Wellington Phoenix captain to play for Auckland FC in invitational game

Mackenzie Barry of the Wellington Phoenix poses with the A-League women trophy at AAMI Park, in Melbourne. — Wellington Phoenix’s Mackenzie Barry will play against Chelsea FC in Auckland.

Wellington Phoenix foundation player Mackenzie Barry will link up with Auckland FC’s women’s invitational side for next month’s game against English Women’s Super League side Chelsea.

Barry is the Phoenix women’s most capped player and captained the team during last season’s A-League grand final appearance.

The Football Ferns defender is contracted with the Phoenix until the end of next season.

Barry’s inclusion in the Auckland side for the game at Eden Park on 8 August comes as the club needs to bring together players from different clubs to get a side on the park for this showpiece game as part of the International Football Festival.

Auckland do not currently have a women’s team and will not join the A-League until the 2027-28 season.

When the fixture against Chelsea, who are also touring Australia, was first announced questions were raised about why the existing Phoenix team were not the opponent.

However, women are only contracted with their A-League clubs for eight months so there has been room for Auckland to swoop in and add players to coach Jenny Bindon’s squad.

New Zealand’s Grace Jale celebrates after scoring a goal with Pia Vlok during Fifa Women’s World Cup Qualifiers. — Football Ferns Liz Anton, Grace Jale and Pia Vlok will all get a chance to play Chelsea FC during August.Joshua Devenie / Phototek.nz

Football Ferns Olivia Chance, Liz Anton and Charlotte Lancaster, who all played in the A-League last season, are in the squad alongside the experienced Abby Erceg.

Auckland will announce more players this week.

Barry is not the only Phoenix player announced to play Chelsea with her teammates Grace Jale, Pia Vlok and Makala Woods named in the A-League Women All Stars to play against the eight-time WSL champions on 12 August in Sydney.