When was the last time New Zealand qualified for FIFA World Cup?
When was the last time New Zealand qualified for FIFA World Cup?
The New Zealand men’s football team is two wins away from confirming its spot in the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 set to be co-hosted by USA, Canada, and Mexico.
The All Whites face Fiji in the third round of the OFC World Cup Qualifiers on Friday. If they win the fixture then they will play the winner of New Caledonia vs Tahiti in the final for the direct spot to the marquee event.
The Kiwis topped their group in the second round, winning all the three matches and scoring 19 goals in the process.
Last time the New Zealand men’s football team played in a FIFA World Cup edition was in 2010. Placed in Group F alongside Paraguay, Slovakia, and Italy, the All Whites finished third after notching up three draws in South Africa.
The only other time New Zealand qualified for the FIFA World Cup was when it played in the 1982 edition which took place in Spain. The side finished last in its group, failing to get off the mark in the points table.
Published on Mar 20, 2025
