New Zealand World Cup 2026

New Zealand are Oceania's dominant footballing nation, and the All Whites return to the World Cup as the region's standard-bearers. They play a direct, physical style well suited to a squad drawn from the A-League, MLS and lower European leagues, with team ethos reflecting the broader New Zealand sporting culture of resilience, unity and fierce competitiveness regardless of the odds. Led by Premier League striker Chris Wood, New Zealand approach the tournament as underdogs but with genuine belief they can compete and perhaps finally end their long wait for a first World Cup victory.

New Zealand swept through OFC qualifying, winning the third round in March 2025 to seal Oceania's direct berth. Drawn into Group G with Belgium, Iran and Egypt, they face a daunting challenge but arrive with nothing to lose, a proven goal scorer in Chris Wood, and the famous All Whites spirit.

Darren Bazeley sets up a direct, physical 4-4-2 built on defensive shape, set-pieces and Chris Wood's aerial threat. Wood — a proven Premier League scorer — is the focal point, Liberato Cacace supplies energy down the left, and the side looks to defend compactly and hit long toward their target man. Resilient, physical and never short on effort.

New Zealand have appeared at two previous World Cups: 1982 in Spain, where they lost all three group matches, and 2010 in South Africa, where they achieved the remarkable feat of going unbeaten — drawing all three group games against Slovakia, Italy and Paraguay. That draw with eventual runners-up Italy remains one of the most celebrated results in New Zealand sporting history, even though they were eliminated.

At the 2010 World Cup, New Zealand were the only team to finish the tournament unbeaten — drawing all three group matches, including against eventual finalists Italy — yet still failed to advance, a unique and bittersweet record.