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8 Dec 2025 19:07

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The All Whites will face two sides inside the world's current top 20 at next year's World Cup - but have avoided the likes of world champions Argentina and European title holders Spain

The All Whites will face two sides inside the world's current top 20 at next year's World Cup - but have avoided the likes of world champions Argentina and European title holders Spain

6 December 2025

The toughest opponent on paper is eighth-ranked Belgium, with Iran 20th and Egypt - featuring Liverpool great Mo Salah - in 34th.

The All Whites currently sit 86th in the rankings.

Coach Darren Bazeley pretty happy on TVNZ...

The full schedule is out tomorrow morning from 6am - but New Zealand will play Iran, Egypt and Belgium in that order in a mix of Los Angeles, Seattle and Vancouver.

Elsewhere, England meet Croatia in group L, while France and Senegal have been drawn together - 24 years since the African nation stunned the then defending champions at the 2002 tournament.

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Other Soccer News

07 Dec: Giancarlo Italiano remains iron-willed about Wellington Phoenix's defensive strategy despite three losses in their last four A-League matches

07 Dec: To a last-gasp Premier League upset..

06 Dec: All Whites defender Michael Boxall feels a step closer to the Football World Cup after today's glitzy draw ceremony in Washington DC

06 Dec: Malaysian football in chaos after FIFA suspends national players from Argentina, Spain and Brazil

06 Dec: Coach Giancarlo Italiano admits he's learnt his lesson when it comes to over-motivating the Phoenix players for their derby battles in football's A-League

06 Dec: The weight of the New Zealand derby in football's A-League has never been stronger

06 Dec: The study has begun for the All Whites on Belgium, Iran and Egypt - just hours after being drawn against them in group G at the Football World Cup mid-next year

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