OFC Nations: New Zealand

The biggest team in Oceania has been to the World Cup twice and doesn’t look to be overtaken as Oceania’s best side in a while.

NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL QUICK FACTS:

FA ESTABLISHED: 1891
OFC/FIFA MEMBER: 1966/1948
PRESIDENT: Deryck Shaw
NATIONAL STADIUM: Various stadiums around the country
MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MANAGER: Anthony Hudson
WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MANAGER: Tony Readings
SENIOR TOP DIVISIONS: Stirling Sports Premiership (Men), National Women’s League (Women)

HISTORY:

The All Whites played their first match as early as 1904 but their first official matches didn’t come until almost twenty years later when they played Australia in three friendlies around New Zealand in 1922.

They’ve been to the world cup twice, first in 1982 and most recently in 2010 where they became the only undefeated team in the tournament, despite being knocked out in the group stages. All their matches were drawn. Another nice thing to take back from the trip to South Africa was that their draws saw them end above the mighty Italy in the group, the match against the Italians ended 1-1.

Embed from Getty Images
The All Whites squad that faced Italy in the South Afria 2010 World Cup

In the OFC Nations Cup New Zealand is the most successful team, although for a long time they had to play second fiddle to Australia, but when Australia moved to the Asian Confederation in 2006 they took over as the strongest side. The Kiwis have five titles to their name (1973, 98, 2002, 08, 16) as well as one second place (2000) and three third places (1996, 2004, 12).

At youth level and in the women’s game there has been much the same tune with Australia and New Zealand sharing almost every single trophy between them.

The men’s senior side is currently on track to qualify for the 2018 World Cup and are through to the final OFC Playoff before the Intercontinental-Playoff sometime this fall. They will also represent Oceania in the upcoming Confederations Cup.

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