The All Whites are set to host Chile and Finland in March, with New Zealand Football chief executive Andrew Pragnell hailing the fixtures as a “breakthrough moment for the game”.
Chile, Finland and Cape Verde have been confirmed as the three visiting nations featuring in the 2026 Fifa Series, which will be staged in Auckland during the March international window. The tournament, which is underwritten by the world governing body, will be an ideal send-off for the All Whites, ahead of their World Cup mission next June in the United States and Canada.
“It’s pretty exciting for lots of reasons,” Pragnell told the Herald. “It’s strong opposition, and it’s very rare that we get the opportunity to bring South American and European opposition to New Zealand. So it’s a bit of a breakthrough moment for the game.”
As first reported by the Herald last month, NZF was always confident that a European team could be involved, despite the distance and logistics. That’s because Fifa will help with the travel costs, including business-class airfares, which makes it more feasible.
Hosting a Uefa nation has been almost unheard of in NZF’s history, with only England (1991) and Hungary (1982) making the trip, while a strong Soviet Union XI toured in 1986.
Finland are not a European heavyweight, but will be strong opposition regardless, given the depth of the Uefa confederation. In 2024, they faced the likes of England and Portugal, and their opponents last year included the Netherlands, Norway and Poland.
They missed out on World Cup qualification, finishing third in their five-team pool, and are currently ranked 75th in the world. Former Ajax, Barcelona and Liverpool forward Jari Litmanen was one of the best Finnish players of the modern era, while Sami Hyypia, Mikael Forssell and current vice-captain Teemu Pukki are among the notable names to have represented the country.
“It’s big for us,” said Pragnell. “They’ll bring high-quality football, and to have professionals come from the other side of the world to prepare against us is a big deal.”
Visits by South American teams have also been rare, with Chile (1998) and Paraguay (2010) the only countries to have played here.
“With South American teams, alongside the hosting costs, they often come with a bit of a price tag attached, which has often acted as a barrier to us.”
Chile have been struggling – they finished last in World Cup qualification – though that 10-team series is cut-throat. They have undoubted pedigree, as Copa America champions in 2015 and 2016, and there is no such thing as a poor South American team. Currently ranked 52th in the world, notable past players include Marcelo Salas and Ivan Zamorano, while Alexis Sanchez is a current great.
Cape Verde are an intriguing prospect. The African islanders achieved their first World Cup qualification in October, topping a group that included Cameroon and Angola. They are ranked 67 by Fifa.
Pragnell said the schedule, which would see each team play two matches, had yet to be finalised. It appears likely that NZF, which has first choice, will opt for Finland and Chile, though Pragnell said the final decision would be made in conjunction with All Whites coach Darren Bazeley and his staff.
“We will work closely with Baze and make sure he gets the schedule that’s most desirable from a performance perspective.”
Having such opponents here – and the Fifa series - marks quite a turnaround. It had seemed more likely that the All Whites would play in Europe or the US in March, to minimise travel and assembly logistics and maximise the chances of credible opposition. But the opportunity arose to host a Fifa series, and Pragnell is thrilled with the outcome.
“It’s a fantastic outcome both from a competitive perspective but also from a fan perspective,” said Pragnell. “Upon reflection, while performance was always going to be the number one driver, to not have farewell games for the team would have been a real missed opportunity for us, the fans and for the team.”
The All Whites, who are ranked 87 by Fifa, face Iran, Egypt and Belgium in World Cup Group G.
Michael Burgess has been a Sports Journalist for the New Zealand Herald since 2005, covering the Olympics, Fifa World Cups, and America’s Cup campaigns. He is a co-host of the Big League podcast.