New Zealand qualify for 2026 World Cup

The All Whites have made it through to next year’s big event.

They did so after shipping three second half goals past a resilient New Caledonia in the OFC World Cup Qualifiers on Monday.

It was, as expected, New Zealand who took control of the match, but New Caledonia kept NZ out of their goal for the entirety of the first half.

The New Caledonia defence even made two back to back saves off the line to keep the score level.

But at the hour mark, the dam broke for New Caledonia, after conceding a sloppy corner.

It was centre back Michael Boxall, who scored his very first All Whites goal, who headed the ball into the back of the net from a short distance.

And from there it didn’t look like NZ were going to give up the match.

Substitutes Kosta Barbarouses and Elijah Just scored one each, to seal the score at 3-0.

That means New Zealand secure the direct OFC spot for the Canada, USA, Mexico hosted World Cup next year.

“We waited a long time for a goal. I thought they (New Caledonia) played pretty well. We made some changes at half time, and it worked,” said New Zealand head coach Darren Bazeley

“Fair play to New Caledonia, they made it hard for us. I’m happy we got the job done,” NZ’s first goal scorer, Michael Boxall, said.

New Caledonia will play an intercontinental playoff against sides from Asia, North America and the Caribbean (2), Africa and South America, for the final two spots at the 2026 World Cup early next year.

“Despite the loss I loved the way my team played, the attitude on the pitch”, said New Caledonia coach Johann Sidaner

“Those games are far away right now. Right now we think about this moment. We have time to think about the playoffs later.”

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