New Zealand vs Vanuatu Preview: Team News & Prediction

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New Zealand are the obvious favourites for OFC qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup but the likeliest closest contenders are set to be upcoming opponents, Vanuatu.

Kick-off date/time: Friday 15th November, 2024: UK – 6:30am / US ET – 1:30am / Thursday 14th November, 2024: US PT – 10:30pm

How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised

How to watch online: UK – FIFA+ / US – FIFA+

New Zealand Preview: FORMALITY FOR THE KIWIS

New Zealand are expected to win the Oceanian qualifying tournament and due to the expanded 48-team 2026 FIFA World Cup, the All Whites would automatically qualify for the global event as a result for the first time since playing at South Africa in 2010.

They began their qualifying campaign with a hammering of Tahiti at the VFF Freshwater Stadium in Port Vila in Vanuatu with goals coming from Elijah Just, Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood and on-loan Mansfield Town forward Ben Waine.

Vanuatu Preview: SOLID START

Vanuatu, after a decent showing at the 2024 OFC Nations Cup where they finished as runners’ up to New Zealand in Fiji and Vanuatu this summer, will believe they have a very good chance of getting an intercontinental playoff spot ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

On their mission to reach that tournament, they started their qualifying campaign very well with an impressive 4-1 demolition of Samoa last month in Vanuatu in a game in which the 4-1 scoreline flattered their opposition.

New Zealand Team News: PEDIGREE

As mentioned, New Zealand have a bit of depth and pedigree within their current squad which includes the likes of last month’s goalscorers Chris Wood, Elijah Just and Ben Waine.

PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Crocombe; Payne, Bindon, Pijnaker, Cacace; Garbett, Rufer; Just, Stamenic, Old; Wood

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Vanuatu Team News: SOME TALENT

Vanuatu have a couple of talented players with a bit of experience such as centre-back and captain Brian Kaltak and centre-forward Alex Saniel.

PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Sablan; Wanemut, Kaltack, Jeffrey; Vatu, Alick, Clark, Cooper; Tasip, Saniel, Spokeyjack

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Key Stats

New Zealand have won 11 of the previous 12 international matches between these two teams, with the exception being a famous 4-2 victory for Vanuatu in the group stage at the 2004 OFC Nations Cup (a competition which also acted as a qualifying tournament for the 2006 World Cup).
New Zealand have already won twice against Vanuatu in 2024 (4-0 in the group stage of the 2024 OFC Nations Cup and 3-0 in the final of the same tournament).
New Zealand are unbeaten in their last 24 matches in OFC qualifying for the World Cup (W21 D3).
New Zealand have won six of their last eight international matches without conceding a goal (D1 L1).
Vanuatu are aiming to start a World Cup qualifying campaign with two successive wins for the first time since the 2010 edition.

New Zealand vs Vanuatu Prediction

New Zealand have been a side that have been improving over the last half a decade or so with some improvements in the personnel available to them. They also have one of European football’s in-form strikers, Chris Wood, leading the line against a Vanuatu side that seem like a plausible bet to go deep into Oceanian qualification but is a very tough test and a comfortable New Zealand win is always the safe bet in Oceanian matches.

New Zealand vs Vanuatu Tip: NEW ZEALAND TO WIN -1 HANDICAP