2025 All Whites International Fixtures

So we have remaining OFC WC qualifiers in the March 2025 window.
Semi final verus Fiji at Sky Stadium, and then hopefully the Final at Eden Park verus one of New Caledonia, Tahiti or Vanautu.

My wish list after that -
June window another North American tour. Game verus Canada and play either the USA or Mexico again. Early days but none of the 3 WC hosts in 2026 have games in that June window, and with most Confederations still in the midst of WC qualifying, they will be struggling to find quality friendly matches.

AWs showed with their (somewhat lucky) draw against US, we are worthy opponents. Be great for AWs to have another trip Stateside in the leadup to 2026. Get used to the infrastructure, stadiums, time zones, etc etc. Any advantage we can get before 2026 always handy. We may have 1 or more pool opponents in 2026 who have never played in North America before.

September & October windows - a little quadrangular tourney with Australia, South Korea & Japan. Say Sth Korea & Japan visit NZ and Aussie in September (just prior ALM kicking off), and then in the October window AWs & Socceroos venture up to Seoul & Tokyo for a game each. Could even put up a little trophy for the winner. Be great to have the AWs play couple of high quality opponents in NZ. Aotearoa has reasonable Korean and Japanese expat communities as well

November window - 2 games up in Europe and/or the Middle East.
Socceroos in London. Iran in Tehran. Jordon or Uzbekistan in Doha or Amman. 


Note the current AFC qualifying stage will finish June next year. The top 2 teams in each of the 3 pools (so six teams) will have qualified for the World Cup, by June. Like the US, Mexico & Canada they will be looking for some games in the leadup to June 2026, from September onwards.

On current standings these 6 AFC teams are (only at the halfway point of qualifying) - Japan, Australia (2nd on GD), Iran, Uzbekistan, Sth Korea, Jordan (2nd on GD).

After the March window next year Japan may have already locked in qualification. They are currently 7 pts clear of Socceroos (2nd), and looks very likely they will be qualified already before June. They play in China tomorrow, and then have 2 home games next March. 

Same Sth Korea (5 pts clear in their pool). Play Palestine in Amman tomorrow, then have 2 home qualifiers in March.

So as soon as late March next year, NZF maybe talking to the Koreans and Japanese about some games, later in the year.

Latest FIFA rankings are out.

All Whites only up 2 places to 89th. Shows the low weighting smashing teams 8-1 & 8-0 in OFC obviously gets.

Socceroos down 2 spots to 26th.

https://inside.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/men

Must be because it's only qualifiers not continental competition which I believe is weighted higher?

Do higher importance qualifiers (i.e. March) get higher weighting?

Tahiti big movers I see - 7th biggest points gain and move up 6 spots

As of 2018, 35,500 Koreans and 18,000 Japanese live in NZ

coochiee

So we have remaining OFC WC qualifiers in the March 2025 window.
Semi final verus Fiji at Sky Stadium, and then hopefully the Final at Eden Park verus one of New Caledonia, Tahiti or Vanautu.

My wish list after that -
June window another North American tour. Game verus Canada and play either the USA or Mexico again. Early days but none of the 3 WC hosts in 2026 have games in that June window, and with most Confederations still in the midst of WC qualifying, they will be struggling to find quality friendly matches.

AWs showed with their (somewhat lucky) draw against US, we are worthy opponents. Be great for AWs to have another trip Stateside in the leadup to 2026. Get used to the infrastructure, stadiums, time zones, etc etc. Any advantage we can get before 2026 always handy. We may have 1 or more pool opponents in 2026 who have never played in North America before.

September & October windows - a little quadrangular tourney with Australia, South Korea & Japan. Say Sth Korea & Japan visit NZ and Aussie in September (just prior ALM kicking off), and then in the October window AWs & Socceroos venture up to Seoul & Tokyo for a game each. Could even put up a little trophy for the winner. Be great to have the AWs play couple of high quality opponents in NZ. Aotearoa has reasonable Korean and Japanese expat communities as well

November window - 2 games up in Europe and/or the Middle East.
Socceroos in London. Iran in Tehran. Jordon or Uzbekistan in Doha or Amman. 


