Group G fixtures
Tue 16 Jun02:00 BST
SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
Mon 22 Jun02:00 BST
BC Place, Vancouver
Sat 27 Jun04:00 BST
BC Place, Vancouver
Key players to watch
Chris Wood
FW · Nottingham Forest · C
Captain, all-time top scorer and the talisman; coming off one of his best Premier League seasons, he's the focal point and a genuine aerial threat.
Captain · focal point
Liberato Cacace
LB · Europe-based
Energetic, attacking full-back who provides width and quality delivery from the left.
Attacking full-back
Michael Boxall
CB
Experienced, no-nonsense centre-back who organises the defensive block; scored the header that sealed qualification.
Defensive leader
Kosta Barbarouses
FW
Veteran forward who chips in with big goals — including in the decisive qualifier — and offers experience.
Forward option
Elijah Just
FW
Direct attacker with pace who stretches defences and adds a counter-attacking outlet.
Pace outlet
Alex Paulsen
GK · Bournemouth
Young, Europe-based goalkeeper who will be busy behind a side expected to defend deep.
Goalkeeper
Goals & output
Almost everything runs through Chris Wood — a proven aerial focal point with nine goals in qualifying. Against far stronger sides New Zealand will go direct, defend deep and look to feed their captain or strike on the counter.
Set-piece duties
Wood is the obvious penalty and aerial target; Francis De Vries delivers corners (he set up the qualifying winner) with free-kick duties shared. Set pieces and Wood's heading are realistic routes to a goal.
Discipline read
▲Organised and committed; expect plenty of honest defending and tactical fouls under sustained pressure.
Recent form
The lowest-ranked team at the tournament (85th), back at a World Cup for the first time since 2010 and only their third ever. They qualified directly via Oceania for the first time — the new automatic slot ending three playoff heartbreaks — sweeping the OFC section, winning every game by three-plus and conceding just once. In 2010 they went unbeaten in the group (a famous draw with holders Italy) yet still didn't advance.
Head-to-head history
v Iran (16 Jun)
Negligible history
Little prior record; a tough opener in Los Angeles against an experienced side.
v Egypt (22 Jun)
No prior meetings
First meeting; arguably New Zealand's best chance of a result, in Vancouver.
v Belgium (27 Jun)
No prior meetings
A first meeting against the group favourites in Vancouver on the final day.
Underdog & betting read
The verdict
Rank outsiders, but Wood gives them a striker capable of taking a half-chance against anyone — a genuine puncher's chance. The realistic aim is to compete, stay organised and maybe nick a result. Markets point to opponent handicaps and unders.