{"id":4555,"date":"2026-06-21T05:04:51","date_gmt":"2026-06-21T05:04:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=4555"},"modified":"2026-06-21T05:04:51","modified_gmt":"2026-06-21T05:04:51","slug":"more-than-just-happy-to-be-here-new-zealand-hunts-first-ever-knockout-run","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=4555","title":{"rendered":"More than just happy to be here, New Zealand hunts first-ever knockout run"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"<\/figure>\n\n
New Zealand head coach Darren Bazeley listens to a question during a press conference on the eve of the team\u2019s World Cup soccer match against Egypt, Saturday, June 20, 2026 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (AP Photo\/Abbie Parr)<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n

VANCOUVER, British Columbia \u2014 New Zealand might have arrived at this World Cup<\/a> just happy to be here again. But earning a point in the opener against Iran<\/a> has opened the door to a run the All Whites have never made.<\/p>

Read more Buxton hits grand slam in Twins\u2019 10-run 5th inning against Diamondbacks<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t let the occasion get too big,\u201d head coach Darren Bazeley said. \u201cIt\u2019s about us winning a game of football.\u201d<\/p>\n

The All Whites enter Sunday\u2019s match against No. 29 Egypt with a chance to move out of the group stage for the first time in their World Cup history. For a nation ranked No. 82, fourth lowest in this year\u2019s expanded 48\u2011team format, simply getting here for the first time since 2010 might have been enough.<\/p>\n

But now, New Zealand has given itself a chance.<\/p>\n

\u201cPutting ourselves in such a great position \u2013 like this opportunity to create history \u2013 we know how good we can be,\u201d midfielder Ben Old said. \u201cIt\u2019s just a really exciting moment to be in.\u201d<\/p>\n

New Zealand\u2019s presence in this tournament is tied directly to the expanded field. The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) earned its first-ever automatic berth, and the All Whites claimed it through a three\u2011step qualifying process that concluded with a 3\u20130 win over No. 151 New Caledonia.<\/p>\n

No. 25 Australia, once the region\u2019s powerhouse, left for the Asian Football Confederation in 2006 in search of stronger competition and a clearer route to the World Cup. Its departure left New Zealand as the dominant team in a confederation where the next\u2011highest\u2011ranked team is New Caledonia.<\/p>\n

That imbalance is why region matters so much. FIFA allocates its 48 places unevenly.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not something for us to be scared about,\u201d Bazeley said. \u201cIf we\u2019re going to win a World Cup, we have to play against top teams and top players and perform well.\u201d<\/p>

Read more Trump likely to drain Reflecting Pool again, following peeling paint and algae<\/a><\/p>\n

Larger confederations tend to get more representation across the board. UEFA, for example, gets 16 slots. OFC is granted just one ticket.<\/p>\n

In some regions, strong teams miss out entirely. In fact, 17 of FIFA\u2019s 48 top-ranked teams did not qualify this year. Denmark, ranked No. 20, missed this tournament out of UEFA, and No. 14 Italy has missed three straight. If World Cup qualifying was based simply on ranking, No. 48 Venezuela would be the last team in. It is the only team to never qualify out of CONMEBOL, which is granted six automatic berths.<\/p>\n

Qualifying often depends heavily on geography rather than global standing.<\/p>\n

New Zealand knows its region cannot sharpen it. So it schedules friendlies against higher\u2011ranked opponents, a strategy that seemingly paid off in the opener in the All Whites\u2019 2-2 draw against No. 22 Iran.<\/a><\/p>\n

Midfielder Elijah Just scored both goals Monday, matching New Zealand\u2019s total goal output in each of its previous World Cup appearances in 1982 and 2010. With two group matches left, New Zealand can break its single\u2011tournament scoring record and chase its first\u2011ever World Cup win.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re always used to being the underdogs,\u201d Old said. \u201cWe\u2019re not afraid to play any of these teams.\u201d<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

Drew Renner is a student in the University of Georgia\u2019s Carmical Sports Media Institute.<\/p>

Read more Red Sox place Isiah Kiner-Falefa on the injured list with left forearm inflammation<\/a><\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

AP World Cup coverage: https:\/\/apnews.com\/fifa-world-cup<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

New Zealand, at No. 82 ranked fourth lowest in the tournament, has a chance to go from \u2018just happy to be here\u2019 to its first-ever World Cup win against Egypt Sunday<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4553,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4555","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interesting"],"yoast_head":"\nMore than just happy to be here, New Zealand hunts first-ever knockout run - Moving Insider USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=4555\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"More than just happy to be here, New Zealand hunts first-ever knockout run - 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