Note the current AFC qualifying stage will finish June next year. The top 2 teams in each of the 3 pools (so six teams) will have qualified for the World Cup, by June. Like the US, Mexico & Canada they will be looking for some games in the leadup to June 2026, from September onwards.

On current standings these 6 AFC teams are (only at the halfway point of qualifying) - Japan, Australia (2nd on GD), Iran, Uzbekistan, Sth Korea, Jordan (2nd on GD).

After the March window next year Japan may have already locked in qualification. They are currently 7 pts clear of Socceroos (2nd), and looks very likely they will be qualified already before June. They play in China tomorrow, and then have 2 home games next March. 

Same Sth Korea (5 pts clear in their pool). Play Palestine in Amman tomorrow, then have 2 home qualifiers in March.

So as soon as late March next year, NZF maybe talking to the Koreans and Japanese about some games, later in the year.

coochiee

Latest FIFA rankings are out.

All Whites only up 2 places to 89th. Shows the low weighting smashing teams 8-1 & 8-0 in OFC obviously gets.

Socceroos down 2 spots to 26th.

https://inside.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/men

There is nothing in the formula which considers margin of victory (women's ranking formula has it though), so a 1-0 counts just the same as an 8-0. Just the low coefficient of the opposition means the points up for grabs is lower for us (and much higher for them). As far as I'm aware, the WCQ in March aren't treated differently multiplier-wise (maybe only intercontinental playoffs have a higher for WCQ matches).

Other confeds doing WCQ as well, which means we're comping 1-for-1 there, plus Nations' League in Europe which has a lower multiplier than WCQ, but higher than the friendlies they replaced. (Another reason why more confeds need Nations' Leagues; can't let UEFA and CONCACAF game the system by themselves. Though it does mean a loss has a greater negative match coefficient - so not all one way).

IMG_7885.jpeg 115.9 KB

Poland in October? Zawada’s scoring in the Netherlands, imagine him lining up against AP, Rufer and Surman.

Well at the moment Poland do look available for a game. They have only the one WC qualifier against Lithuania.

Actually looking at UEFA WC qualifying there are lots of odd numbered groups with either 3 or 5 teams. Presumably with an expanded 48 team WC, and more UEFA teams qualifying, there are more groups. So lots of teams with byes each FIFA window??

If so that helps the AWs chances of picking up some quality friendlies.

There are lots of strikers ahead of Zawada re the Polish national team, playing for bigger clubs than RKC Waalwijk

Have we ever squared off against Poland before? For all the talk of this being a golden age of sorts that's a fixture that would be a real great gauge of where we are at in the lead up to a WC.

October's a long way off though. Any educated guesses on anything in tge pipeline for the windows between March and then? Been desperately missing my All Whites fix the last few months.

It's doubtful anything will be announced prior the March FIFA window.

The current phase of AFC WC qualifying finishes in June, when 6 AFC teams will have qualified for next year's WC. I imagine NZF could target some of those 6 teams for friendlies later this year. Japan & Sth Korea would be cool.

Actually the very in form Blue Samuari (16 pts) with 2 wins in March will have locked in WC qualification early. They are 9 points ahead of 2nd placed Australia (7 pts) in their pool.

Another Nth American tour to play Canada and either the USA or Mexico again would be a smart idea, to get really familar with countries hosting the WC. And yeah like Poland will be a few UEFA teams (in odd numbered WC qualifying pools especially) that should be free for a game.

Rock Hopper

Have we ever squared off against Poland before? For all the talk of this being a golden age of sorts that's a fixture that would be a real great gauge of where we are at in the lead up to a WC.

October's a long way off though. Any educated guesses on anything in tge pipeline for the windows between March and then? Been desperately missing my All Whites fix the last few months.

We played in Poland 2002. Lost 2 0. Mick Waitt the coach. Danny Hay, Chris Jackson, Hickey, Zoricich were in the team I seem to recall.

Jessie Merino

Rock Hopper

Have we ever squared off against Poland before? For all the talk of this being a golden age of sorts that's a fixture that would be a real great gauge of where we are at in the lead up to a WC.

October's a long way off though. Any educated guesses on anything in tge pipeline for the windows between March and then? Been desperately missing my All Whites fix the last few months.

