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VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — New Zealand might have arrived at this World Cup just happy to be here again. But earning a point in the opener against Iran has opened the door to a run the All Whites have never made.“We can’t let the occasion get too big,” head coach Darren Bazeley said. “It’s about us winning a game of football.”The All Whites enter Sunday’s match against No. 29 Egypt with a chance to move out of the group stage for the first time in their World Cup history. For a nation ranked No. 82, fourth lowest in this year’s expanded 48‑team format, simply getting here for the first time since 2010 might have been enough.
New Zealand’s Nando Pijnaker works out during a training session on the eve of the team’s FIFA World Cup soccer match against Egypt, Saturday, June 20, 2026, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
But now, New Zealand has given itself a chance.“Putting ourselves in such a great position – like this opportunity to create history – we know how good we can be,” midfielder Ben Old said. “It’s just a really exciting moment to be in.”
New Zealand’s presence in this tournament is tied directly to the expanded field. The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) earned its first-ever automatic berth, and the All Whites claimed it through a three‑step qualifying process that concluded with a 3–0 win over No. 151 New Caledonia.
