New Zealand at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
All Whites compete in Group D at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Manager Darren Bazeley, captain Chris Wood. OFC qualifier.
New Zealand's outlook at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Ranked #89 in the world, New Zealand are one of the longer shots at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 48-team format and expanded Round of 32 give them a more realistic knockout path than any previous edition.
New Zealand face a stacked Group D: the average opponent ranking is #12, -77 places above them on paper. Realistically they are battling for one of the eight best third-placed slots.
The 2026 tournament uses an expanded 48-team, 12-group format with a new Round of 32. That changes the maths for New Zealand: the top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams advance, so even a third-place finish in Group D is often enough to reach the knockouts. The first New Zealand match of the World Cup is scheduled for Saturday, June 13 against Iran at AT&T Stadium.
New Zealand 2026 World Cup fixtures
Players to watch
Get every player's stats - goals, assists, cards, minutes, xG - via the player stats endpoint for competition_id={COMPETITION_ID}.
New Zealand World Cup history
New Zealand have appeared at 3 previous FIFA World Cups. Their best finish remains Group stage. Across the last five tournaments they recorded: DNQ, DNQ, Group, DNQ, DNQ, including 4 occasions when they failed to qualify.
Get New Zealand data via API
// Fetch New Zealand World Cup 2026 matches
const response = await fetch(
'https://api.thestatsapi.com/api/football/matches?competition_id={COMPETITION_ID}&team=new-zealand',
{ headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' } }
);
const { data } = await response.json();Frequently Asked Questions
What group is New Zealand in at the 2026 World Cup?
New Zealand is in Group D alongside Argentina, Morocco, Iran. The average opponent FIFA ranking in Group D is #12.
Who is New Zealand's manager at the 2026 World Cup?
Darren Bazeley manages New Zealand at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Chris Wood as captain.
What is New Zealand's best World Cup finish?
New Zealand's best FIFA World Cup finish is Group stage. They have appeared in 3 previous World Cup tournaments. Recent form: DNQ, DNQ, Group, DNQ, DNQ.
Who are New Zealand's key players at the 2026 World Cup?
Captain Chris Wood leads a squad whose standout names include Chris Wood, Marko Stamenić, Liberato Cacace. The full 26-player squad is named approximately one week before the opening match.
How did New Zealand qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
OFC qualifier. They came through the OFC qualifying pathway.
What is New Zealand's current FIFA Ranking?
New Zealand are ranked #89 in the world by FIFA at the time of the 2026 World Cup draw. Ranked #89 in the world, New Zealand are one of the longer shots at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 48-team format and expanded Round of 32 give them a more realistic knockout path than any previous edition.
What are New Zealand's chances of winning the 2026 World Cup?
New Zealand face a stacked Group D: the average opponent ranking is #12, -77 places above them on paper. Realistically they are battling for one of the eight best third-placed slots. Ranked #89 in the world, New Zealand are one of the longer shots at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 48-team format and expanded Round of 32 give them a more realistic knockout path than any previous edition.
How can I get New Zealand fixtures and stats via API?
Use TheStatsAPI matches endpoint with competition_id={COMPETITION_ID} and filter by team_id to get all New Zealand World Cup 2026 fixtures, lineups, live scores, in-play events, xG, and player-level stats. The same endpoint also returns historical World Cup data for New Zealand going back to their first tournament.
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