New Zealand returns to action in Toronto after punching 2026 World Cup ticket
TORONTO – Michael Boxall has scored just one goal for New Zealand, but it was one of consequence.
Rising high, the Minnesota United defender headed home a corner from substitute Francis de Vries in the 61st minute to open the scoring March 24 in 86th-ranked New Zealand's 3-0 win over No. 151 New Caledonia in the Oceania Football Confederation qualifying final at Auckland's Eden Park.
'It took a long time to get there,' a chuckling Boxall, who made his New Zealand debut in 2011, said of opening his scoring account in his 55th international appearance.
The victory sent New Zealand to the 2026 World Cup, its third trip to the soccer showcase after 1982 and 2010.
The All Whites' first games since their qualifying success come at the four-team Canadian Shield Tournament, against the 41st-ranked Ivory Coast on June 7 and No. 25 Ukraine on June 10 at Toronto's BMO Field. New Zealand won't play host Canada, ranked 30th in the world, at the tournament.
'To face two top 50 sides, in a tournament situation, in one of the FIFA World Cup 2026 host venues, is the perfect challenge for us,' said New Zealand coach Darren Bazeley.
The 36-year-old Boxall, whose long throw-ins add to the attack options for both club and country, relishes the chance to represent New Zealand again.
'Obviously competition in Oceania isn't the stiffest but New Caledonia made it a tough test for us,' said Boxall. 'And yes, we definitely excited to get back (in action) now that we've punched our ticket for 2026.'
And like Canada, he welcomes the chances to face elite opposition at the new Toronto tournament.
'The last few (FIFA international) windows, we've kind of only been up against teams from our confederation,' Boxall said in an interview. 'So we need to prepare ourselves to play against world-class opposition … It will be a huge step up and it will be a good marker to see where we're at and what we need to work on heading towards the World Cup.'
New Zealand failed to get out of the group stage in its previous trips to the World Cup.
In 1982, the All Whites lost all three games to Scotland (5-2), the Soviet Union (3-0) and Brazil (4-0). In 2010, they fared better, drawing Slovakia (1-1), Italy (1-1) and Paraguay (0-0) but still went home early.
New Zealand is unbeaten in seven matches, having won six straight — including five in World Cup qualifying — since drawing the United States in an international friendly. Its last loss was 3-0 to Mexico in a friendly at the Rose Bowl on Sept. 7.
The famous win over New Caledonia came some 33 months after New Zealand lost 1-0 to Costa Rica in an intercontinental playoff in Doha, Qatar, for the last berth at the 2022 World Cup.
Boxall started his MLS career with the Vancouver Whitecaps, who selected him first overall in the 2011 MLS Supplemental Draft out of University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) where he was the Big West Defender of the Year in 2010.
In 2012, Boxall he returned home to join Wellington Phoenix in the Australian A-League. In 2105, he joined South Africa's SuperSport United, helping the team to back-to-back Nedbank Cup titles.
He returned to MLS in 2017 with Minnesota United, also home to Canadian goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair and forward Tani Oluwaseyi.
Playing for the All Whites in Toronto comes with a bonus of reduced travel time. Boxall is a road warrior when it comes to playing for New Zealand.
'The last window I missed a flight on the way to New Zealand and had a flight cancelled on the way back,' he said. 'So I'm not seeing too many flight issues in the hour-and-half trip of whatever it is from here to Toronto (one hour 58 minutes in actuality). So that will be nice.'
Bazeley's 23-man Toronto roster features five changes to the squad called up for the Oceania Qualifiers.
Saint-Etienne attacker Ben Old returns from injury with Portland Timbers defender Finn Surman also back after missing the previous international window by agreement with his MLS club.
There are recalls for goalkeeper Nik Tzanev (Northampton Town) and defenders Callan Elliot (Auckland FC) and Bill Tuiloma (Charlotte FC).
New Zealand is slated to face Norway in October in Oslo in an international friendly that will likely feature two top scorers from England's Premier League in All Whites captain Chris Wood, who plays his club football for Nottingham Forest, and Norway star Erling Haaland (Manchester City).
With New Zealand enjoying its highest world ranking since October 2013, Boxall believes his team is indeed on the rise.
'The talent's there. And it's just about us getting all on the same page against teams that are ranked higher than us and doing the job against them.'
Boxall, wife Libby and their two kids split their off-season between Minnesota and their home in New Zealand.
Winnipeg Jets Game Days
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.
