initiatives to get the right gear to girls and women. That means helping them stay comfortable and active during their period, in my support for the Puma x Modibodi active underwear collection. It also means our club donating equipment to local players and helping to close the circle – for example, as a club we have donated over 15,000 sports bras as part of our Angel City Sponsorship Model, and at the end of the year we hosted a clothing drive where over 2,600 items of clothing were donated.
I hope that in 2023, a lot of people who are cleaning out their closets decide to recycle their clothing and send it to where it is most needed, instead of sending them to landfill.
4. Play for our country, eat for our planet
Last year, Toni Pressley and I launched vegan cooking show 'Girls Gone Veg’ to promote plant-based foods for athletes. We’re also writing a cookbook, which will be published in September.
My diet helps improve my athletic performance; limiting my dependence on meat-based products is good for my health and good for the environment.
I hope that maybe anyone who is thinking about trying to eat less meat or become vegetarian gets the courage and motivation to do so.
And you know, we only have one planet, so we have to treat her right.
5. Make my family and fans proud
My personal wish is to have a healthy 2023 so I can lead my country at our home World Cup in front of my family.
I may have been born and raised in Los Angeles, but I am so proud to be a Kiwi. It’s such a huge honour to play for New Zealand and represent this country on the world stage.
I think this tournament will be the greatest women’s sporting event in history, and as hosts we play such a unique and amazing role in that. It is something many players will never get to experience.
My goal is to meet and engage with as many fans as possible and inspire the next generation of Football Ferns.
► As told to Suzanne McFadden and Merryn Anderson
