2026 World Cup Bubble Watch: New Zealand books Oceania's only ticket to North American tournament
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New Zealand clinched Oceania's only guaranteed berth at the 2026 World Cup with a 3-0 victory over New Caledonia in Monday's OFC qualifying final.
New Caledonia, which beat Tahiti in last week's semifinals, will go to the intercontinental playoffs, and is therefore still alive. But, as the 152nd-ranked team in the world, it will be a heavy underdog.
World Cup qualifying results
Qualified: New ZealandLong shots: New CaledoniaEliminated: Tahiti, Fiji, Cook Islands, American Samoa, Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu
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