The Northern Express Herald

All Whites to play Chile and Finland at Eden Park ahead of World Cup

The All Whites have confirmed their final home games before the Fifa World Cup 2026, taking on Chile and Finland at Eden Park in March as part of the first Fifa Series held in New Zealand.

The Fifa Series brings together four competing nations to play meaningful international fixtures against other top sides.

The New Zealand edition will see the All Whites joined by Cape Verde (Fifa rank 67), who qualified for the Fifa World Cup for the first time in 2026, Chile (Fifa rank 52), and Finland (Fifa rank 75), the first men’s Uefa nation to play in New Zealand in over 30 years.

All matches will be played at Eden Park, with double-header match days on Friday, March 27 and Monday, March 30, 2026, kicking off at 4pm and 7pm.

The first match day will see Chile take on Cape Verde (4pm), before the All Whites face Finland (7pm).

The second match day will see Cape Verde versus Finland (4pm), followed by the All Whites hosting Chile (7pm).

All Whites head coach Darren Bazeley is excited about the prospect of taking on two high-quality teams at home before the Fifa World Cup 2026.

“These games are perfect for us as they will give us a real test and aid our preparation for the Fifa World Cup, while also being at home and giving fans the opportunity to support the team before we head to Canada, Mexico and the USA,” he said.

“Both Chile and Finland will be challenging opponents, so we expect some really competitive matches, which is exciting for everyone.

“2026 is going to be a massive year for football, so it’s great to announce these fixtures and kick it off in the best way possible.”

Tickets go on presale to New Zealand Football’s Football Whānau on January 28, before going on general sale on January 30.