Chris Wood backs automatic World Cup qualifying for Oceania minnows
6 days, 10 hours ago

Chris Wood backs automatic World Cup qualifying for Oceania minnows

Associated Press  

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand captain Chris Wood says it’s “only fair” that FIFA’s smallest confederation, Oceania, has been given direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup. The final will be played in Auckland next Monday and the winner will be among the first teams to join hosts Canada, the United States and Mexico at next year’s expanded 48-team World Cup. “It’s truly a fair way of doing it and our confederation should be represented.” New Zealand reached the 1982 World Cup after 14 qualifying games in nine months and traveling 55,000 miles. “All our preparation has been focused on trying to limit New Zealand’s strengths and maybe capitalize on one or two of their weaknesses, if they have any.” New Caledonia coach Johann Sidaner said qualifying for the semifinals had been a triumph for his team which has had to overcome civil unrest in its homeland.

World World Cup New Zealand Team Mexico Zealand Cup Fiji Wood New Caledonia Tahiti Confederation Oceania Qualifying  chris  backs  fiji  coach  world  team  minnows  zealand  teams  automatic  confederation  cup  wood  oceania  qualifying

History of this topic

Who has qualified for the 2026 World Cup?
2 days, 2 hours ago

Who has qualified for the 2026 World Cup?

Hindustan Times  

The 2026 World Cup will have a record 48 teams, and New Zealand qualified on Monday five days after Japan became the first nation excluding the three hosts to secure a spot. North and Central America plus the Caribbean get three direct berths and another two spots in the intercontinental playoffs. Oceania for the first time has a guaranteed spot …

New Zealand qualifies for the 2026 World Cup with a 3-0 win over New Caledonia in the Oceania final
2 days, 3 hours ago

New Zealand qualifies for the 2026 World Cup with a 3-0 win over New Caledonia in the Oceania final

Hindustan Times  

New Zealand will play at the 2026 World Cup after beating New Caledonia 3-0 on Monday in the final of the Oceania confederation qualifying series. New Zealand qualifies for the 2026 World Cup with a 3-0 win over New Caledonia in the Oceania final The New Zealand “All Whites” reached the World Cup for the third time after qualifying in …

2026 World Cup spot at stake: New Zealand, New Caledonia to meet in the Oceania qualifying final
5 days, 7 hours ago

2026 World Cup spot at stake: New Zealand, New Caledonia to meet in the Oceania qualifying final

Associated Press  

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood scored a hat trick of headed goals as New Zealand beat Fiji 7-0 Friday to join New Caledonia in the Oceania qualifying final for the 2026 World Cup. That means the victor in Monday’s final in Auckland, New Zealand will join hosts Canada, the United States and Mexico and Japan, which …

Red-hot Forest striker Wood targets New Zealand history at World Cup
1 week, 1 day ago

Red-hot Forest striker Wood targets New Zealand history at World Cup

Hindustan Times  

Chris Wood has fired Nottingham Forest into surprise Champions League contention and now the striker wants to score the goals to help New Zealand make history at the World Cup. HT Image New Zealand are strong favourites to qualify out of the Oceania region over the next week and reach the World Cup for only the third time. "That will …

FIFA World Cup 2026: New Zealand announces squad for Oceania qualifiers, Wood named captain
2 weeks, 1 day ago

FIFA World Cup 2026: New Zealand announces squad for Oceania qualifiers, Wood named captain

The Hindu  

Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood spearheaded New Zealand’s squad named Tuesday for crunch games that could see it reach the World Cup for the first time in 16 years. The winner will play at Auckland’s Eden Park three days later with the victor making the 2026 World Cup in North America after an Oceania side was awarded direct entry for …

Australia aims to top World Cup qualifying: Behich
1 year, 4 months ago

Australia aims to top World Cup qualifying: Behich

The Hindu  

Australia aims to top World Cup qualifying in the Asia groups and avoid another tricky route to the 2026 finals in North America after needing to grind to reach Qatar and Russia, defender Aziz Behich said. The expanded 48-team World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico means Asia will have eight teams able to qualify directly in 2026, …

Asian Football Confederation Reworks Qualifying Format for 48-Team FIFA World Cup in 2026
2 years, 7 months ago

Asian Football Confederation Reworks Qualifying Format for 48-Team FIFA World Cup in 2026

News 18  

The Asian Football Confederation has confirmed a new qualifying format to factor in its expanded number of direct entries for a 48-team World Cup in 2026. The governing body for soccer in Asia issued a statement on Monday saying a four-round qualifying system has been designed in preparation for the eight direct spots and single intercontinental playoff slot allocated to …

FIFA World Cup 2026: Asia reworks qualifying format for 48-team event
2 years, 7 months ago

FIFA World Cup 2026: Asia reworks qualifying format for 48-team event

Firstpost  

The qualifying format was based on the entry of all 47 member associations and is subject to change depending on the final number of entries. BRISBANE: The Asian Football Confederation has confirmed a new qualifying format to factor in its expanded number of direct entries for a 48-team World Cup in 2026. The governing body for soccer in Asia issued …

Landmarks to highlight Australia-New Zealand World Cup bid
4 years, 9 months ago

Landmarks to highlight Australia-New Zealand World Cup bid

Associated Press  

SYDNEY — The Sydney Opera House and Auckland’s Sky Tower will be lit up simultaneously to highlight the joint bid from Australia and New Zealand in the final hours before FIFA decides on the venue for the 2023 Women’s World Cup. “Our goal has been to convince the FIFA Council members who vote on the merits of our bid and …

FIFA inviting some non-champions to enlarged Club World Cup
5 years, 5 months ago

FIFA inviting some non-champions to enlarged Club World Cup

Associated Press  

Based on qualification procedures seen by The Associated Press, teams can qualify for FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup without having to win a regional competition — even at the expense of some champions. The revamped Club World Cup is due to be staged every four years, replacing the current annual format that features the six champions of continental competitions and …

Asia gains in World Cup rework
7 years, 11 months ago

Asia gains in World Cup rework

China Daily  

File photo shows FIFA President Gianni Infantino addresses a news conference after a FIFA Council in Zurich, Switzerland, January 10, 2017. FIFA allocates extra slots, plans new qualifying mini-tournament ZURICH - FIFA on Thursday announced plans to hold a new six-team playoff round in the 2026 World Cup host country to complete an expanded 48-team lineup. The playoff mini-tournament, to …

Discover Related