Hamilton to host FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier this November

It has been confirmed today that Aotearoa New Zealand will be one of the four hosts of the OFC FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers, along with Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, set to get underway from October 2024. 

The All Whites, drawn in qualifying Group B, will play Tahiti in Port Vila on Friday 11 October, before returning home in November to face Vanuatu in Kirikiriroa Hamilton on Friday 15 November, and the winner of the OFC preliminary qualifiers on Monday 18 November in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. 

The top two sides in Group A and B will progress to the semi-finals, with the winners progressing to the final, all set to be played in Aotearoa New Zealand in March 2025. 

Andrew Pragnell, CEO of New Zealand Football, is delighted to be confirming important fixtures for the men’s national team that will be played in front of home support:

“We are thrilled to have won these hosting rights, bringing the All Whites home starting this November 2024 and fate permitting again in March 2025, and excited to begin our FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying journey. 

“This helps us fulfil a number of our strategic objectives. 

“We have to continue to play the All Whites in every international window and bring them home every year to create excitement, pride and connection with kiwis. 

“We also believe that this will be the start of our journey to qualify for and win games at the FIFA World Cup 2026. 

“We have worked really hard to put our best foot forward with Oceania Football to ensure we are hosting quality tournaments and matches for all of Oceania, hosting the men’s Olympic qualification tournament and OFC Futsal Cup in 2023, so to secure the hosting rights for these critical games in 2024 and 2025 is enormously satisfying 

“Football has already seen huge growth, exacerbated by the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, and we know that is only set to continue with the All Whites campaign to the FIFA World Cup 2026.”

The November games will see the All Whites play in Hamilton, something Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate is excited to see in the city:

“This is fantastic news. We are excited to welcome the All Whites to play in Hamilton for the very first time.

“Not only is this good news for Hamilton's football fans and players, but it will attract people from across New Zealand as well as international visitors.

This a great way to showcase the top-class facilities and hosting we offer, while also supporting our fabulous hospitality and visitor businesses.” 

Venues and ticketing information will be announced in due course.