On Monday, New Zealand secured their spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating New Caledonia 3-0 in the championship match of the Oceania qualifier round held in Auckland.
This marks the All Whites’ third time participating in the World Cup, after they lost all their matches in 1982 and drew all theirs in 2010. The 2026 World Cup will take place jointly in the United States, Canada, and Mexico between June 11th and July 19th.
Nevertheless, New Caledonia’s aspirations of making their debut at the World Cup remain alive. They will participate in an intercontinental playoff, a six-team competition that will decide the final two spots for qualification.
Expanding the World Cup to include 48 teams allows New Zealand, which ranks 89th in FIFA’s standings, to secure direct qualification for the first time ever by winning the Oceania Zone qualifiers. This change also works in their favor due to Australia joining the Asian Football Confederation back in 2006.
Apart from the three host nations, Australia also participates alongside Japan, which was the initial country to qualify for the event directly on the field last Thursday.
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Soccer: New Zealand Secures Spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup
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