The Football Ferns have named their 18-player squad for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Captain Rebecca Smith is one of 13 full-time professionals who will travel to London as part of a talented and in-form New Zealand team.

Chelsea's Hayley Moorwood, Malmo's Ali Riley and American-college duo Besty Hassett (University of California Berkeley) and Rosie White (UCLA) have all made the final cut.

Unlike the men's football tournament, the women's event is not governed by an over-arching rule which requires all but three of the squad to be under 23.

Coach Tony Readings said some tough decisions had to be made to trim the squad down to 18 players following a run of good performances.

"There's a lot of good players who haven't made this squad," Readings said.

"But we're confident that we've got the right squad and we go to London seeking success.

The Ferns now face games against Canada (July 14) and Colombia (July 17), before facing Olympic hosts Great Britain at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium - in what's not only the first match of the football tournament, but the first action of the 2012 Games, two days before the opening ceremony.

New Zealand have also been drawn against Brazil and Cameroon in Group E of the Olympic pools.

Football Ferns squad for 2012 Olympic Games:

Goalkeepers: Jenny Bindon, Rebecca Rolls

Defenders: Ria Percival, Anna Green, Abby Erceg, Rebecca Smith (c), Ali Riley, Kristy Hill, Rebekah Stott

Midfielders: Katie Hoyle, Hayley Moorwood, Kirsty Yallop, Betsy Hassett, Annalie Longo.

Attackers: Amber Hearn, Sarah Gregorius, Rosie White, Hannah Wilkinson

- © Fairfax NZ News