FIFA World Cup 2026

The All Whites and Les Cagous will clash to decide Oceania’s automatic FIFA World Cup qualifier after New Zealand swatted aside Fiji and New Caledonia downed Tahiti.

•New Caledonia are now just one match away from a maiden FIFA World Cup appearance

•New Zealand hammer Fiji to take a step closer to what would be a third qualification

A Georges Gope-Fenepej-inspired New Caledonia are now just one match away from a maiden FIFA World Cup™ appearance after the 36-year-old's brace helped lead Les Cagous to a 3-0 win over Tahiti in the first of two OFC qualifying semi-finals.

The goals kept flowing in the second match as New Zealand raced to a four-goal lead at the break and then added a further three in the second period in a match where star forward Chris Wood bagged a hat-trick of headers in just an hour of action.

The two nations will now shift to Auckland where they will clash on 24 March for the OFC’s sole direct place at World Cup 26™, with the loser of that match earning a second chance at qualification through the FIFA Play-off Tournament.

New Caledonia 3-0 Tahiti

New Caledonia goals: Georges Gope-Fenepej (51, 76), Lues Waya (90+1)

In the day’s early match, New Caledonia took a huge step towards what would be a maiden World Cup appearance as they proved too strong for Tahiti, in a clash lit up by a wonder strike from veteran forward Georges Gope-Fenepej.

Separated by some four thousand kilometres across a vast stretch of the Pacific Ocean, it was Les Cagous that dominated things from the off in neutral Wellington. The lively Jean-Jacques Katrawa had several first half efforts that he failed to convert before coming off injured early in the second half after a goalless opening period.

His replacement, Lues Waya, played an important role in the opener, winning possession high up the pitch and feeding captain Cesar Zeoula, whose blocked shot fell to Gope-Fenepej at the top of the box. The 36-year old then provided a weighted finish to put his side ahead.

Gope-Fenepej’s second, with a quarter of an hour to play, was one of the strikes of the qualification campaign. Collecting the ball a full 40 yards from goal, two deft touches set up a shot that he sent looping over a retreating Teave Teamotuaitau to give New Caledonia breathing space.

Waya then rounded out the win in stoppage time with a fine goal of his own as he raced towards the box only to tumble then recover and dance across the 18-yard line before firing past Teamotuaitau at his near post.

New Zealand 7-0 Fiji

New Zealand goals: Chris Wood (6, 56, 60), Sarpreet Singh (16), Tyler Bindon (23), Tim Payne (32), Kosta Barbarouses (73)

With the crowd having really filled up at Wellington’s ‘Cake Tin’ for the second match, the All Whites got baking after just six minutes when Chris Wood piloted a header back across the face of goal to bag his 42nd international goal. That makes it five consecutive matches that he’s scored in, one off an all-time New Zealand record.

Ten minutes later Sarpreet Singh poked home a second from close range after a flowing move and then Tyler Bindon claimed the third that came via a heavy deflection from a Fijian defender.



Right-back Tim Payne made it four, sweeping home from adjacent to the penalty spot to score his third national team goal, a full 12 years after he last found the back of the next.

Payne turned provider for Wood’s second and third, with two delicious deep crosses being steered home by the head of the Nottingham Forest man who was withdrawn to a standing ovation on the hour.

Substitutes Francis de Vries and Kosta Barbarouses then combined, with the latter half-volleying home New Zealand’s seventh before Ben Waine squandered a late chance to add to the score as he sent an 88th minute spot-kick wide.

Visit fifa.com for more details.