Wellington: New Zealand booked their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a commanding 3-0 win over New Caledonia.
Second-half goals from Michael Boxall, Costa Barbarouses, and Elijah Just sealed the victory, making New Zealand the fifth team to qualify for the tournament, joining hosts the United States, Canada, and Mexico, as well as Japan.
This will mark New Zealand’s third appearance on football’s biggest stage, having previously featured in the 1982 World Cup in Spain and the 2010 edition in South Africa, where they were eliminated in the group stage on both occasions.
Despite the setback, New Caledonia remains in contention for a historic first World Cup appearance. They will compete in the inter-confederation play-offs alongside one team each from AFC, CAF, and CONMEBOL, as well as two teams from CONCACAF, for a final shot at qualification.
