New Zealand

Group GOFCFIFA #854-4-2

Coach: Darren Bazeley

Starting XI Prediction

4-4-2Compact defense, aerial duels, set-pieces

Star Players

All Players →

Chris Wood

STNottingham Forest

76OVR

Fixtures

Iran

Home Win3.50

vs01:00 GMT+0

Handicap-1.5

New Zealand

Away Win1.29

SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles

Group StageGrp GTue, Jun 16

New Zealand

Home Win2.10

vs01:00 GMT+0

Handicap+0.5

Egypt

Away Win1.66

BC Place, Vancouver

Group StageGrp GMon, Jun 22

New Zealand

Home Win1.95

vs03:00 GMT+0

Handicap+1.5

Belgium

Away Win1.85

BC Place, Vancouver

Group StageGrp GSat, Jun 27

Group G

4 teams

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Belgium	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	Iran	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Egypt	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	New Zealand	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Qualify

Potential 3rd

Full Squad Players List

#	Player	Club	Pos
Goalkeepers
1	Max CrocombeXI Millwall	Millwall	GK
12	Alex Paulsen Lechia Gdańsk	Lechia Gdańsk	GK
25	Michael Woud Auckland FC	Auckland FC	GK
Defenders
2	Tommy SmithXI Braintree Town	Braintree Town	RB
3	Liberato CacaceXI Wrexham	Wrexham	LB
4	Tim PayneXI Wellington Phoenix	Wellington Phoenix	CB
5	Michael BoxallXI Minnesota United	Minnesota United	CB
10	Francis De Vries Auckland FC	Auckland FC	DEF
13	Tyler Bindon Nottingham Forest	Nottingham Forest	CB
14	Finn Surman Portland Timbers	Portland Timbers	DEF
15	Nando Pijnaker Auckland FC	Auckland FC	CB
Midfielders
6	Ryan ThomasXI PEC Zwolle	PEC Zwolle	CDM
7	Marko StamenicXI Swansea City	Swansea City	CM
8	Eli JustXI Motherwell	Motherwell	CM
11	Matt GarbettXI Peterborough United	Peterborough United	CAM
16	Joe Bell Viking FK	Viking FK	CDM
20	Alex Rufer Wellington Phoenix	Wellington Phoenix	MID
Forwards
9	Chris WoodXI Nottingham Forest	Nottingham Forest	ST
17	Ben Old Saint-Étienne	Saint-Étienne	LW
18	Callan Elliot Auckland FC	Auckland FC	FWD
19	Sarpreet SinghXI Wellington Phoenix	Wellington Phoenix	LW
21	Ben Waine Port Vale	Port Vale	FWD
22	Callum McCowatt Silkeborg IF	Silkeborg IF	FWD
23	Jesse Randall Auckland FC	Auckland FC	FWD
24	Lachlan Bayliss Newcastle Jets	Newcastle Jets	FWD
26	Kosta Barbarouses Western Sydney Wanderers	Western Sydney Wanderers	RW

World Cup History

—

Titles

Appearances

WC Goals

Wins

Best finish: Group stage (1982, 2010)

Top scorer: Steve Sumner & Chris Wood (2 goals)

Most capped: Ryan Nelsen (6 matches)

Record: 0W – 3D – 3L

New Zealand are a footballing anomaly — in 2010 they became the only team to remain unbeaten throughout the entire group stage without advancing, drawing all three matches against Slovakia, Italy, and Paraguay. The All Whites have qualified twice across 44 years of trying, operating in the vast Oceania/OFC qualification pathway. Chris Wood leads the modern generation.

Tournament Eras

The 1982 Debut

1982

New Zealand made their World Cup debut in Spain 1982 — losing all three group games to Scotland, USSR, and Brazil, but scoring in each. Steve Sumner became the first New Zealander to score at a World Cup against Scotland. The debut raised football's profile in a rugby-dominated nation.

The 2010 Unbeaten Group — Never Beaten, Never Through

2010

New Zealand's 2010 campaign in South Africa produced one of football's great paradoxes. They drew with Slovakia (1-1), held Italy — the defending world champions — to a 1-1 draw, and drew 0-0 with Paraguay. Three points, zero goals conceded in the last two matches, and still eliminated. They remain the only nation to go unbeaten through a World Cup group stage without advancing.

Iconic Moments

2010South Africa 2010 Group Stage

Drawing with World Champions Italy — 2010

Goalkeeper Mark Paston made a string of saves as New Zealand held the defending World Champions Italy to a 1-1 draw. Winston Reid's first-half header and Paston's heroics produced one of the tournament's great upsets. Italy eventually failed to advance from the group themselves.