WELLINGTON, 18 March 2025 (BSS/AFP) – Chris Wood has propelled Nottingham Forest into a surprise push for Champions League qualification, and now the striker is determined to help New Zealand achieve a historic World Cup performance.
New Zealand are strong favourites to secure qualification from the Oceania region over the coming week, aiming to reach the World Cup for only the third time in their history.
The country has previously appeared at the World Cup finals in 1982 and 2010, but on both occasions, they were unable to secure a win in six attempts.
With Wood captaining the team and leading by example, the 33-year-old told local media on Tuesday that he believes the current squad has the potential to secure their first World Cup victory.
“If we’re there, our goal will be to win a game and progress into the group stages,” the in-form striker said in an interview with Radio New Zealand.
“It’s about proving we can do it, and I firmly believe we can. The squad is growing in strength and quality, and more players are moving to bigger and better clubs.”
He continued, “They’re demonstrating across the world that they’re capable of playing at the highest level.”
Wood is enjoying the best season of his career, having netted 18 goals in the Premier League, putting him among the top scorers alongside Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland. His form has played a crucial role in Forest’s rise to third place in the Premier League table, and if they maintain their position, they will secure a spot in the prestigious Champions League.
Other New Zealand players plying their trade in Europe include Marko Stamenic at Olympiacos in Greece, Tyler Bindon at Reading, and Matt Garbett with Breda in the Netherlands.
The 2026 World Cup, to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, has been expanded to 48 teams, guaranteeing automatic qualification for an Oceania team.
To secure their place, New Zealand must first overcome Fiji in Wellington on Friday before facing a crucial qualifying match against either New Caledonia or Tahiti on Monday.
Wood, who has scored 41 goals in 80 appearances for New Zealand, declared, “This team is probably one of the best we’ve had in history. But they need to prove that on the pitch and earn the right to be considered one of the greats. Making it to the World Cup is the first step to achieving that.”
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The Oceania region’s qualification path for the World Cup has often been challenging, as they have been placed in a playoff spot against teams from other regions. New Zealand’s success in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup would mark a significant milestone, particularly given the expanded format. Wood’s leadership will be crucial in guiding his team to that historic achievement.
