'Hurting' New Zealand determined to reach World Cup, says Bazeley

Led by Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood, New Zealand are strong favourites to beat amateurs Fiji on Friday in Wellington and then seal qualification for 2026 by beating another regional minnow on Monday.

The World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico has been expanded to 48 teams, meaning direct qualification for the best team from Oceania.

Previously the side that topped qualifying in Oceania would have to go through an intercontinental play-off, with New Zealand consequently missing out on recent World Cups at the final hurdle.

"What we have now is a lot of players who experienced the hurt of not qualifying, whether that was (against) Mexico, Peru or Costa Rica, and it hurts, the players are hurting," said the Englishman Bazeley.