The wait for New Zealand’s return to the World Cup may come to an end this week. Here’s what you need to know.
It’s been 15 long years since New Zealand last appeared at a FIFA Men’s World Cup. In just a week’s time, that drought could be broken as a talented All Whites squad, enriched by A-League players, gears up for their final two matches on the pathway to securing automatic qualification for the 2026 tournament.
While New Zealand has never qualified directly for a Men’s World Cup, the tournament’s expansion from 32 to 48 teams now allows for an automatic entry slot for the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). The All Whites are keen to seize this opportunity come the March international window.
The qualification process has been simplified for New Zealand thanks to the World Cup’s expansion: win the OFC phase, and secure a spot in the 2026 tournament.
Since the 2010 World Cup, the All Whites have endured several near-misses through intercontinental playoffs, none more heartbreaking than their 1-0 defeat to Costa Rica, which denied them a place in the 2022 tournament.
Traditionally cast as the underdogs, New Zealand now finds itself in the unusual position of being favoured, hoping to leverage strong home support this month to finally exorcise the ghosts of years past and qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 2010.
Just 180 minutes of football could decide their fate, starting with an OFC qualification semi-final against World No. 148 Fiji in Wellington.
The significance of this chance is clear to New Zealand’s head coach Darren Bazeley.
“It’s a tremendous opportunity for us,” Bazeley shared on the Between Two Beers Podcast.
“The changes made make it much easier. Previously, we faced tough opponents like Mexico, Peru, and Costa Rica in playoffs, and missed out on World Cups as a result. Now, we only need to win the OFC to secure our qualification, which we understand is more straightforward.”
“We aren’t taking it lightly, though. Football is unpredictable, and anything can happen. It’s crucial that we focus on doing our jobs on the pitch.”
“We recognise we’re expected to win, provided everything follows the plan. However, it would take something quite unexpected for us not to win these matches. Yet we understand the nature of football, so we remain cautious.”
The Path to 2026 and A-League Stars Leading the Way
After topping their four-nation group in the second round of OFC qualifying, New Zealand has advanced to the semi-finals, where they will take on Fiji at Sky Stadium in Wellington on March 21. Should the All Whites emerge victorious, they would then face either New Caledonia or Tahiti in the final at Eden Park in Auckland on March 24, with a chance to secure a place at the 2026 World Cup.
The winner of this decisive third-round final will attain automatic qualification for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, marking a significant milestone for the OFC.
New Zealand currently sits at 89th in the world rankings, ahead of Fiji (148), New Caledonia (152), and Tahiti (153).
If successful, New Zealand will become the first nation to qualify for the tournament, aside from the three host countries: United States, Canada, and Mexico.
There is an abundance of Isuzu UTE A-League talent eager to assist the All Whites in this endeavour.
Head coach Darren Bazeley has chosen 23 players for this month’s international duty, with 11 of them currently playing for teams across the Isuzu UTE A-League.
R23 TALKING POINTS: Every word from the Jets coach’s unmissable press conference
WONDERKID WATCH: 18-year-old’s unforgettable debut for Melbourne Victory seems predestined
Six players from Auckland FC have joined the national team this week, including AFC Bournemouth loanee Alex Paulsen and exciting young forward Jesse Randall, the only fresh face in the 23-man squad from the group that triumphed over Vanuatu and Samoa last November.
Paulsen and Randall are joined by Black Knights teammates Logan Rogerson, Nando Pijnaker, and Tommy Smith in the line-up.
Wellington Phoenix players Kosta Barbarouses, Tim Payne, and Alex Rufer have also been selected alongside New Zealanders Oli Sail and Storm Roux, who play for Perth Glory and Central Coast Mariners, respectively.
Collectively, the 11 A-League stars represent nearly half of a 23-player squad, led by Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood, who aims to carry his outstanding Premier League form into the international stage and help guide his nation to a World Cup for the first time in 16 years.
Lessons from the Past Driving the All Whites Forward
This year’s journey towards the 2026 World Cup is punctuated by the bitter memory of a controversial 1-0 loss to Costa Rica in 2021, which sent the North American side to the tournament while the All Whites remained behind.
After playoff defeats to Mexico in 2013 and Peru in 2017, the loss to Costa Rica was especially hurtful; Joel Campbell scored just three minutes into the match, followed by two pivotal moments that thwarted New Zealand’s comeback.
Chris Wood’s potential equaliser was ruled offside after a VAR review, and Kosta Barbarouses received a red card following a VAR assessment of a tackle, leading to New Zealand finishing the match with ten players.
Heartbroken and filled with disappointment, the All Whites had to watch the 2022 World Cup from home. Coach Bazeley notes that the pain from that loss still lingers in the squad, but they are determined to use it as fuel for the current campaign.
“Looking back at the Costa Rica match, I think we were incredibly unlucky,” Bazeley said on the Between Two Beers Podcast.
“It was perhaps one of our best performances… we fought back, created chances, and then suffered the misfortune of a disallowed goal, a sending-off, and yet we continued to create opportunities.
“In the end, we were unsuccessful, but that moment still stings. Everyone felt similar emotions after that match; we discussed it extensively.”
“Winston Reid, who played his last game then, mentioned: remember this feeling, keep it in mind, because we want to avoid feeling like this again. The next opportunity needs to yield a different result.”
The qualification process has since been revamped. Now, by winning at home against Fiji in the OFC semi-finals, the All Whites can avoid an intercontinental playoff.
Fiji’s assistant coach Marika Rodu described the upcoming clash as a David versus Goliath encounter; typically, New Zealand is the giant in the OFC but has never previously faced the risk of elimination before making it this far. This month’s qualification window presents a relatively straightforward path for Bazeley’s side.
The Fijian team is primarily composed of amateur and semi-professional players, and due to an injury, star player and A-Leagues icon Roy Krishna will not be available, leaving many squad members with regular jobs as policemen, builders, and transport workers when not playing football.
This represents a golden opportunity for New Zealand to end their 15-year wait for a World Cup presence since the 2010 tournament in South Africa. Only Premier League star Chris Wood and Auckland defender Tommy Smith remain from the current group holding caps.
Smith has amassed 56 caps for New Zealand and has consistently featured in the All Whites’ squad for the 2026 qualification.
BROADCAST: Paramount+ has announced a new deal that will bring A-League matches to venues across Australia
Motivated by the anguish of their loss to Costa Rica in the intercontinental playoffs, Smith anticipates an electric atmosphere in this week’s OFC semi-final, with a possible final on March 24, as New Zealand strives to end its 16-year World Cup drought before home supporters.
“I wasn’t part of the qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup,” Smith revealed to New Zealand Football.
“So being involved throughout this journey would hold great significance for me. Qualifying on home turf in front of friends and family would be remarkable, especially after our disappointment against Costa Rica. The atmosphere during that campaign wasn’t what we hoped for, and it stung to lose to a team we felt we could have defeated.”
“We know it won’t be straightforward, but we must remain disciplined and focused. Qualifying on home soil would be incredibly special.”
“The growth of Kiwi football has been remarkable. You can see it from the depth of the squad and the number of high-quality players who don’t make the team anymore.”
“The calibre of players New Zealand produces is outstanding, and if we qualify for this World Cup, I hope it serves as a catalyst for the next generation to continue producing top-level talent.”
Match Details – OFC Qualifiers Semi-Final
New Zealand vs Fiji
Date: Friday, March 21, 2025
Venue: Sky Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 7pm (local), 5pm (AEDT)
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
Fanpage: SportArena.com.au.
LiveScore – Live Sports Results & Odds.
