New Zealand and Vanuatu to Face Off in FIFA World Cup Qualification OFC

New Zealand and Vanuatu to Battle for a Spot in the FIFA World Cup

New Zealand and Vanuatu will face off in a two-legged FIFA World Cup qualification playoff match on March 17 and March 24, 2023. The winner of this playoff will advance to the intercontinental playoff, where they will face the fourth-placed team from the CONCACAF region for a spot in the 2023 FIFA World Cup.

New Zealand Heavily Favored in the Matchup

New Zealand is the heavy favorite in this matchup. They are currently ranked 101st in the FIFA World Rankings, while Vanuatu is ranked 163rd. New Zealand has also won the OFC Nations Cup, the Oceania region's top international football tournament, five times, while Vanuatu has never won the tournament.

Vanuatu Has a Chance to Make History

Despite being the underdog, Vanuatu has a chance to make history by qualifying for their first-ever FIFA World Cup. They have a talented squad led by striker Chris Wood, who plays for Newcastle United in the English Premier League. Wood is Vanuatu's all-time leading scorer with 33 goals in 64 appearances.

The Matchup Will Be Closely Contested

Despite New Zealand's heavy favorite status, the matchup is expected to be closely contested. Vanuatu has a passionate home crowd and will be looking to make history. New Zealand will need to be at their best to overcome Vanuatu and advance to the intercontinental playoff.

The Winner Will Face the Fourth-Placed Team from CONCACAF

The winner of the New Zealand-Vanuatu playoff will face the fourth-placed team from the CONCACAF region in the intercontinental playoff. The intercontinental playoff will be played in a single match on June 13, 2023. The winner of the intercontinental playoff will qualify for the 2023 FIFA World Cup.