The Football Ferns are on the cusp of being good enough to win a World Cup.

Once treated like an outcast by the New Zealand football powers, woman's football has become the hot ticket even if the profile still falls way behind the men, writes Sam Malcolmson.

For the Football Ferns a remarkable trans-tasman hex continued last night in Auckland. The New Zealand side lost 3-2 to Australia in the final international tri-series match, unable to break a victory drought that now dates backs more than 20 years.

The Football Ferns had two aims before their international friendly with Denmark yesterday: one was to win and the other was to show improvements as they work towards the World Cup in June.

The Football Ferns will play hosts Canada, led by former New Zealand coach John Herdman, after the draw for the 2015 Fifa Women's World Cup was announced yesterday.

Chris Rattue writes to dissatisfied women footballers: "If Fifa is the misogynist devil you portray it to be, set up your own world football organisation."

A strong second half performance by the Football Ferns went unrewarded overnight as Japan found a late winner to claim a 2-1 victory at the Kincho Stadium in Osaka.