The All Whites are back. New Zealand have reached a World Cup for the first time since 2010, the year they famously drew all three games to finish as the only unbeaten team in South Africa. Under Darren Bazeley, they cruised through Oceania qualifying and sealed their place with a 3-0 win over New Caledonia at Eden Park. Captain Chris Wood, the country's all-time top scorer and a Premier League striker with Nottingham Forest, leads a squad blending European-based talent in Marko Stamenic and Liberato Cacace with the new domestic force of Auckland FC. Drawn into Group G with Belgium, Iran and Egypt, this is the squad, the qualification story, the fixtures, and the search for a first ever World Cup win.
New Zealand are built around a Premier League captain and a core of players who have moved into European and top-tier club football. These are the names the campaign turns on.
The talisman. New Zealand's all-time leading scorer and a proven Premier League striker with Nottingham Forest, Wood is the focal point of the attack and the captain. At 2026 he becomes one of the first New Zealand men to play at two World Cups.
The midfield driver. A box-to-box midfielder playing his club football in Europe, Stamenic gives the All Whites energy and quality in the centre of the park and is central to how Bazeley wants to progress the ball.
The left-sided weapon. An attacking full-back with European experience, Cacace brings overlapping runs and delivery down the left, one of New Zealand's most important outlets going forward.
The controller. A composed deep-lying midfielder, Bell sits in front of the defence and dictates tempo, the calm presence that lets New Zealand's more attacking players push on.
The x-factor. A quick, direct attacker who earned a move to Saint-Etienne, Old gives New Zealand a dribbling threat and the creativity to unlock organised defences from wide areas.
The deliverer. The former defender took charge of the All Whites and guided them through Oceania qualifying without alarm, building an organised, hard-working side around Chris Wood and a maturing European-based core.
Darren Bazeley named his 26 at Eden Park, blending players in England, Europe and Australia with a strong contingent from the New Zealand-based Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix. Every player has been capped. Below is the full squad by position; club listings can shift over the summer window.
Bazeley's group is anchored by Chris Wood up front and a defence led by veteran Michael Boxall and Tommy Smith, with Wood and Smith both returning for a second World Cup. The midfield, marshalled by Joe Bell and Marko Stamenic, is the area New Zealand will need to compete in against stronger opponents, while the rise of Auckland FC has deepened the domestic talent pool. Club listings can change over the summer window.
Three threads define New Zealand's 2026 campaign: a long-awaited return, the night they sealed it, and the records on the line.
The drought ends. New Zealand had not reached a World Cup since 2010, and Oceania had no representative at the finals in between. The All Whites are back, and so is the region.
The clincher. New Zealand swept through Oceania qualifying and sealed their place with a 3-0 win over New Caledonia in the final at a packed Eden Park, the home of New Zealand football.
The holy grail. New Zealand have never won a match at a World Cup. The 2010 side drew all three; the class of 2026 want to go one better and claim the country's first victory on the biggest stage.
New Zealand were drawn into Group G with Belgium, Iran and Egypt. Belgium are the seeds and clear favourites, so the All Whites face a steep task, with the opener against Iran and the meeting with Egypt the games most likely to shape their tournament. Two of the three matches are at BC Place in Vancouver, with the opener at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
A positive result against Iran would change the complexion of the group, before a pivotal meeting with Egypt and a final-day test against favourites Belgium. For the full picture of all 104 games, see the WorldCuply.com match schedule, and read our guides to Group G rivals Belgium, Iran and Egypt.
New Zealand are clear outsiders, but the expanded format and their resilience give them something to aim at:
Belgium are favourites to win the group, and Iran and Egypt are both ranked well above New Zealand. But the All Whites have made a habit of frustrating better sides, and a first ever World Cup win, let alone a knockout place, would be a landmark moment for the game in Oceania.
New Zealand are one of 48 nations heading to the 2026 World Cup. Explore the rest of the WorldCuply.com guide:
New Zealand's Group G seeds and the favourites, Kevin De Bruyne leading a refreshed golden generation.
Read the Belgium guide ›New Zealand's opening opponents, Team Melli and one of Asia's most consistent qualifiers.
Read the Iran guide ›New Zealand's likely rivals for a knockout place, the Pharaohs led by Mohamed Salah.
Read the Egypt guide ›The top players at the 2026 World Cup, from Group G's biggest names to the tournament's brightest stars.
View the superstars ›This guide was hand-written from the following reporting and reference pages, used to confirm New Zealand's squad, coach, qualification, group and fixtures:
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