Bazeley pushes for Gold Cup as New Zealand exit World Cup

Bazeley wants Gold Cup after World Cup exit

New Zealand are out. The All Whites went 5–1 to Belgium and that was the end of the group stage, prompting head coach Darren Bazeley to push for a Gold Cup future. The only OFC side at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, New Zealand looked out of their depth against top-tier opposition. Bazeley believes regular Gold Cup participation is a concrete step toward closing that gap.

Bazeley's job under scrutiny

Darren Bazeley is under pressure. His position is reportedly at risk following the early exit. The tactical setup against Belgium could not stop the bleeding and the team never threatened at the other end. Players expressed regret about the tournament as a whole, not just the 5–1 loss.

Fan reaktioner

New Zealand's exit barely registered on the r/soccer elimination boards. The OFC was the only confederation with every team gone after the round of 32, a stark reminder of the gap the All Whites are trying to bridge. Full elimination board here.