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CHANCE! The corner off the left is whipped into the near post, where Bindon throws his head at it. He can't direct his effort on target though, and the ball flies just wide of the left post for a goal kick. 

Decoret takes his time with the goal kick, before launching it up to halfway. It doesn't find Tehau though, and New Zealand get a throw. Sutton sends it forward for Garbett, who comes under pressure and momentarily loses the ball. Paama and Kaspard settle with a couple of touches at the back. 

Cacace goes down under a late challenge from Mathon just inside the attacking half, and New Zealand win a free kick. It's played short, before Payne floats another long ball towards the box. Old is the target down the left-hand side, but Kaspard intercepts, and Tahiti win a goal kick with the final touch off Wood. 

Crocombe plays the goal kick short for Pijanker, and Tahiti drop back into their defensive shape straight away. Stamenic holds up play through the middle, before picking out Payne wide on the right. The All Whites showing slightly more patience in the final third this time. 

The All Whites have opened their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with a comfortable three-goal victory over Tahiti. Make sure you join me again on Monday night for live coverage of their international friendly clash with Malaysia at North Harbour Stadium. It's been a pleasure bringing you all the action from the VFF Freshwater Stadium in Vanuatu this afternoon. For now, Harrison Ryburn signing out. 

SAVE! Paama settles for a throw inside his own half, before sending it long over halfway. The New Zealand defence is caught out, and Tehau sprints through on goal down the right wing. He finds himself with just Crocombe to beat as he approaches the top of the box, but doesn't get enough power behind his effort, and strikes straight into the welcoming arms of the keeper for a comfortable save. 

The stretcher comes out, but Lossec doesn't need it, and hobbles off on his own accord instead. It looks like he'll try and play on for the moment, and Tahiti won't want to be forced into an early change after the poor start they've had. 

A loose pass is quickly hoofed clear downfield by Paama, and New Zealand reset with possession at the back once more. Bindon and Pijnaker holds up play, moving the ball from side to side. Garbett whips a dangerous delivery into the back post off the right, but Old was adjudged to have fouled an opponent whilst giving chase, and Tahiti get a free kick. 

Payne advances back over halfway, and Tahiti are quick to drop back into their compact defensive wall at the top of the box. Old is taken out down the left, but the referee believes it to be a clean challenge, and Kaspard momentarily clears. It doesn't take long for Just to win it back, only for his attempted pass into Wood to be blocked. 

Cacace pushes back up to halfway, before Rufer launches a long ball down the right wing for Payne to chase. Again it's got too much on it though, and beats the fullback over the byline. More frustration for the All Whites. 

Paama goes down under a tackle from Pijnaker on halfway, and Tahiti win a free kick this time. The referee is quick to call the physios on to adminster some treatment. 

Pijnaker picks out the run of Sutton down the left this time, who cuts inside and runs the byline. The latter clips a dangerous delivery into the back post, but Roux sees his effort blocked and New Zealand settle for a corner. 

When the decision to expand the World Cup to 48 teams was announced way back in 2017, New Zealand Football would have been licking their lips. With the tournament’s expansion, OFC have been granted one automatic spot at the global finals for the first time, and a half spot for the second-placed side to test their mettle through the intercontinental play-offs. Given New Zealand’s dominance of the region over the years, and their OFC Nations Cup title earlier in 2024, they start as heavy favorites to book their place at a third FIFA World Cup in 2026. 

Rare chance for Tahiti, and Heitaa comes across to take their first corner off the right. It's powered into the near post, but New Zealand manage to head away. The rebound comes back out for Heitaa on the right flank, but he's offside this time, and Cacace takes the free kick quickly. 

Garbett attempts a pass into the feet of Stamenic down the left-hand side of the box, but Tahiti intercept and clear away once more. It comes back to halfway, where the All Whites win a free kick following a late challenge on Pijnaker from Paama. The Tahitian picks up a yellow card. 

Garbett steals possession inside the attacking half, before linking up with Just in support. The latter is quick to power a direct pass to the top of the box for Wood. The striker's first touch is heavy though, and Tehau is present to pounce and hack clear over halfway. 

Decoret slows play down, before driving the ball back downfield. It bounces all the way through for Crocombe to control, who plays it short for Pijnaker. New Zealand are quick to push back over halfway, but it all looks a little bit lethargic under the Port Vila sun at the moment, and they continue to struggle for a way through the Tahitian block. 

With the water break and injury stoppages, we'll have six minutes of additional time at the end of this first half. New Zealand win a corner down the right, and whip it into the back post through Cacace. Pijnaker sees his shot blocked, followed by Rufer, and Tahiti scramble away. 

