New Zealand Football have welcomed the news that the FIFA World Cup 26™, the first edition of the tournament the All Whites have qualified for in 16 years, will be coming to TVNZ next year. 

The FIFA World Cup 26™ is set to be the biggest sporting event in the world, hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the USA, with 48 teams involved for the first time, and 104 matches. 

All of the All Whites games, as well as select other fixtures, will be available free-to-air on TVNZ channels in a landmark move for football in New Zealand. 

Football fans will also be able to purchase a one-off event pass to access every match at the tournament through TVNZ+ for the first time. 

The All Whites became the second team, outside of the hosts, to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 26™ in March by winning the OFC Oceania Qualifiers with a 3-0 win over New Caledonia at Eden Park. 

Now Kiwis will be able to watch the team return to the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 2010, and the historic undefeated run in South Africa, with the 2026 edition kicking off in June next year. 

“This is massive for football in Aotearoa New Zealand” says Andrew Pragnell, CEO at New Zealand Football

“Football is already the biggest team participation sport in the country, with record growth following the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™. 

“The impact of Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix has also been huge, alongside having a Kiwi as one of the top goal scorers in the English Premier League.

“The FIFA World Cup™ is going to be the biggest ever edition of the biggest event in the world, and we have a team in a great position to go and perform, so we are really excited about the tournament and the impact it will have on football across the country. 

“TVNZ is going to be the home of football in 2026, alongside FIFA+ which will broadcast over 300 free New Zealand football matches next year, and we look forward to working closely with TVNZ to continue to grow the world’s game in Aotearoa New Zealand.”

Alongside winning the rights to the FIFA World Cup 26™, TVNZ will also show the men’s and women’s U-17 and U-20 FIFA World Cups, as well as the first ever FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup this summer. 

Article added: Monday 25 August 2025