New zealand national football team

The New Zealand national football team, also known as the All Whites, represents New Zealand in international football. Here are some key facts about the team:

History:

• The team was founded in 1926 and has been playing international matches since 1927.
• New Zealand has played in several international tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup, the OFC Nations Cup, and the Pacific Games.

FIFA World Cup:

• New Zealand has qualified for the FIFA World Cup twice, in 1982 and 2010.
• In 2010, the team reached the round of 16, where they lost to Brazil 8-0.

OFC Nations Cup:

• The team has won the OFC Nations Cup four times, in 1973, 1998, 2002, and 2008.
• They have also finished as runners-up three times and third place twice.

Pacific Games:

• New Zealand has won the Pacific Games football tournament three times, in 1963, 1969, and 2011.

Current squad:

• The team is currently ranked 122nd in the FIFA World Rankings.
• The team is coached by Danny Hay, who took over in 2018.
• The team's captain is Winston Reid, a defender who plays for the English club West Ham United.

Notable players:

• Wynton Rufer: A legendary striker who played for the team from 1980 to 1997 and scored 22 goals in 23 appearances.
• Ivan Vicelich: A defender who played for the team from 1991 to 2007 and earned 88 caps.
• Ryan Nelsen: A defender who played for the team from 1998 to 2010 and earned 55 caps.
• Chris Wood: A striker who plays for the team and has scored 29 goals in 64 appearances.

Home stadium:

• The team plays its home matches at the QBE Stadium in Auckland, which has a capacity of 25,000.

Rivalries:

• The team has rivalries with other Pacific Island nations, including Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga.
• They also have a rivalry with Australia, with whom they contest the Trans-Tasman Trophy.

Overall, the New Zealand national football team has a rich history and has achieved some notable successes, including qualifying for the FIFA World Cup and winning the OFC Nations Cup.