Chris Wood backs automatic World Cup qualifying for Oceania minnows

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Chris Wood backs automatic World Cup qualifying for Oceania minnows

2025-03-20 10:12 Last Updated At：10:21

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand captain Chris Wood says it's “only fair” that FIFA’s smallest confederation, Oceania, has been given direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup.

New Zealand will play Fiji and Tahiti will play New Caledonia in Wellington, New Zealand on Friday in the semifinals of the Oceania qualifying tournament. The final will be played in Auckland next Monday and the winner will be among the first teams to join hosts Canada, the United States and Mexico at next year’s expanded 48-team World Cup.

It's the first time a team from Oceania has directly qualified for the World Cup finals rather than having to go through an intercontinental playoff.

The loser of the Oceania final still will have a chance to qualify through a playoff series involving teams from the Asian, African, South American and CONCACAF confederations.

New Zealand, at 89 in the FIFA rankings, is favored to qualify as the largest Oceania nation and after also qualifying through a more rigorous process for the finals in Spain in 1982 and South Africa in 2010. It has yet to win a game at the World Cup. Fiji is ranked No. 148, New Caledonia No. 152 and Tahiti No. 153.

Critics have suggested that it's incongruous that such lowly-ranked teams should be able to qualify directly when higher-ranked teams are eliminated in larger and more competitive confederations.

Although Wood said if the World Cup is to be a true global tournament, it needs teams from all confederations. Australia moved to the Asian Football Confederation from Oceania after qualifying for the 2006 World Cup.

“I do believe Oceania should have an automatic entry to make it a full World Cup of every continent,” Wood told reporters. “It’s truly a fair way of doing it and our confederation should be represented.”

New Zealand reached the 1982 World Cup after 14 qualifying games in nine months and traveling 55,000 miles. In 2010 it beat Bahrain from the Asian confederation in a two-leg playoff. Subsequent qualifying campaigns have ended in playoff losses to Mexico, Peru and Costa Rica.

"Obviously those intercontinental games were big games and big moments. What we have now is players who have experienced the hurt of not qualifying, whether that was Mexico, Peru or Costa Rica,” New Zealand coach Danny Bazeley said. “That makes it more challenging for Fiji, knowing that we’ve got a team that won’t be complacent. This opportunity is in front of them and they’re ready to take it.”

Fiji’s task is a massive one. Most of its players are amateurs and have fulltime jobs. Wales-born coach Rob Sherman has tried in camps in Fiji and New Zealand to develop a more professional and tactical mindset.

“Look at where the Kiwi lads are. They’re all overseas, all in decent clubs,” Sherman told the Australian Associated Press. “All our preparation has been focused on trying to limit New Zealand’s strengths and maybe capitalize on one or two of their weaknesses, if they have any.”

New Caledonia coach Johann Sidaner said qualifying for the semifinals had been a triumph for his team which has had to overcome civil unrest in its homeland.

“We are very delighted to be here,” Sidaner said. “The team is already very satisfied.”

Tahiti coach Samuel Garcia said his team is also delighted to have reached this point.

“We’re very focused on what we’re doing at the moment. Our final is on Friday,” he said.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

2026 NBA draft tracker: List of 1st-round picks

The players selected in the first round of the NBA draft Tuesday night in New York:

Scouting report: First-team Associated Press All-American and national scoring leader (25.5) as a sturdy-framed freshman. Pressured defenses by creating his own shot and getting to the line, where he led the country in made free throws (229) and attempts (296). Synergy rated him as “Excellent” as the ballhandler in pick-and-rolls (87th percentile, 27% of possessions) and post-ups (94th, 10.9%). Averaged 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists. Shot 51%. Scored BYU freshman-record 43 points against Utah. Must improve his 3-point shot (33.1%).

Scouting report: Scoring playmaker thrives off the dribble, in halfcourt and in transition. Freshman averaged 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists. Shot 38.2% on 3-pointers, hitting six 3s in a win at Oklahoma State. Made 82.6% of free throws, logging six games with at least eight attempts. Biggest questions centered on availability. Dealt with a preseason full-body cramping issue requiring hospitalization, then missed 11 games for injury or illness. Frequently had limited minutes for uncertainty with his day-to-day status.

