New Zealand book World Cup place for just the third time | OneFootball

New Zealand have sealed their place at the 2026 World Cup after beating New Caledonia in the Oceania play-off.

The All Whites will return to football’s biggest stage for the first time in 16 years next summer.

For the first time, Oceania has been granted an automatic place at the finals, avoiding the tricky inter-continental play-off that has often denied the federation representation at the World Cup.

New Zealand were overwhelming favourites for qualification and overcame a slow start to ease past the Pacific island nation.

The 36-year-old Michael Boxall opened the scoring with his first international goal for New Zealand , before Wellington Phoenix winger Kosta Barbarouses doubled the lead soon after. Eli Just sealed the win – and World Cup qualification – in the 80th minute.

New Zealand will feature at the tournament for just the third time, after group-stage exits in 1982 and 2010. Chris Wood will captain the nation at the finals, with the nation’s record scorer in the midst of a career-best campaign at Nottingham Forest.

New Zealand are the second team to secure qualification, after Japan. The co-hosts USA, Mexico and Canada are also confirmed entrants.

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