We played in Poland 2002. Lost 2 0. Mick Waitt the coach. Danny Hay, Chris Jackson, Hickey, Zoricich were in the team I seem to recall.

 and also in 1999 in Bangkok, it appears - bloody odd combo. Looks like a young Ryan Nelsen and Ivan Vicelich made appearances too

NZ v Norway 15 October. A chance for Pijnaker to put Haaland in his back pocket?

Screenshot_20250219_211504_Chrome.jpg 628.63 KB

Nando has done it before. Of course Haaland may not play what is just a friendly for the Norwegians.

They play Israel a few days prior on the 12th of October, in what could be a huge match. The Israelis likely the biggest threat in their WC pool qualifying pool, that also contains Estonia & Moldova. First spot automatic WC qualification

Well done NZF.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360586889/chris-wood-v-erling-haaland-all-whites-lock-battle-english-premier-league-stars

Reports out of Poland have suggested the All Whites could play there earlier in the October window.

Could be an absolute ripper of a window in October if that Poland game comes into fruition as well. 

The locals in Oslo could be still hungover when the AWs rock into town after Israel (final pool game). 

They haven't been to a WC in 28 years. Were at both USA 94 & France 98, but nothing since. 

Unreal stuff from NZF, definitely going to try and get to both games!

So having a delve into Juneof86's post that the All Whites could be involved in a four-team tournament in Toronto this June involving Canada, Ukraine and the Ivory Coast. 

Côte d'Ivoire are yes at the moment, uncommitted in June. They have CAF WC qualifiers this month, and again from September onwards.

Ukraine also uncommitted in June. They have UEFA Nations League games this month, and WC qualifiers from September onwards. They have Azerbaijan and Iceland in their WC qualifying group. 1st automatically qualifies and 2nd into playoffs.

It's not only the AWs who are benefitting from an expanded 48 team WC.

And the Canadians of course can only play the USA and Mexico so many times. They host Mexico in a CONCACAF semi final in a few days. Thermals for the Mexicans. Canada no games as yet officially scheduled for June

I really enjoyed that 4 team friendly we were involved in last year (which if I recall correctly nearly had the plug pulled on it before Egypt stepped up to host in the 11th hour).

Line up looks as though we might be able to risk daring to dream, and of course any minutes and experience in North America can only be beneficial in the lead up to the WC.

Best sort of World Cup simulation we can hope for really. 

Mini tourney in a WC host nation, involving teams from 4 different Confederations.
Pity will not be enough time to play all 3 other teams.

I knew I posted that in the wrong thread. 

From a Canadian perspective, this would be prep for this summer's Gold Cup and take place just before that tournament starts. The World Club Cup is taking place at the same time and FIFA seems adamant that top players are in that, so we are expecting to be missing some key members of the squad this summer. 

The largest population of Ukrainians outside of Russia is in Canada, so hosting them makes a lot of sense. They're around 4% of the population and in the part of the country I live in, 12% of the population is of Ukrainian heritage.

BTW Canada is "hosting" Mexico in Los Angeles. The CONCACAF Nations League finals are in LA this week and so that will definitely be an away match for us. With the politics of the day, could be a very interesting final regardless of who wins out semifinal.

Ahh should have checked the venue for the Canada v Mexico game.

Travelled through BC years ago with a guy from Saskatoon. I remember him telling me about Canada's Ukrainians, and was trying to woo one back home or something. Isn't that why folks in that midwest USA/Canada region speak kinda funny? Due to their Ukrainian or Scandanavian heritage? As beautifully captured in Fargo.

And yeah hopefully the 3 host nations can work together for a successful WC, despite the politics of the day.

https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/soccer/canadas-mens-soccer-coach-blasts-trumps-comments-rcna194002

Anyway sounds like a great potential quadrangular tourney for the AWs.  Hopefully it happens. AWs shouldn't have any players at the June CWC, so no clash there for us. Likes of Howieson & Gillion might be there as Auckland City guest players.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_FIFA_Club_World_Cup

The tournament is official. They're calling it The Canadian Shield and they're hoping to make it an annual event. I was wrong on the format. New Zealand v Côte d’Ivoire & Canada v Ukraine on June 7 and then New Zealand v Ukraine & Canada v Côte d’Ivoire on June 10. There will be a table and then the top team in the standings wins the Shield. So we won't play each other, but I'm pretty pleased with those opponents, so I trust you will be too.