It's all been about New Zealand thus far as expected, and Tahiti just haven't been able to break out of their own half. Kaspard manages to keep hold of the ball this time though, Heitaa tries a hopeful long ball towards the box. Tehau latches onto it, but his touch is heavy and he loses the ball over the byline for a goal kick. 

That will be Chris Wood's day after adding to his international tally with a well-placed header, and Logan Rogerson replaces the striker up front. 

Kaspard loses the ball out of play near halfway, and Cacace takes the throw quickly. Bindon and Pijnaker trade passess across the backline, as Tahiti drop into their defensive block again. Pijnaker sees his attempted delivery off the left blocked though, before Mathon wins a free kick after a late challenge from Rufer near the top of the box. 

Tahiti have dropped back into a deep-lying and compact defensive block, and done well to disrupt Darren Bazeley's side since falling behind, closing down space around the top of the box and forcing their opponents wide. The All Whites have responded by bombarding the box with aerial deliveries, but they haven't been able to find the head of Wood inside the final third, and looked rather devoid of ideas as such. Old came close with an effort that hit the post, but outside of individual efforts, New Zealand have had problems breaking down the defence of their opponents. Samuel Garcia will be happy with the stability his Tiki Toa side have shown in response, but they're also lacking an outlet up front, and it's become a stalemate at his team's end of the field for the most part. New Zealand may look in total control, however Bazeley will probably want a couple more goals to go along with an improved performance in the second half as they search for their first three points of the qualifying campaign. 

Old picks up a touch on the left, before linking up with Stamenic. Play is switched for Just on the right, who chests it down and tries a long ball into the box. Wood attempts to control, but his touch is heavy, and Tahiti smash clear through Poma. 

Pijnaker and Bindon reset on halfway, before Stamenic drops back for a touch. Bindon tries another delivery into the box, but again it's hoofed clear. Space opens up for Garbett on the right, but he can't get around Heitaa, and the fullback does well to steal possession with a strong challenge. 

Just wins a throw on the right flank as New Zealand come forward again, before the ball comes back for Pijnaker in midfield. Rufer tries another long ball into the box, but Poma heads away this time. 

Fulltime in Port Vila and the All Whites have opened their World Cup qualifying campaign with a comfortable three-goal victory over Tahiti. It was slightly unconvincing at times, but they always looked in control after Elijah Just put them in front inside ninety seconds, before Chris Wood and Ben Waine rounded out the win with goals in the second half. The result continues their dominant form against OFC opposition, and New Zealand jump straight to the top of Group B after one game. 

Bindon wins the rebound and New Zealand remain on the attack. It comes wide for Just on the right again, but he completelty overhits his delivery into the back post, and it beats Cacace over the byline. The All Whites just can't find that lethal touch in the final third at the moment. 

SAVE! The All Whites keep it along the ground this time, and Stamenic latches onto a direct pass at the top of the box. He does enough to turn and lay it off for the onrushing Garbett down the left-hand side of the area, but the latter sees his first-time left-footed shot smothered and deflect into the welcoming arms of Decoret. 

Cacace wins a throw high up the left flank, before playing it down for Stamenic. Tiatia does well to get in front and intercept before momentarily clearing, but New Zealand win possession straight back near halfway. Just tries a searching pass down the left-hand side of the box for Stamenic this time, but it beats him away over the byline for a goal kick. 

Somehow the officials have decided on ten additional minutes late on, despite the game being over as a contest a long time ago. Kaspard makes a run forward down the right, but he runs straight into Garbett and New Zealand clear with ease. This is going to be a long finish. 

Decoret launches the goal kick up to halfway, where New Zealand steal back possession through Bindon. Still no real openings for the All Whites in this second half, and if they continued to look devoid of creativity going forward. It really is becoming a bit of a stale watch. 

Pijnaker sends a hopeful long ball forward towards the penalty box, as New Zealand come forward again from the restart. It doesn't find Wood though, and Decoret comes up off his line to collect. 

Garbett and Stamenic slow play down with a couple of passes on halfway, as Tahiti drop back again. Pijnaker eventually recieves possession once more, before finding the run of Barbarouses through the middle. Play is switched for Sutton on the left, but his cross is blocked over the sideline by Kaspard. It's played short back for the fullback, who wins a corner moments later. 

Tiatia wins a free kick on the right flank for Tahiti, following a heavy challenge from Stamenic. Kaspard stands over it, and lifts it long towards the top of the box. Mathon sticks his head on it, but Payne is present to clear, and Tahiti settle for a throw on the left. 