New Zealand
Kosta Barbarouses, Wellington Phoenix (New Zealand); Joe Bell Viking FK (Norway); Tyler Bindon, Reading (England, on loan from Nottingham Forest); Michael Boxall, Minnesota United (MLS); Liberato Cacace, Empoli (Italy); Max Crocombe, Burton Albion (England); Callan Elliot, Auckland FC (New Zealand); Matt Garbett, NAC Breda (the Netherlands); Eli Just, SKN St. Pölten (Austria, on loan from Horsens); Callum McCowatt, Silkeborg IF (Denmark); Ben Old, AS Saint-Etienne (France); Alex Paulsen, Auckland FC (New Zealand, on loan from AFC Bournemouth); Nando Pijnaker, Auckland FC (New Zealand); Alex Rufer, Wellington Phoenix (New Zealand); Sarpreet Singh, U.D. Leiria (Portugal); Tommy Smith, Auckland FC (New Zealand); Marko Stamenic, Olympiacos (Greece, on loan from Nottingham Forest); Finn Surman, Portland Timbers (MLS); Bill Tuiloma, Charlotte FC (MLS); Nik Tzanev, Northampton Town (England); Francis de Vries, Auckland FC (New Zealand); Ben Waine, Mansfield Town (England, on loan from Plymouth Argyle); Chris Wood, Nottingham Forest (England).
—
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 27, 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
New Zealand Cricket seeks new head coach for all formats
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand Cricket has begun a search for a new head coach to lead the Black Caps in all three formats after ruling out the incumbent Gary Stead, who has been national coach since 2018. Stead stepped down in April from the white ball formats and said he was considering his future as test coach. NZC hurried his decision when it said Wednesday it is now looking for one coach to cover all formats. South African Rob Walter, former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond and current assistants Luke Ronchi and Shane Jurgensen are expected to be interviewed. Stead coached the Black Caps in 52 test matches, winning 27 including the inaugural World Test Championship. Under his coaching, New Zealand won 56 of 97 one-day internationals and 64 of 119 Twenty20 internationals. New Zealand was runner-up on a countback of boundaries in the 2019 World Cup and runner-up at the Champions Trophy earlier this year. Stead took over as head coach from Mike Hesson, who had enjoyed success in company with captain Brendon McCullum. 'Brendon McCullum and Mike Hesson had left the team with strong values and a style of play and I've just tried to build and shape that further to grow our ability to be consistent in everything we do,' Stead said. 'It's been nice to be competitive across all three formats and I'd like to think that regardless of results, the opposition know the Black Caps are a team that won't fold and will always show the grit and determination to compete.' ___ AP cricket:
Winnipeg Free Press
7 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Messi back with Argentina and Ancelotti debuts with Brazil in South American World Cup qualifying
SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil's new coach Carlo Ancelotti is getting a little help from his old friend Casemiro as he prepares for his debut in South American World Cup qualifying at Ecuador. Meanwhile star Lionel Messi is expected to play Thursday for Argentina at Chile after a seven-month absence. Veteran midfielder Casemiro, who has had success with the Italian coach at Real Madrid, is likely to be a starter in a match Thursday that could ease the pressure on Brazil, currently in fourth position in the standings. A home win could also put Ecuador close to its berth in the World Cup. The 37-year Messi seems to be in shape to return for Argentina. His most recent game for the World Cup champions was in November 2024. A muscle injury prevented him from playing in the March doubleheader, in which Lionel Scaloni's team secured its spot to defend its title. Argentina leads the round-robin competition with 31 points in 14 matches. Ecuador (23), Uruguay (21), Brazil (21), Paraguay (21), and Colombia (20) could secure direct births this month. The seventh-place team, which will advance to an international playoff, could be Venezuela (15 points), Bolivia (14) or even Peru (10) and Chile (10). Also on Thursday, Paraguay will host Uruguay. Friday's matches are Colombia vs. Peru and Venezuela against Bolivia. Ancelotti keys on returning players Ancelotti has been very communicative with returning players Casemiro and striker Richarlison. Both players were in Brazil's starting lineup in the 15 minutes allowed for journalists to watch practice at the Corinthians training ground in Sao Paulo. Next week, Brazil will prepare at the same venue for the match against Paraguay. Raphinha, who is suspended for the game in Guayaquil, will return to the team next week. Defender Alexsandro, who also hopes to have his national team debut this month, said he was excited about Ancelotti's interest in long conversations with his players. The Italian is still learning Portuguese, but managed to get his message across in Spanish, the Lille player added. 'I saw after our trainings he is very communicative, always asking questions, willing to know more, giving tips. That's important for us to grow, get all the experience and the achievements he has,' Alexsandro said Tuesday. 