The FIFA Club World Cup and the Gold Cup both open on June 14. I am wondering if we can get away with having our full squad for June 7, rotate it entirely for June 10 and release players to their club teams while also keeping some of the starters fresh for our first Gold Cup match (which won't necessarily be on the 14th). Alphonso Davies (Bayern) and Stephen Eustaquio (Porto) are both likely to be gone for us, while Tajon Buchanan and Jonathan David are question marks as their club situation may not be clear by time this club tournament starts.

I live not far from Saskatoon. The accent in Fargo is a very heavy rural Minnesota accent (despite Fargo actually being in North Dakota, though it's on the border) which I think has Scandinavian roots. Our accents are fairly neutral, but the stronger ones in the midwest/Canadian prairies do have a bit of a sing-song quality to them.

I don't see any way the three host nations will "work together" but as long as one of the nations hasn't invaded any of the other host nations I think it the tournament will manage. I think entrance visas are going to be a major issue for a number of people, but we'll see how that situation evolves. 

After Waineo’s face plant goal, and our 1-1 USA draw, obviously Canada are running scared of us!

But a great little tourney to be invited to.

Confirmed by NZF. Means 3 of a possible 8 games already confirmed for the June, Sept, Oct & Nov windows later this year. With good rumours about a Poland game as well.

The All Whites have confirmed their next international fixtures against Côte d'Ivoire and Ukraine in the new Canadian Shield tournament which will take place in Toronto this June 🇳🇿🇨🇮🇺🇦🇨🇦

📖 Read more at https://t.co/iOJl4UNzDA pic.twitter.com/V1Rb0RviiM

— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) March 19, 2025

Party in Saitama. Japan with a 2-0 win over Bahrain last night, confirm their qualification for next's years big dance. 10 pts clear of Saudi Arabia (3rd in their pool) with 3 qualifiers left. Must be the first of 45 qualifying teams to do so?

This phase of AFC WC qualifying finishes in June, but NZF should reach out now to see if the Japanese want a game in the September window.

Sth Korea (1st, 15 pts) with a home win over Jordan (2nd, 12 pts) in a few days would also be almost assured of qualification.

A potential East Asian double act for the AWs in Sept.
https://us.soccerway.com/international/asia/wc-qualifying-asia/2026/3rd-round/r70808/

coochiee

Party in Saitama. Japan with a 2-0 win over Bahrain last night, confirm their qualification for next's years big dance. 10 pts clear of Saudi Arabia (3rd in their pool) with 3 qualifiers left. Must be the first of 45 qualifying teams to do so?

This phase of AFC WC qualifying finishes in June, but NZF should reach out now to see if the Japanese want a game in the September window.

Sth Korea (1st, 15 pts) with a home win over Jordan (2nd, 12 pts) in a few days would also be almost assured of qualification.

A potential East Asian double act for the AWs in Sept.
https://us.soccerway.com/international/asia/wc-qualifying-asia/2026/3rd-round/r70808/

I read somewhere that we become the second nation to qualify tomorrow so long as we don't slip up.

2nd nation behind the three hosts (Canada, USA and Mexico), Japan was the first to lock in their spot.

In this Stuff article they mention looking at home games in September against a team qualified through the AFC.

'While the indication from NZ Football ahead of the Oceania playoffs had been that they might not be back in New Zealand until 2026, home matches are in the pipeline for September this year, likely against one of the Asian teams that secures a World Cup spot in June.'

Just a guess, but I'd assume the Arab teams are unlikely, so teams could be Japan (likely highest demand for other teams so toughest pull), South Korea, Australia or maybe even Uzbekistan (probably the least demand for other countries). All would be decent fixtures.

Beat me to it Carlind. Japan at home in September would be great. They can be fantastic to watch. Currently ranked 15th they would be one of the better teams to visit NZ in recent times.

South Korea and of course the Socceroos other excellent options. But can see those 3 teams all looking either to play at home, and/or play bigger teams than little ole NZ. Maybe Football Australia could help out, and it becomes a little 4 team mini tourney (like Toronto), Korea and Japan a game each in NZ & Australia.

