Veterans Get Kiwis Over Line

New Zealand seal first World Cup spot since 2010, thanks to Boxall, Barbarouses

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AUCKLAND - New Zealand qualified for the 2026 World Cup with a 3-0 win over New Caledonia on March 24 as veterans Michael Boxall and Kosta Barbarouses scored in a second-half burst to help the All Whites return to the Finals for the first time since 2010.

Boxall, 36, scored his first goal for New Zealand in his 55th international with a header in the 61st minute, before Barbarouses volleyed home five minutes later to send a crowd of more than 25,000 into ecstasy at Eden Park.

Substitute Elijah Just added the third goal in the 80th minute to ensure New Zealand advance to their third World Cup, following the 1982 and 2010 editions.

New Zealand missed out on the last three World Cups after defeats in intercontinental play-offs.

However, with Oceania given a berth at the Finals for the first time, the All Whites were a shoo-in as the region's dominant team.

New Zealand became the second team through to the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, with Japan qualifying with a home win over Bahrain on March 20.

"We're going to another World Cup. I'm ecstatic," said 35-year-old winger Barbarouses, who missed out on selection for the squad who went to South Africa in 2010.