New Zealand

Group GFIFA Ranking #85OFC

Coach

Darren Bazeley

World Cup Appearances

Best Finish

Group Stage

Training Base

San Diego, California

University of San Diego — Torero Stadium

Complete Team Guide

Darren Bazeley has named New Zealand's 26 for World Cup 2026. Chris Wood captains despite two knee injuries, Tommy Smith returns from the 5th tier at 36, and Bazeley will become the first person in history to coach all four major FIFA men's tournaments.

Read full team guide →

Predict New Zealand at World Cup 2026

Pick every match, earn points, and challenge your friends. Predictions lock June 11.

Use the World Cup 2026 Predictor →Build a World Cup 2026 Bracket →

New Zealand World Cup 2026 Group

What group is New Zealand in for World Cup 2026? New Zealand is in Group G at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Follow the group fixtures, standings, and knockout path from the Group G page.

Use the World Cup 2026 Predictor to predict New Zealand group matches, compare their possible finish, and build a knockout bracket that includes their route through the tournament.

Group G World Cup 2026 →Predict New Zealand World Cup 2026 matches →

Collect the WC 2026 Sticker Album

Track your Panini sticker collection, mark your duplicates, and find trade partners.

Open Sticker Album →

Road to 2026

New Zealand qualified for World Cup 2026 by taking advantage of Oceania's first direct slot, and FIFA's qualification coverage framed it exactly that way: an expanded tournament paying instant dividends for the OFC. The All Whites beat New Caledonia 3-0 on 24 March 2025 to end a 16-year wait for a return to the finals.

Key Players

Chris Wood

Forward

Nottingham Forest

FIFA's Oceania qualifying review says Wood finished the campaign with nine goals, more than double the next-best scorer.

Liberato Cacace

Defender

Empoli

Cacace gives New Zealand a top-level defender comfortable in difficult defensive workloads.

Joe Bell

Midfielder

Viking

Bell helps New Zealand stay organised in midfield and is important when the team need calmer possession.

Michael Boxall

Defender

Minnesota United

FIFA's New Zealand qualification report notes that Boxall scored the breakthrough goal in the final against New Caledonia.

Matt Garbett

Midfielder

NAC Breda

Garbett offers energy and helps add a younger running profile around the veteran spine.

Official WC 2026 Squad

26 playersRead our squad analysis →

Goalkeepers

Max Crocombe

Millwall

Alex Paulsen

Lechia Gdańsk

Michael Woud

Auckland FC

Defenders

DEF

Tim Payne

Wellington Phoenix

DEF

Francis De Vries

Auckland FC

DEF

Tyler Bindon

Nottingham Forest

DEF

Michael Boxall

Minnesota United

DEF

Liberato Cacace

Wrexham

DEF

Nando Pijnaker

Auckland FC

DEF

Finn Surman

Portland Timbers

DEF

Callan Elliot

Auckland FC

DEF

Tommy Smith

Braintree Town

Midfielders

MID

Joe Bell

Viking FK

MID

Matt Garbett

Peterborough United

MID

Marko Stamenic

Swansea City

MID

Sarpreet Singh

Wellington Phoenix

MID

Alex Rufer

Wellington Phoenix

MID

Ryan Thomas

PEC Zwolle

Attackers

ATT

Chris Wood

Nottingham Forest

ATT

Eli Just

Motherwell

ATT

Kosta Barbarouses

Western Sydney Wanderers

ATT

Ben Waine

Port Vale

ATT

Ben Old

Saint-Étienne

ATT

Callum McCowatt

Silkeborg IF

ATT

Jesse Randall

Auckland FC

ATT

Lachlan Bayliss

Newcastle Jets

Can New Zealand go all the way? Make your prediction →

Follow New Zealand in the World Cup 2026 bracket

Match Schedule

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Group Stage - Group G

2026-06-15

Iran

2 - 2

New Zealand

SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles

Group Stage - Group G

2026-06-21

New Zealand

1 - 3

Egypt

BC Place, Vancouver

Group Stage - Group G

2026-06-26

New Zealand

1 - 5

Belgium

BC Place, Vancouver