TEAM NEWS: Tahiti - Samuel Garcia's side looks very different to the one that earned third place at the OFC Nations Cup last time out. He makes five changes to the starting eleven, with alterations across the park. Teaonui Tehau remains the key player at 32 years of age, and scored three goals during the tournament in June, including two against Fiji in the third-place play-off. 

Time for another drinks break in Port Vila, and both sides look very weary and fatigued as they come across to regroup. That Chris Wood has really killed off the contest and it's all about seeing out the final fifteen minutes now. 

The qualification path to that tournament begins here, and the All Whites will have home advantage for both fixtures in the November window, plus the finals phase in March next year, having never lost in 16 OFC World Cup qualifying matches on home soil. This clash on neutral soil in Port Vila shapes as the bogey match as such, with conditions in the Pacific Islands known to be uncomfortable at times. The September window produced some mixed results, with a weak effort in a 0-3 defeat to Mexico, before a much-improved performance to hold the USA to a 1-1 draw in Washington last time out. The latter of those results will give them some confidence that they can compete with the world’s best ahead of that World Cup in 2026, and the onus is now on them securing their spot through the coming qualifying series. 

Just wins another throw on the right flank, and sends it back for Pijnaker. Eventually it comes back for the winger to try a delivery into the middle, but Tehau clears at the near post, and Tahiti win another free kick up near halfway following a foul from Rufer. Slightly frustrating for New Zealand that they haven't been allowed to push on with their advantage on the scoreboard thus far. 

SHOT! Space opens up for Tehau down the right wing again, and the captain advances towards the byline, before cutting it back to Poma at the top of the box. The latter hits it first-time on his right foot, but he can't keep his effort down, and it flies over the crossbar for a goal kick. 

Rufer and Payne link up down the right this time, before it comes back into midfield for Bindon. New Zealand holding possession again, and trying to be slightly more patient. Tehau intercepts a pass down the right though, and Tahiti come away with the ball momentarily. 

Rufer drops back for a touch inside his own half as New Zealand reset again. Payne then tries to force a long searching pass into the box for Wood, but it's blocked by Paama, and the ball spirals into the path of Decoret to collect. 

Rufer picks out Barbarouses at the top right corner of the box, who trades passes with Rogerson in the hope of opening up some space for a shot. He runs straight into a defender though, before Rufer shanks a horrid shot wide of the left post for a Tahitian goal kick. 

It's nothing close to the crowds that we saw at the OFC Men's Nations Cup earlier in the year here in Port Vila, but a decent amount of fans have still trickled in to catch a sight of Chris Wood and his New Zealand teammates in action. The conditions are slightly overcast, but it remains very humid, and that's something Darren Bazeley will have to take into account as the match progresses. Both sides have just made their way onto the park. We'll hear the national anthems of both and then get into the action!

The All Whites return home to New Zealand after this one, with Malaysia waiting at North Harbour Stadium in Albany on Monday night. Darren Bazeley will be hoping for a slightly sterner test there, but his side will still be expected to win, as they return to home soil for the first time since March 2023. Meanwhile, Tahiti now look ahead to the November window, where they'll make the trip to Aotearoa for key clashes with Samoa and Vanuatu in Hamilton and Auckland. 

TEAM NEWS: New Zealand - Darren Bazeley has selected his strongest possible starting eleven to kick-off the All Whites World Cup qualifying campaign, making just one change to the side that held the USA to a draw last time out. Joe Bell isn't in Vanuatu with the squad, instead being instructed to stay back with his club side Viking FK as they push for a strong finish to the Norweigan Eliteserien. Bazeley appears to be shifting to a 4-2-3-1 as such, with Ben Old coming into the side on the wing in his place. Chris Wood captains the side from the front after scoring his fourth goal of the Premier League season last weekend, and joins Marko Stamenic and Matthew Garbett as the only three not to feature in the OFC Nations Cup semi-final with Tahiti on this ground earlier in the year. 

Payne comes forward down the right as New Zealand look to settle back into their rhythm after the break. He looks up and attempts a long ball into the back post, but it's got far too much on it, and Kaspard lets the ball trickle over the sideline for a Tahitian throw. Tiatia wins a free kick inside his own half moments later. 

Decoret launches the goal kick long over halfway, and New Zealand reset with possession through Bindon at the back. Payne tries a long ball down the right-hand side of the box for Just this time, but again it's slightly overhit, and Decoret is on hand to collect. 

Old is bundled into by Paama inside his own half, and the winger wins a free kick. He stays down for a couple of moments before getting back to his feet, but Lossec doesn't look very good on the other side of the field for Tahiti, and the referee calls for a stretcher to remove him. 