New Zealand at the FIFA World Cup 2026

History

New Zealand have appeared at the FIFA World Cup three times: 1982, 2010, and 2026. At Spain 1982, the All Whites lost all three group matches, conceding 12 goals against Scotland, the Soviet Union, and Brazil. Their finest tournament came in South Africa 2010, where they drew all three group matches - including a 1-1 result against defending champions Italy - finishing third in their group and becoming the only unbeaten nation at that tournament, though they were nonetheless eliminated in the group stage. New Zealand have never won the World Cup and have never advanced beyond the group stage. In OFC competition they are six-time OFC Nations Cup champions (1973, 1998, 2002, 2008, 2016, 2024).

Qualification

New Zealand qualified for the 2026 World Cup as OFC zone winners, the confederation's direct allocation slot in the expanded 48-team tournament. The OFC qualifying process ran from September 2024 to March 2025. New Zealand dominated Group B of the OFC qualifiers, winning all three matches against Tahiti, Vanuatu, and Samoa. In the Stage 3 final held at Sky Stadium in Wellington on March 21, 2025, New Zealand defeated New Caledonia 3-0 to clinch qualification. The expanded World Cup format means the OFC now receives a guaranteed direct berth for the first time, ending the confederation's previous requirement for an inter-continental play-off.

Preparation

Coach Darren Bazeley, appointed in 2023 in his first senior international head coaching role, announced his final 26-man squad on May 14, 2026. Captain Chris Wood leads the group, alongside regulars Liberato Cacace, Kosta Barbarouses, Marko Stamenić, Tim Payne, and Michael Boxall. The Australasian-based players departed New Zealand on May 27 for Florida via Los Angeles, with the squad assembling in north Florida (Boca Raton) for the opening phase of their US-based pre-tournament camp; Bazeley will have roughly two weeks with the full group before the opening match. Five Auckland FC players (Michael Woud, Francis De Vries, Callan Elliot, Jesse Randall, and Nando Pijnaker) left after their A-League championship celebrations, while Ben Old joins late after staying with Saint-Etienne for promotion play-offs. The full squad trained together for the first time in Florida in a light session to shake off jet lag and acclimatise to the heat. Two midfielders are being managed for minor muscle issues: Ryan Thomas (hamstring) will miss both warm-ups and Joe Bell (calf) misses the Haiti game but is set to play England, with Bazeley confident both will be fit to face Iran. In their absence Alex Rufer, Marko Stamenic, and debutant Lachlan Bayliss are in line to anchor midfield against Haiti. New Zealand play pre-tournament friendlies against Haiti on June 3 in Fort Lauderdale and against England on June 7 in Tampa. Their opening Group G fixture is against Iran on June 15 in Los Angeles.

Squad

Recent results

• 2024-09-07 — MEX 3-0 NZL (friendly)
• 2024-09-10 — USA 1-1 NZL (friendly)
• 2024-10-11 — NZL 3-0 TAH (qualification)
• 2024-10-14 — NZL 4-0 MAS (friendly)
• 2024-11-15 — NZL 8-1 VAN (qualification)
• 2024-11-18 — NZL 8-0 SAM (qualification)
• 2025-03-21 — NZL 7-0 FIJ (qualification)
• 2025-03-24 — NZL 3-0 NCL (qualification)
• 2025-10-09 — POL 1-0 NZL (friendly)
• 2025-10-14 — NOR 1-1 NZL (friendly)
• 2025-11-15 — COL 2-1 NZL (friendly)
• 2025-11-18 — ECU 2-0 NZL (friendly)