Chris Wood led New Zealand to a convincing 3-0 victory over Tahiti, marking the start of Group B action at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Oceania Qualifiers in Port Vila. Returning to the VFF Freshwater Stadium for the first time since clinching the OFC Men’s Nations Cup in June, coach Darren Bazeley’s team continued their strong form from four months ago.
New Zealand wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard, with Elijah Just scoring a stunning left-footed shot just two minutes into the match. Wood, who recently scored for Nottingham Forest against Chelsea in the English Premier League, added to the tally in the 68th minute. He found space at the far post during a corner kick and directed a header into the net, marking his 35th international goal.
With a comfortable two-goal lead, Bazeley opted to make substitutions, bringing on Kostas Barbarouses and Storm Roux. Ben Waine finalized the score line with a goal in the 89th minute, ensuring New Zealand secured all three points from the match.