Scouting report: Fifth freshman named AP men’s national player of the year. Averaged 22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds. Shot 55.6%, routinely finishing through contact and physical play. Made 39.1% of 3s. Rated “Excellent” by Synergy against man defense (94th percentile), on post-ups (86th) and spot-up shots (95th). Strong passer (4.1 assists) out of double teams or in initiating offense. Son of former Duke and NBA player Carlos Boozer. Lacks explosive athleticism, relying more on strength and positioning than above-the-rim play.

Scouting report: Second-team AP All-American as a freshman with explosive athleticism, go-go-go motor, 7-foot wingspan and spotlight-embracing personality. Averaged 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds. Thrived at the rim and in transition. Stood out in marquee wins against Kansas and rival Duke. Needs to add strength and hone his 3-point shot (25.9%). Had a national-leading 66 dunks when he suffered a broken left hand in mid-February, then broke his right thumb in practice when on the verge of returning in March.

Scouting report: Freshman four-star recruit became a second-team AP All-American in Illinois’ first Final Four run since 2005. Can play on or off the ball. Averaged 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists. Shot 39.7% on 3s, hitting nine 3s in a 46-point outburst against Purdue. Rated “Excellent” by Synergy as the pick-and-roll ballhandler and with his jumper in off-the-dribble and catch-and-shoot opportunities. Lacks elite athleticism. Needs to add strength.

Scouting report: Freshman offers scoring punch with combo-guard size. Averaged 18.2 points and 4.7 assists. Erupted for 45 points and 10 3-pointers in a blowout of N.C. State to break the Atlantic Coast Conference freshman scoring record set by 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg. Needs to add strength. Battled back issues that sidelined him for eight midseason games and then resurfaced to sideline him for the last six.

Scouting report: First-team AP All-American with standout offensive skills. Freshman ranked third nationally in scoring (23.5) and 14th in assists (6.4), leading Razorbacks to first Southeastern Conference Tournament title in 26 years. Had program freshman-record 49 points in a double-overtime loss at Alabama. Thrived as the pick-and-roll ballhandler (rated “Excellent” in the 89th percentile by Synergy) and in isolation (rated “Very good” in the 74th percentile). Defense is a question.

Scouting report: Third-team AP All-American as a freshman with potential to be disruptive defensively. Averaged 16.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists. Pressured opponents in transition or off the bounce. Had program freshman-record 42 points in a loss to Texas Tech. Posted a nearly 3:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Ranked in the top six at combine in lane-agility time, shuttle run and three-quarter-court sprint. Needs to add strength and refine shot mechanics.

Scouting report: Versatile and physical presence as a sophomore transfer from Illinois, helping Michigan win its first NCAA title since 1989. Averaged 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks with potential to play forward or a small-ball 5-man. Thrived as a cutter, in post-ups and in finishing at the rim. Ranked ninth at the combine with a better than 7-3 wingspan.

Scouting report: Freshman combo guard offers potential to impact both ends of the court. Averaged 16.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists for 36-win Final Four team. Shot 49.1% overall, 39.1% on 3-pointers and 80.5% on free throws. Averaged 1.5 steals, including nine games with at least three. Ranked fourth at the combine in standing vertical leap (35 inches).

11. Golden State Warriors

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Los Angeles Clippers)

13. Miami Heat ( traded to Milwaukee )

14. Charlotte Hornets

15. Chicago Bulls (from Portland)

16. Memphis Grizzlies (from Phoenix via Orlando)

17. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Philadelphia)

18. Charlotte Hornets (from Orlando via Phoenix)

19. Toronto Raptors

20. San Antonio Spurs (from Atlanta)

21. Detroit Pistons (from Minnesota)

22. Philadelphia 76ers (from Houston via Oklahoma City)