New Zealand's long-standing World Cup heartbreak is fueling their determination to secure a spot at the 2026 tournament, head coach Darren Bazeley said on Wednesday. With just two victories standing between them and a return to football’s biggest stage, the team is more motivated than ever.
Led by Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood, New Zealand are strong favorites to overcome Fiji in Wellington on Friday before sealing qualification with a win against either New Caledonia or Tahiti next Monday.
The expanded 48-team format for the 2026 World Cup—hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico—grants Oceania’s top team direct entry for the first time, eliminating the intercontinental playoff hurdle that previously thwarted New Zealand’s qualification efforts.
Bazeley believes the squad’s painful near-misses in past campaigns, including defeats to Mexico, Peru, and Costa Rica, will serve as powerful motivation.
"We have a lot of players who experienced the hurt of not qualifying, and it still stings," said the Englishman. "Some of them missed out on those defining moments, so there’s no chance of complacency this time."
He emphasized the team’s readiness: "We know what’s in front of us, and we’re determined to take this opportunity. It’s been too long since we were at a World Cup, and we’re fully focused on getting back there."
New Zealand, ranked 89th in the world, are expected to comfortably dispatch 148th-ranked Fiji, whose squad includes amateur players such as police officers and construction workers. Victory would set up a decisive match in Auckland against either New Caledonia or Tahiti, with a World Cup place on the line.
For captain Chris Wood, who is enjoying a career-best season at 33 with 18 Premier League goals, these matches are pivotal.
"This is massive for us as a nation," said Wood, the only remaining player from New Zealand’s last World Cup appearance in 2010. "The hardships we've faced have only made us stronger, and this is our moment."
Wood also praised FIFA’s decision to grant Oceania an automatic qualification spot, something he believes should have happened long ago.
"Our confederation deserves representation at the World Cup," he said. "Now, we have the chance to take what should rightfully be ours."
With history within reach, New Zealand are ready to seize their long-awaited return to the world’s biggest football stage.
