New Zealand at the World Cup 2026: Squad, Fixtures, Odds and Best SA Sportsbook
New Zealand arrive at the 2026 World Cup as one of the OFC representatives in Group G. Coach F. Schmid has settled the team into a clear shape for the tournament. This page is the full guide for South African bettors and fans following New Zealand across the group stage and beyond.
New Zealand at the World Cup 2026
Group G · FIFA World Cup 2026
| Date | Match | Venue | Round | Preview |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 16/06, 03:00 SAST |
 Iran
v
New Zealand
|
SoFi Stadium | Group Stage – 1 | Preview → |
Show starting elevenLineups confirmed near kickoff. Kick off is on 16/06 03:00 SAST. |
||||
| Mon 22/06, 03:00 SAST |
New Zealand
v
 Egypt
|
BC Place | Group Stage – 2 | Preview → |
Show starting eleven
Egypt 4-3-3
4-2-3-1 New Zealand
Egypt
4-3-3
Manager: Hossam Hassan
New Zealand
4-2-3-1
Manager: D. Bazeley |
||||
| Sat 27/06, 05:00 SAST |
New Zealand
v
 Belgium
|
BC Place | Group Stage – 3 | Preview → |
Show starting elevenLineups confirmed near kickoff. Kick off is on 27/06 05:00 SAST. |
||||
How New Zealand qualified
New Zealand topped OFC qualifying unbeaten and beat the seventh-placed CONMEBOL team in an inter-confederation play-off.
The qualification campaign tested both depth and discipline. F. Schmid used the long run of group games to bed in a settled XI and to rotate younger players through the squad. The core that will travel to North America in 2026 has played together for a full cycle.
Form heading into the World Cup matters. New Zealand have used the friendlies in March and June 2026 to fine-tune the back four and to test set-piece routines. The kick-off in Group G is the moment the work in the build-up pays out or does not.
Group G breakdown
Group G delivers a mix of styles, regions, and pedigrees. The top two go through automatically. The third-placed team has a real shot under the new 48-team format, where the eight best third-placed sides across the 12 groups advance to a new Round of 32.
The three New Zealand group matches:
| Date (SAST) | Match | Venue | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 16/06, 03:00 SAST |  Iranv New Zealand | SoFi Stadium | Group Stage – 1 |
| Mon 22/06, 03:00 SAST | New Zealandv Egypt | BC Place | Group Stage – 2 |
| Sat 27/06, 05:00 SAST | New Zealandv Belgium | BC Place | Group Stage – 3 |
Group G rivals to scout: Belgium · Egypt · Iran.
The opening matchday sets the tone. A win on day one shapes the group, a loss raises the pressure on the second game, and a draw keeps every door open. The seven-day rhythm between matches favours the deeper squads.
The squad: who to watch
F. Schmid named a settled squad with strong continuity from the qualifying campaign. The starting XI is largely locked in, with three or four positions still open for late competition.
K. Barbarouses (#17, age 35) is a frontline option for the New Zealand attack and a regular starter under F. Schmid.
E. Just (#11, age 25) is a frontline option for the New Zealand attack and a regular starter under F. Schmid.
B. Old (#19, age 23) is a frontline option for the New Zealand attack and a regular starter under F. Schmid.
The bench depth is where many groups are decided. A 60th-minute change can be the difference between three points and one. New Zealand need fresh legs in midfield more than anywhere else, with the heat in Mexico and the south-western United States a factor in every late-stage substitution.
How New Zealand play under F. Schmid
Darren Bazeley plays a 4-2-3-1 with Chris Wood the experienced striker and Marko Stamenic running midfield.
Pressing triggers, set-piece variety, and transition speed are the three areas a tournament team has to get right. New Zealand have drilled all three across the qualifying campaign and the recent friendlies. The squad knows the patterns. The question is execution against opponents at the highest level.
Strengths: organisation in the defensive third, a clear chain of command in midfield, and named leaders on set pieces. Weaknesses: chance creation in open play when the press is beaten, and fitness through 90 minutes of a tournament knockout. Both are normal tournament issues and not unique to New Zealand.
New Zealand’s World Cup record
New Zealand have appeared at two previous World Cups (1982 and 2010) and never won a match, though they were the only unbeaten team at South Africa 2010.
The 48-team format opens new routes. A side with one win and one draw across three group games has a fair chance of qualifying as a third-placed team. That is the floor most observers see for New Zealand. The ceiling depends on the draw in the Round of 32 and on the goalkeeper having a good tournament.
Betting on New Zealand from South Africa
New Zealand at anything other than the longest odds in Group G is a no. Match against Iran is the only one with any value angle.
- New Zealand to qualify from Group G. The headline pre-tournament market. Worth checking on at least two SA books before placing, since the price band is wide.
- New Zealand v their second match opponent, draw or win double. The mid-tournament market that often delivers value once the opening matchday clarifies the group.
- Anytime tournament scorer specials. Each of the named attackers above is in the market across SA books, with the keenest pricing usually on Gbets and YesPlay.
- Goalscorer or to receive a card specials. The match-ups within Group G create unusual props that the bigger global books often miss. Watch the specials boards on Pokerbet on matchday.
For South African pricing on New Zealand, our covered partners are YesPlay, Pokerbet, Betshezi, Gbets, and Cloudbet. All five hold valid South African licences. Compare prices across two or three before placing, and never stake more than your set deposit limit.
How to watch New Zealand in South Africa
SuperSport on DStv carries every 2026 World Cup match in South Africa. SABC will broadcast a select run of matches on free-to-air, with the Bafana games confirmed and a handful of additional fixtures expected closer to kick-off.
Kick-off times in SAST vary across the New Zealand group games. Check the fixtures table above for the exact SAST kick-off and the venue. The Mexico-based matches kick off at one of three local time slots that map to either prime-time or middle-of-the-night SAST viewing.
Streaming via DStv Stream and DStv Now is included with a current subscription, with mobile viewing supported. No extra fee is required for current DStv Premium and Compact Plus subscribers.
FAQ: New Zealand at the 2026 World Cup
When does New Zealand play their first match?
New Zealand’s opening Group G match is on Tue 16/06, 03:00 SAST against Iran. The match is at SoFi Stadium.
Who is New Zealand’s manager for the 2026 World Cup?
F. Schmid is in charge of New Zealand for the 2026 World Cup. The full squad is built around darren bazeley a setup of a 4-2-3-1 with chris wood the experienced striker and marko stamenic running midfield.
How did New Zealand qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
New Zealand topped OFC qualifying unbeaten and beat the seventh-placed CONMEBOL team in an inter-confederation play-off.
Where can South Africans bet on New Zealand?
Any sportsbook licensed by a South African provincial gambling board. YesPlay, Gbets, Pokerbet, Betshezi, and Cloudbet all carry full New Zealand markets for the 2026 World Cup.
What is New Zealand’s best ever World Cup result?
New Zealand have appeared at two previous World Cups (1982 and 2010) and never won a match, though they were the only unbeaten team at South Africa 2010.
More on the World Cup
Group G rivals: Belgium · Egypt · Iran
Other: Back to the World Cup 2026 hub · All football fixtures · SA sportsbook reviews