In the Oceania Football Confederation’s last qualification match, the New Zealand national football team defeated New Caledonia 3-0, securing a berth in the 2026 World Cup. With their third World Cup berth following appearances in South Africa (2010) and Spain (1982), the All Whites celebrated a historic victory in the pivotal encounter at Eden Park in Auckland.
Michael Boxall opened the scoring in the 61st minute with a strong header from a corner kick, followed by Barbarouses in the 66th minute, and Elijah Just completed the scoring with a goal in the 80th minute, capping off New Zealand’s outstanding second-half performance.
This victory marks New Zealand as the second team to earn a spot in the 2026 World Cup through direct qualification, following Japan, who secured their place just days before. The All Whites will compete alongside the host nations – the United States, Mexico, and Canada – all of whom have automatic spots in the tournament. New Zealand’s qualification marks a historic milestone for Oceania football, as it becomes the first time the OFC has secured a direct World Cup spot, thanks to the tournament’s expansion to 48 teams. At the same time, New Caledonia, the unexpected finalist, still has an opportunity to make their World Cup debut through an intercontinental playoff, which would be a groundbreaking achievement for international football.
