It’s been 14 long years since the All Whites represented Aotearoa New Zealand at the FIFA World Cup, but their journey to return to the world's biggest sporting event starts today.

This time the pathway for the team is clearer than ever, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup expanding to 48 teams. For the first time, the winner of Oceania will secure direct entry to the tournament, eliminating the need for a playoff against another confederation, as was the case in previous years.

The team's mission is simple: win the FIFA World Cup 2026 – Oceania Qualifiers, and they will earn their ticket to Canada, Mexico, and the USA in two years’ time.

The Oceania Qualifiers feature eight teams divided into two groups of four. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals and final. 

New Zealand has been drawn in Group B alongside Samoa, Tahiti, and Vanuatu, with all group matches scheduled during the October and November FIFA international match windows.

The All Whites will kick off their campaign with an away match against Vanuatu, where they triumphed in the OFC Men’s Nations Cup in June. They will then return to Aotearoa for home matches in Hamilton and Auckland in November.

 

The semi-finals and final will also take place in New Zealand in March 2025, with further details to be announced next month.

Qualifying begins today at 3pm NZT (11 October) against Tahiti at VFF Freshwater Stadium in Port Vila.

Tahiti, ranked highest in the group, enters the match in good form after finishing third in the OFC Men’s Nations Cup. Head coach Samuel Garcia has selected a squad that is largely domestic-based but includes a French influence.

Tahiti's biggest threat is attacker Teaonui Tehau, who boasts an impressive scoring record of one goal every 1.5 games for his country. After netting three times at the Nations Cup, he will be keen to maintain his momentum in OFC competitions.

The two sides last met in the Nations Cup in June, where the All Whites secured a commanding 5-0 victory. However, their previous encounter in FIFA World Cup qualifying resulted in a narrow 1-0 win for New Zealand, with Tahiti putting up a resilient defensive performance before a late Liberato Cacace winner.

The All Whites have named a strong squad for this match, welcoming back players like Chris Wood and Marko Stamenić, who were unavailable for the OFC Men’s Nations Cup.

Recognising the importance of starting the campaign with a win, the All Whites are aware that Tahiti will be eager to cause an upset. Alex Rufer emphasised this at the pre-match press conference:

“We are here to win. Whatever rank you are, it doesn’t matter to us. Every game you play, someone wants to beat you, and we want to beat them. We’ve prepared well, and we’re excited.”

Fans can watch the match, along with all of the All Whites' 2026 FIFA World Cup – Oceania Qualifiers, live and free on FIFA+ starting at 3 PM today.

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Article added: Friday 11 October 2024