Future hopes for New Zealand following the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
While the rest of the global game will be focused on the upcoming World Cup, quite literally just weeks away now in Qatar, fans who had hoped New Zealand would be there will have to wait another four years. In the end, an agonising qualifying defeat against Costa Rica dashed any such chances, although there are reasons to be positive looking further ahead.
During the recent friendly matches against our nearest neighbours Australia, despite the losing outcome of both games, there were indications to suggest the current nucleus of players can make progress. The All Whites provided the Socceroos with a stern opposition throughout the two encounters, losing the first game by a narrow 1-0 in Brisbane, before the second ended 2-0 before the home crowd in Auckland.
The results themselves may not have painted a pretty picture, yet Australia were never truly dominant in either of the two games, indicating that New Zealand are still capable of going toe-to-toe with strong opponents. This was also the case when the All Whites were controversially beaten 1-0 by Costa Rica, when two unfortunate VAR decisions went against them, sealing a third consecutive failure to reach beyond intercontinental qualification.
Expanded opportunities to participate
Fortunately for New Zealand, the national football team can look ahead to the future with a little more optimism. There are also two good reasons why this can be the case, given that one is based around increased opportunities, while the other is due to a growing depth of emerging football talents.
Back in 2017, football’s governing body FIFA voted favourably to expand future World Cup tournaments, including an increase of participating teams from 32 to 48. This will be achieved by the 2026 tournament featuring 16 groups of 3 teams, with 2 qualifiers from each group, followed by the knockout phase commencing with a Round of 32 teams.
Given this increase in participating teams ahead of the 2026 World Cup, due to be hosted in North America by the United States, Mexico and Canada, there is a much stronger chance that New Zealand will qualify directly for the tournament. Although intercontinental playoff qualifiers will still be present, the OFC will have a guaranteed spot in the finals this time.
This implies that if New Zealand can successfully win top the OFC qualifiers, they will head straight to the 2026 World Cup finals tournament, while a runner-up from Oceania would also participate in the intercontinental playoffs. Indeed, the 2026 tournament will be historic because for the first time ever, all six global confederations will be represented in the finals.
There is also further cause for optimism ahead of the 2026 tournament, particularly given the strong likelihood the All Whites will be present. The best New Zealand players from recent squad selections will still be around, with most in their early and mid-20’s at present, while the next generation of young talents will also be keen to make their mark.
The current under-20 national teal is blessed with promising talents, several of whom are already making their breakthrough at Wellington Phoenix in the Australian A-League. By the time the 2026 World Cup rolls around, some of them could also be playing their club football in Europe, as they seek to enhance the progression of their professional careers.
Focus on the 2022 World Cup
New Zealanders will inevitably be glued to their screens, once the 2022 World Cup begins. This also means the chance to compare top betting sites will certainly be worth the effort and investigation, even more so when backed by expert reviews and thorough guides with detailed advice. This is the challenge SBO accepts when covering every sport, including football and the upcoming World Cup.
Australia find themselves inevitably rated as underdogs heading into the World Cup, although their group features beatable rivals based upon recent form, including the current reigning champions France. The form of Les Bleus has been poor of late, winning just 1 of their last 6 games, resulting in much criticism in the media and considerable concern within the squad.
England were tipped as one of the favourites just a few months ago, yet the Three Lions have also been poor of late, failing to win any of their last 6 competitive matches. This will add an extra layer of pressure, which is undoubtedly the key element facing all the supposedly strongest sides, albeit one that adds additional intrigue and interest for fans.
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