Have a soft spot for the Uzbeks and realistically they might be the most likely opponent to visit Aotearoa, with very few of their players having to travel all the way from Europe. Mostly a domestic based team. Like NZF managed to get China to NZ last March.

And sounds like another Nth American trip in November. Kudos to NZF if they can pull all that off, plus the June Toronto tourney and Norway & Poland in October.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360627161/explained-all-whites-easier-fifa-world-cup-path-and-windfall-they-receive

While the indication from NZ Football ahead of the Oceania playoffs had been that they might not be back in New Zealand until 2026, home matches are in the pipeline for September this year, likely against one of the Asian teams that secures a World Cup spot in June.

Matches in North America – but not necessary against North American opposition – are the on the cards in November, with further matches to follow next March and June – potentially including a home fixture or two.

All Whites’ road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup

June 2025: Friendlies v Côte d’Ivoire and Ukraine in Toronto

September 2025: To be confirmed, likely friendlies at home v Asian opposition

October 2025: Friendly v Norway in Oslo announced, friendly v Poland TBC

November 2025: TBC, likely friendlies in North America, but not necessarily v North American teams

March 2026: TBC

June 2026: TBC

https://www.espn.com.au/football/story/_/id/44409138/new-zealand-challenges-socceroos-renew-soccer-ashes

Looks like NZF is targeting friendlies against Australia for the September window - dependant on Aussie qualifying for the World Cup in the June window of course.

Also a possibility of doing the matches in the June 2026 window, but that is less preferred as they likely want to be acclimatising to North America during that window

Pragnell says they ideally want to do a home and away series

Nice idea, but I reckon Football Australia will try to play bigger teams than us for the Sept-Oct-Nov windows. Likely in Europe. 

This WC cycle they have only played Ecuador x2, Argentina, Mexico, England and us outside of AFC teams. It's been all AFC for them since October 2023.

The FA and Poppa will be dead keen to test themselves against some bigger teams. And there will likely be a few Euro teams teams with byes in Sept, like it seems we have managed with Norway & hopefully Poland in October.

Was some talk in Aus that the game against us at Brentford in Oct 2023 (they won easily 2-0) was a bit of a waste of time. That the Soceroos don't learn anything from playing a smaller nations like us. We didn't test them at all.

Of course this is all reliant of them having WC qualified by the end of the June window. That ain't guaranteed, but they are in a good position to do so.
 

Hopefully it happens in Sept, but the March or June windows next year might be more likely when FA will for sure will want the Socceroos playing at least once in Aussie before a World Cup farewell. And it won't be easy to get international teams to Australia, before a Nth American World Cup.


And yes some nice coin for the likes of Jesse Randall & Liam Gillion, even if they doesn't make the final WC squad. I presume they get some pro rata share being involved in qualifiers.

Under its deal with players, and should FIFA maintain the prizemoney next year, every member of New Zealand's squad is in line for over NZ$600,000.
 

The team has moved up to 86th in the world, their highest position since October 2013, and will now face a full schedule of international matches in the build-up to the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Canada, Mexico and the USA.

Next up, the All Whites face Côte d'Ivoire (FIFA rank 46) on Sunday 8 June at 11am NZT (Saturday 7 June at 7pm local time), followed by Ukraine (FIFA rank 25) on Wednesday 11 June at 9am NZT (Tuesday 10 June at 5pm local time), as part of the Canadian Shield tournament in Toronto, Canada.

The All Whites have climbed to their highest FIFA ranking in 12 years following back-to-back wins against Fiji and New Caledonia in the @FIFAWorldCup – Oceania Qualifiers semi-final and final.

📖 Read more at https://t.co/AVeYvn56k5 pic.twitter.com/z91oGJd3wg

— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) April 4, 2025

I still think our true ranking is a lot higher, around the 50 mark.

Obviously to get there we need to play more, win more and do well in OFC and international tournaments. That’s mostly down to NZF investing in the men as much as they have the ladies.

Well the one thing that will be guaranteed is we will be finding out.

