Country profile
New Zealand
New Zealand
Key facts
Capital
Wellington
Population
5,100,000
Confederation
OFC
FIFA code
NZL
Overview
New Zealand is a remote, breathtakingly scenic nation of two main islands in the southwestern Pacific, famed for its volcanic peaks, fjords and rolling green pastures. With around five million people, it punches far above its weight on the global sporting stage.
Football, however, has long lived in the shadow of rugby union and the mighty All Blacks. The round-ball game is steadily growing, fuelled by the success of the Wellington Phoenix and the new Auckland FC in Australia's A-League.
For a country where football fights for attention, qualifying for the World Cup is a unifying moment of national pride and a chance to inspire the next generation.
Football culture
Football is the most-played participation sport among Kiwi youth, even if rugby dominates the headlines and hearts. The All Whites enjoy passionate, if intermittent, national support that swells dramatically during World Cup campaigns. Grassroots growth and Pacific Island heritage give the game a distinctive multicultural flavour.
World Cup history
New Zealand have qualified for the World Cup three times, in 1982, 2010 and now 2026. Their proudest moment came in 2010 when they drew all three group matches, becoming the only unbeaten team at that tournament despite not advancing. They have yet to win a single World Cup match.
Location
Did you know
- New Zealand was the only unbeaten team at the 2010 World Cup, yet went home in the group stage.
- The country has more sheep than people — roughly five to one.
- Chris Wood is New Zealand's all-time leading goalscorer and Premier League standard-bearer.
- The All Whites' name is a nod to the legendary rugby All Blacks.
- New Zealand routinely thrash Oceania minnows, once beating Fiji and others by huge margins in qualifying.
From Wikipedia
New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island and the South Island —and over 600 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island country by area and lies east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and south of the islands of New Caledonia, Fiji, and…
Source: Wikipedia →