Chris Wood led New Zealand to a dominant 3-0 victory over Tahiti in their opening match of Group B at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Oceania Qualifiers held in Port Vila. This marked the team’s return to the VFF Freshwater Stadium, where they previously triumphed in the OFC Men’s Nations Cup in June.
The All Whites wasted no time, scoring just two minutes into the game when Elijah Just blasted a left-foot shot into the roof of the net. Wood, who had recently netted a goal for Nottingham Forest against Chelsea in the English Premier League, added to the scoreline in the 68th minute, directing a header into the corner from an unmarked position during a corner kick. This goal marked his 35th at the international level.
With a two-goal lead, Coach Darren Bazeley made strategic substitutions, bringing on Kostas Barbarouses and Storm Roux to refresh the squad. Ben Waine capped off the performance with a goal in the 89th minute, securing a comfortable win and all three points for New Zealand.