Coach Michael Mayne named a 23-strong squad yesterday.
Fresh from scoring the Phoenix’s first hat-trick in the women’s A-League, Vlok is called up to the Ferns after captaining New Zealand at the under-17 world tournament last year.
After a breakout season with Newcastle Jets, where she has scored three goals in eight games from midfield, Charlotte Lancaster is also named in her debut squad.
Goalkeeper Maddie Iro is selected as part of an initial squad for the first time after joining as an injury replacement for October’s games in Mexico and the United States.
Mayne is looking forward to getting a new cycle under way with the team ahead of the World Cup.
"It is great to get this group together ahead of an important year and start the journey to achieve the first of our goals, qualifying for Brazil in 2027.
"This tour presents some different challenges, especially with the global nature of our squad and players both in the middle of competitive seasons or in preseason and looking to establish themselves, so we have had to account for a number of factors when selecting the final 23.
"International football is the ultimate challenge and we pride ourselves on tracking performances, keeping competition high in every position, promoting readiness to come in and contribute, and really making sure players can thrive mentally and physically at this level with the high demands to perform as a cohesive team.
"What has been exciting . . . is seeing players performing well and consistently in their leagues, so rewarding Pia and Charlotte . . . is great."
The Football Ferns head to the Solomon Islands to play Samoa (February 27), the host nation (March 2) and American Samoa (March 5).
Semifinals in the Oceania qualifying tournament will be played in Hamilton on April 12, and the final is at North Harbour Stadium on April 15.
Football Ferns
The squad
Goalkeepers: Vic Esson, Alina Santos, Maddie Iro.
Defenders: Michaela Foster, Liz Anton, Claudia Bunge, Meikayla Moore, Lara Wall, Mackenzie Barry, Rebekah Stott.
Midfielders: Katie Kitching, Indiah-Paige Riley, Manaia Elliott, Hannah Blake, Charlotte Lancaster, Maya Hahn, Deven Jackson, Grace Wisnewski, Emma Pijnenburg, Grace Jale, Pia Vlok.
Forwards: Kelli Brown, Milly Clegg.
— Allied Media