'We need to take this to the next few matches, qualify and get to the World Cup.' Defender Marquinhos, who had his first training with Ancelotti on Tuesday after lifting the Champions League title with Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday, said Ancelotti's arrival will boost Brazil's chances to add a sixth star to its crest. 'You can see that the arrival of our coach brings this energy for the start, it is about something new coming. This short run until the World Cup, having this energy, it will be very important,' Marquinhos said. Messi returns among other new faces Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Messi's return will add to three new faces Argentina is expected to feature against Chile, if their first training session was an indication. Defenders Kevin Lomónaco (Independiente) and Mariano Troilo (Belgrano), and striker Franco Mastantuono, the 17-year-old River Plate targeted by major European clubs, are likely to get tested. Scaloni will have to decide who will replace defender Nicolás Otamendi, who is suspended for the match at the National Stadium in Santiago. His main options are Leonardo Balerdi and Facundo Medina. Suspensions and injuries will also force Argentina to change its midfield. Alexis Mac Allister was ruled out, while Enzo Fernández and Leandro Paredes are suspended. Frequent starter Rodrigo De Paul is expected to be joined by Giovanni Lo Celso and Exequiel Palacios. ___ AP soccer:
Winnipeg Free Press
19 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Acerbi's refusal makes it unclear who will mark Haaland for Italy in key World Cup qualifier
ROME (AP) — Francesco Acerbi, the defender who was supposed to mark Erling Haaland, turned down the callup to the national team. The other Inter Milan players are demoralized after getting routed 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. Italy's preparations for a key World Cup qualifier at Norway on Friday have been anything but ideal. Add in the extra pressure that the Azzurri face after failing to qualify for the last two World Cups and it's easy to understand why coach Luciano Spalletti says 'it won't be a simple qualifier.' It's Italy's first qualifier and the Azzurri are already trailing group leader Norway, which has a full six points and a plus-seven goal differential after beating Moldova 5-0 and Israel 4-2. Winning the group is the only way to ensure direct qualification to next year's tournament in North America. The second-placed team goes into the playoffs, the stage where Italy was eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia and ruled out of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, respectively. Haaland scored against Moldova and Israel and recently returned from a left ankle injury that kept him out for all of April. Acerbi's relentless man-to-man lockdown efforts kept Haaland scoreless both in Inter's Champions League opener at Manchester City in September, which ended 0-0, and the 2023 Champions League final. But Acerbi informed Spalletti shortly after Saturday's Champions League final that he was turning down his first callup since March 2024. Acerbi said on Instagram that he felt disrespected. 'I don't want to stay where I'm not really wanted and it's clear that I'm not part of the coach's plans,' Acerbi wrote. Alternatives to Acerbi Since Alessandro Buongiorno, another center back, left Italy's training camp due to a right thigh injury, and Roma center back Gianluca Mancini was left out of the squad, it's unclear who will mark Haaland. One option could be Federico Gatti of Juventus, although Gatti has played only eight minutes since breaking a bone in his left leg in March. Another solution could be Matteo Gabbia of AC Milan. Or Alessandro Bastoni could be moved from left back to central defense in Spalletti's three-man back line. Haaland has 40 goals in 41 matches for Norway. 'If they have one very good player, we should have 11,' former Italy coach Arrigo Sacchi said in the Gazzetta dello Sport. 'The problem isn't Haaland, it's us. We need to play as a team and start interpreting football as a collective effort.' Italy's goals came late in a Nations League quarterfinal loss to Germany in March, when Moise Kean scored twice and Giacomo Raspadori converted an injury-time penalty in a 3-3 second-leg draw that eliminated the Azzurri and sent them into a tougher qualifying group. There was also an embarrassing goal conceded in Germany's 2-1 first-leg victory, when goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and the entire Azzurri defense were protesting to the referee. Donnarumma enters the Norway match on a high, though, after helping PSG to the Champions League trophy. With Acerbi gone, the remaining Inter players with Italy are Bastoni, Federico Dimarco, Nicolò Barella and Davide Frattesi. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Juventus captain Manuel Locatelli, who had a strong finish to Serie A, also left the training camp injured. Kean, however, is coming off the best season of his career with 19 goals for Fiorentina. 'Whether we go to the World Cup or not depends a lot on how we play in Norway,' Spalletti said. 'The players and I know how important this match is.' ___ AP soccer:
