New Zealand World Cup 2026: First World Cup since 2010 for NZ

New Zealand will make just their third appearance at a men’s World Cup when they kick off in North America, having won the OFC World Cup qualification bracket. They beat New Caledonia in the final to reach these finals but will enter Group G as the underdogs.

Read on to find my New Zealand World Cup 2026, including betting odds, squad news and a prediction on how they will fare. 

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Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe (Millwall), Alex Paulsen (Bournemouth), Michael Woud (Auckland FC)

Defenders: Tim Payne (Wellington Phoenix), Francis de Vries (Auckland FC), Tyler Bindon (Nottingham Forest), Michael Boxall (Minnesota United), Liberato Cacace (Wrexham), Nando Pijnaker (Auckland FC), Finn Surman (Portland Timbers), Callan Elliot (Auckland FC), Tommy Smith (Braintree Town)

Midfielders: Joe Bell (Viking FK), Matthew Garbett (Peterborough United), Marko Stamenic (Swansea City), Sarpreet Singh (Wellington Phoenix), Alex Rufer (Wellington Phoenix), Ben Old (Saint-Etienne), Callum McCowatt (Silkeborg IF), Lachlan Bayliss (Newcastle Jets), Ryan Thomas (PEC Zwolle)

Forwards: Kosta Barbarouses (Western Sydney Wanderers), Eli Just (Motherwell), Jesse Randall (Auckland FC), Ben Waine (Port Vale), Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest)

The expanded World Cup has certainly worked in New Zealand’s favour as Oceania were handed an automatic qualifying spot rather than a spot in the play-offs, after the All Whites lost to Costa Rica at that stage when trying to reach the 2022 World Cup.

They were massive favourites to reach this World Cup as the teams they came up against are minnows in world football, and they beat Fiji 7-0 in the semis before easing past New Caledonia 3-0 in the final to book their spot. 

In their last World Cup appearance back in 2010, New Zealand were the only unbeaten side in South Africa, as they drew all three group games but went out. Three points here may well take them through given eight third-place teams will progress, and they will look to land a shock against Belgium, Iran or Egypt. 

World Cup Odds

Darren Bazeley is a steady hand in the dugout, and the squad he has picked is certainly an interesting mix. Thirty-six-year-old Tommy Smith has been included, despite being relegated with Braintree Town and having not played for his country since 2024.

He started every game in their last World Cup appearance in 2010 for some context, when Lamine Yamal was just three years old. Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood is the headliner and will start up top, while club teammate Tyler Bindon is also included, along with Millwall’s Max Crocombe, Swansea’s Marko Stamenic and Wrexham’s Liberato Cacace.

Port Vale’s FA Cup star Ben Waine will be hoping to grab the headlines again, this time on a world stage. On paper this is a squad that lacks any major depth and quality - with captain Wood the only one to be playing in a top-five league. 

Group G Fixtures:

15 June 6pm local (16 June 2am BST) - vs Iran (Los Angeles)

21 June 6pm local (22 June 2am BST) - vs Egypt (Vancouver)

26 June 8pm local (27 June 4am BST) - vs Belgium (Vancouver)

Key Player: Chris Wood

Boring I know, but 34-year-old Wood is clearly the standout talent in this side. Captain Wood has been out with a long-term knee issue this season. He returned to club action in mid-April, and may not be at full tilt, but he is going to have to shoulder the goalscoring responsibility for this side. 

Despite the injury problems, he still got three goals for Forest in the Premier League this term, and there is no doubting his finishing ability. Chances may be few and far between for NZ at this World Cup, and Wood is going to have to be clinical if they are to progress.

Football Odds

Prediction: Bottom of the group

I think this is going to be a rough ride for New Zealand in truth. They’ve got a spine of Championship talent and could cause a few shocks but it is tough to see them beating any of Belgium, Egypt or Iran - given they don’t play against opponents of that quality in qualifying. 

We will learn a lot more from their warm-up games, including one against England, but this could be a rough World Cup for the All Whites, given they simply aren’t that used to playing elite national teams. 

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