Every calendar window will be filled to the World Cup and I would say we will always be playing a team above us. 

I've always considered the FIFA rankings to be pretty biased and poor, but I the ELO rankings seem a little more accurate to me. The All Whites are 61st in ELO - tied with Israel and just behind Kosovo - so make of that what you will. 

juneof86

I've always considered the FIFA rankings to be pretty biased and poor, but I the ELO rankings seem a little more accurate to me. The All Whites are 61st in ELO - tied with Israel and just behind Kosovo - so make of that what you will. 

Welcome to the club! 

The relatively few of us who follow this exact same line of thinking are happy to have you. 😁

Sounds like it will be the Socceroos in September home and away.

And maybe some big name teams in Nth America in November. Have we ever played Argentina?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360651972/60-weeks-go-how-all-whites-road-2026-fifa-world-cup-shaping

Good luck getting the AFA president Claudio Tapia on board, he would rather sell games to China and places like Indonesia where the government will pay Argentina to participate and get all the gate money.. I think you’re probably looking at someone like Mexico or USA

coochiee

Sounds like it will be the Socceroos in September home and away.

And maybe some big name teams in Nth America in November. Have we ever played Argentina?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360651972/60-weeks-go-how-all-whites-road-2026-fifa-world-cup-shaping

1. Messi & his team mates will be pushing the Argentinian FA to play games in North America/Europe or at home only 9 months out from the World Cup. They won't be happy traipsing off to far flung places like Jakarta. That's poor prep for a WC Stateside.

2. Tickets to watch La Albiceleste play at the Copa America were very pricey. A full house at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami (65,000) at $US100/ticket would be a very nice little earner for the AFA. Obviously a massive Latino popn in the US, dead keen to watch Argentina play.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2024/07/11/copa-amrica-final-tickets-start-at-over-2000-here-are-the-events-cheapest-tickets/

So yeah can see the likes of Argy & Brazil playing games in Nth America in November. They just might want to play more challenging, higher profile teams that us.

As AV states by November eight teams from Asia, nine teams from Africa and six from South America will have completed their qualifying campaigns and be confirmed as being at the 2026 big dance. Plus yipe also Canada, US and Mexico looking for games. 

Lots of potential opponents for friendlies in Nth America in November, keen to check out the facilities, stadiums etc

Some of the lower ranked qualified AFC, CAF or CONMEBOL teams maybe a good chance. Those teams that like us will be in Pot D, so won't be in our WC pool when the draw is made in December. 

So for the AWs looks like Toronto in June, home/away Australia in September (or another AFC team), Europe in October and back to North America in November.

1) I agree on this, but remember Argentina had a whole copa america to adept to Miami, New Jersey & it's surrounds.. that is far better prep then a friendly

2) ultimately, Tapia has made it clear he would go where they can get the best exposure for TV viewers, dont be surprised if they end up playing in Europe against "top" european teams.. we will see though :)

coochiee

1. Messi & his team mates will be pushing the Argentinian FA to play games in North America/Europe or at home only 9 months out from the World Cup. They won't be happy traipsing off to far flung places like Jakarta. That's poor prep for a WC Stateside.

2. Tickets to watch La Albiceleste play at the Copa America were very pricey. A full house at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami (65,000) at $US100/ticket would be a very nice little earner for the AFA. Obviously a massive Latino popn in the US, dead keen to watch Argentina play.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2024/07/11/copa-amrica-final-tickets-start-at-over-2000-here-are-the-events-cheapest-tickets/

So yeah can see the likes of Argy & Brazil playing games in Nth America in November. They just might want to play more challenging, higher profile teams that us.

As AV states by November eight teams from Asia, nine teams from Africa and six from South America will have completed their qualifying campaigns and be confirmed as being at the 2026 big dance. Plus yipe also Canada, US and Mexico looking for games. 

Lots of potential opponents for friendlies in Nth America in November, keen to check out the facilities, satdiums etc

Some of the lower ranked qualified AFC, CAF or CONMEBOL teams maybe a good chance. Those teams that like us will be in Pot D, so won't be in our WC pool when the draw is made in December. 

So for the AWs looks like Toronto in June, home/away Australia in September (or another AFC team), Europe in October and back to North America in November.