New Zealand Qualifies for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
New Zealand has secured its place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. In the final match of the Oceania qualifying tournament, held in Auckland, the Kiwis defeated New Caledonia 3-0. All three goals were scored in the second half.
With this victory, New Zealand became the fifth team to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup, joining the host nations — USA, Canada, and Mexico — as well as Japan, who won the Asian qualification tournament.
This will be New Zealand's third appearance at the World Cup. The team previously participated in the 1982 and 2010 tournaments.
Despite the loss, New Caledonia still has a chance to make its World Cup debut through the intercontinental playoff matches, though it won’t be easy, as their potential opponents are likely to be just as tough as New Zealand.
