Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News 
New Zealand at present turned the second nation to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after a 3-0 win over New Caledonia, though the victory got here at a price with prime scorer Chris Wooden struggling an harm.
Wooden, who has spearheaded Nottingham Forest’s exceptional season within the Premier League which might finish with qualification for the Champions League, harm his proper hip three minutes into the second half.
He tried to hold on however needed to depart after 54 minutes wincing in ache.
The All Whites really improved after he exited and took the lead eight minutes later when Michael Boxall rose highest to energy dwelling Francis de Vries’ nook.
Kosta Barbarouses, Wooden’s substitute, added a second after 67 minutes earlier than he then arrange Elijah Simply to make it 3-0 and seal New Zealand’s passage to the finals subsequent summer time in the US, Canada and Mexico.
WE’RE GOING TO THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP! 🏆🇳🇿 pic.twitter.com/YWv5thkR5V
— New Zealand Soccer 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) March 24, 2025
Boss Bazeley pissed off regardless of qualification
Boss Darren Bazeley mentioned: “It was irritating as a result of the boys needed to qualify and play properly. They needed to copy Friday [a 7-0 win over Fiji] however it didn’t fairly play out like that. We had been speaking about maintaining calm. It was coming however clearly we needed to change what we had been doing.”
On Wooden, he added: “I’m undecided but.
“It was when he had that likelihood and almost scored, which is a disgrace. It’s not perfect shedding our captain and our purpose scorer.”
SEE YOU IN ‘26 🇳🇿🏆 pic.twitter.com/PiCofS1bVn
— New Zealand Soccer 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) March 24, 2025
