New Zealand
NZL · OFC
Head Coach
Darren Bazeley
Darren Bazeley leads New Zealand into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, tasked with guiding the squad through a competitive Group G and beyond. The coaching staff has been preparing tactical approaches tailored to the expanded 48-team tournament format.
Group Stage Venue
Philadelphia
New Zealand will play their group stage matches in Philadelphia. The 2026 World Cup is the first to be hosted across three nations — the United States, Mexico, and Canada — with matches spread across 16 world-class venues.
Squad (26 players)
Goalkeepers
Defenders
Midfielders
Forwards
Recent Form & Current State
New Zealand qualified as OFC champions and through the intercontinental playoff. Under Darren Bazeley, the All Whites have built a competitive squad with players across European and Australasian leagues. Chris Wood remains their key goal threat.
Form heading into a major tournament is often a key indicator of how far a team can progress. New Zealand, currently ranked #85 in the FIFA World Rankings, will look to carry momentum from their recent qualifying and friendly campaigns into the group stage. Consistency in results and squad cohesion built during the qualification cycle will be vital assets. The OFCrepresentatives will be eager to demonstrate their quality on the world's biggest stage in 2026.
World Cup History
New Zealand have appeared in two World Cups (1982 and 2010). In 2010, they drew all three group matches including a famous draw against defending champions Italy, finishing unbeaten but eliminated. They are the only OFC nation to appear at recent World Cups.
The FIFA World Cup is the pinnacle of international football, and New Zealand's history in the competition provides important context for their 2026 campaign. With the tournament expanding to 48 teams for the first time, every nation faces both new opportunities and new challenges in the revamped group stage format featuring groups of four with the top two advancing to a 32-team knockout round. New Zealand will aim to write a new chapter in their World Cup story at this historic edition of the tournament.
Group G Opponents
New Zealand faces Belgium and Egypt and Iran in Group G. The top two teams from each group advance to the Round of 32. Group dynamics, head-to-head records, and tactical matchups will all play a role in determining which teams progress from this stage.