Brunei Darussalam came back to defeat Vanuatu 3-2. New Zealand played Tunisia, and New Zealand failed on a penalty kick in the 34th. There was action at the end of regulation, as each team had a player get two yellows at the same time, so they probably did something to each other. The ejections did not matter because the tournament rules made it go to penalty kicks without extra time. New Zealand shot first, and failed on the first and third attempts. Tunisia scored every time, with their fourth success making them win penalty kicks 4-2. Tunisia was 41st in the FIFA Rankings.
Fiji 1-1 Hong Kong Fiji's Dave Radrigai scored in the 18th, and Hong Kong's Matthew Orr scored in the 77th.
September 8: Cook Islands 1-2 American Samoa That was in between World Cup Qualifiers for both teams, so I am assuming they did not use their best players. American Samoa's Alii Mitchell scored in the 44th, American Samoa's Benjamin Stefanon scored in the 50th, and Cook Islands' Siaosi Kaufononga scored in the 83rd.
New Zealand 4-0 Malaysia Elijah Just scored in the 53rd, Matthew Garbett scored in the 61st, Chris Wood scored in the 72nd, and Logan Rogerson scored in the 90th. New Zealand was a big favorite, and they played like it. In the FIFA Rankings, New Zealand is 95th, and Malaysia is 132nd. In ELO before the game, New Zealand was 67th, and Malaysia was 141st. The gap was big enough that New Zealand only gained 1 spot and 4 points from a win by 4. It was the first time in over 25 years that New Zealand scored at least 4 goals against a team from another confederation. The previous time was a 5-1 win at Malaysia on 3 July 1999. The previous time that New Zealand scored at least 4 goals against a team from another confederation other than Malaysia is debatable because of New Zealand's 4-1 win hosting Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) in World Cup 1990 Qualifying on 15 December 1988, and a 4-0 win hosting Chinese Taipei on 11 December 1988. Chinese Taipei was expelled from AFC, was in OFC then, and rejoined AFC. If you count Chinese Taipei as on OFC team while they were in OFC, it was the first time that New Zealand scored at least 4 goals against a team from another confederation other than Malaysia since a 5-0 win at Saudi Arabia on 19 December 1981. That was in World Cup 1982 Qualifying when AFC and OFC combined. New Zealand had a 5-0 win hosting Indonesia in qualifying for that World Cup on 23 May 981. New Zealand defeated Kuwait 5-1 in the Independence Tournament in Malaysia on 16 October 1980, won 4-0 in a friendly hosting Mexico on 20 August 1980. I do not know how New Zealand lost 4-0 to Fiji, lost 4-0 to Canada, and defeated Mexico 4-0 in the same year in 1980. New Zealand scored 5 in a 6-5 loss hosting South Africa in a friendly on 28 June 1947, 4 in a 6-4 friendly loss at Australia on 17 June 1933, and 4 in a 4-1 friendly win at Australia on 30 June 1923. According to ELO, New Zealand played 425 games, and 67 were against Australia, which is 15.8 percent.
All Whites Squad Named for Canadian Shield Tournament Next Month The All Whites squad to face Côte d'Ivoire (FIFA rank 41) and Ukraine (FIFA rank 25) in the Canadian Shield Tournament in Toronto, Canada, next month has been named. Head coach Darren Bazeley has selected 23 players with five changes to the squad assembled for the FIFA World Cup Oceania Qualifiers in March, a campaign which saw the All Whites defeat New Caledonia to secure a place at the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Canada, Mexico, and the USA. With only five international windows before he is set to name his FIFA World Cup 2026 squad, Bazeley will be looking to give opportunities to a range of players to prove they deserve a place at the tournament next year. AS Saint-Étienne attacker Ben Old returns having recovered from injury. Portland Timbers defender Finn Surman is back after it was agreed between the club and All Whites coaching staff he would miss the previous international window. There are also recalls for Auckland FC defender Callan Elliot, Charlotte FC defender Bill Tuiloma, and Northampton Town goalkeeper Nik Tzanev. Wellington Phoenix defender Tim Payne will miss the international window, with his partner due to give birth close to this period. The full squad is: Kosta Barbarouses (67 caps/9 goals) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand Joe Bell (24/1) Viking FK, Norway Tyler Bindon (15/3) Reading FC, England (on loan from Nottingham Forest) Michael Boxall (55/1) Minnesota United, USA Liberato Cacace (33/1) Empoli FC, Italy Max Crocombe (15/0) Burton Albion, England Callan Elliot (3/0) Auckland FC, New Zealand Matt Garbett (30/5) NAC Breda, Netherlands Eli Just (34/7) SKN St. Pölten, Austria (on loan from Horsens) Callum McCowatt (23/4) Silkeborg IF, Denmark Ben Old (12/1) AS Saint-Étienne, France Alex Paulsen (3/0) Auckland FC, New Zealand (on loan from AFC Bournemouth) Nando Pijnaker (23/0) Auckland FC, New Zealand Alex Rufer (19/0) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand Sarpreet Singh (18/3) U.D. Leiria, Portugal Tommy Smith (56/2) Auckland FC, New Zealand Marko Stamenić (29/2) Olympiacos, Greece (on loan from Nottingham Forest) Finn Surman (7/1) Portland Timbers, USA Bill Tuiloma (42/4) Charlotte FC, USA Nik Tzanev (2/0) Northampton Town, England Francis de Vries (10/1) Auckland FC, New Zealand Ben Waine (23/8) Mansfield Town, England (on loan from Plymouth Argyle) Chris Wood (82/44) Nottingham Forest, England “Qualifying for the FIFA World Cup was a massive moment, but we know that is just a step on the journey for what we want to achieve as a team” says All Whites head coach Darren Bazeley. “We have been lucky to play a number of home games over the last few windows, but it has always been the plan that heading into the FIFA World Cup next year we need to test ourselves, playing away, against a range of teams we could face in 2026. “To face two top 50 sides, in a tournament situation, in one of the FIFA World Cup 2026 host venues, is the perfect challenge for us. “We have made a few changes to the squad from March which gives us the opportunity to look at some different players in the environment. “We want real competition for places heading into the World Cup and the door is open for everyone to stake their claim to be part of the squad in 2026.” The All Whites will face Côte d'Ivoire on Sunday 8 June at 11am NZT (Saturday 7 June at 7pm local time) followed by Ukraine on Wednesday 11 June at 9am NZT (Tuesday 10 June at 5pm local time). Both games will take place at BMO Field in Toronto which will also host games during the FIFA World Cup 2026. The tournament will award three points for a win, one point for a draw, and two points for a shootout win. All matches will have a winner and games will go directly to penalties after 90 minutes (plus injury time). Games can be watched live and free on FIFA+. Article added: Thursday 22 May 2025
New Zealand 1-0 Ivory Coast Elijah Just scored in the 41st. Ivory Coast had 72 percent of possession, and more shots 13 to 2.
New Zealand 1-2 Ukraine (in Toronto, Canada) Ukraine dominated, including shots on target being 11 to 3.