The All Whites are set to play a friendly match against 2026 FIFA World Cup co-hosts USA in September.
New Zealand Football confirmed the second All Whites fixture of the September international window, to be played on September 11 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
USA are currently ranked 11th in the FIFA world rankings so will prove to be a tough test for New Zealand currently ranked 107th in the world.
The game comes three days after Darren Bazeley’s side faces another co-host for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — Mexico, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
These two games are the last international friendlies the team will play before starting their World Cup qualifying campaign in October and November.
All Whites head coach Darren Bazeley said he was pleased they would be facing two of the co-host nations ahead of their World Cup qualifying campaign later this year.
“Our strategy is centred around making sure we are in the best place to qualify for, and then compete at, the FIFA World Cup 2026, so locking in games against two of the co-hosts, in one of the countries the tournament is going to be based, is really good preparation for us,” said Bazeley.
“With the OFC Men’s Nations Cup, the Olympics for a number of our players, these two games in the USA, and then FIFA World Cup qualifying, we have a big second half of the year."
For the first time, the OFC 2026 World Cup qualifiers will grant an automatic spot to the highest finisher with another playoff spot up for grabs as the 2026 World Cup expands from 32 teams to 48.
The All Whites are currently in Vanuatu at the OFC Men’s Nations Cup 2024, where they face Tahiti in the semi-final this Thursday.
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