The New Zealand men's national football team has competed in all eleven editions of the OFC Men's Nations Cup, and have won six times, the most recent coming in the 2024 tournament.
On 1 January 2006, Australia ceased to be a member of the Oceania Football Confederation, having elected to join the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and have not taken part in the OFC Nations Cup since.
OFC Nations Cup record
New Zealand's OFC Nations Cup record Year Host Round Squad1973Champions1st5410134Squad1980Group stage5th3102781996Semi-finals3rd201103Squad1998Champions1st4400111Squad2000Runners-up2nd430173Squad2002Champions1st5500232Squad2004Third place3rd5302175Squad2008Champions1st6501145Squad2012Third place3rd531187Squad2016Champions1st5410101Squad2024, Champions1st4400150Squad Total 6 titles 11/11 48 36 4 8 125 39 —
Record by opponent
OFC Nations Cup matches (by team)Opponent6213268602168540194321011287102668611264*10901379
Games against New Hebrides are included in statistics of Vanuatu.
1973 Oceania Cup
The first edition of the Oceania Nations Cup (known as the "Oceania Cup") took place in Newmarket Park in Auckland, New Zealand. Five countries participated in one group where each team played each other once. The top two teams progressed to the final where New Zealand defeated Tahiti 2-0 to be crowned champions.
First round TeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification4310114+710Advance to final422072+58420285+36Advance to third place play-off411248–444004213–110
Final
1980 Oceania Cup
The second edition of the OFC Nations Cup, held in New Caledonia, consisted of eight teams divided into two groups of four, with the group winners progressing to the final and the runners-up contesting the third place play-off match. After three group matches, New Zealand failed to progress to the knockout stages of the tournament.
Group A TeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification3300215+169Advance to final3201107+36Advance to third place play-off310278–133003321–180
1996 OFC Nations Cup
The third edition of the OFC Nations cup was not held as a cohesive tournament but consisted of four teams and two home-and-away rounds spanning two years. New Zealand played Australia, and Tahiti played the Solomon Islands, with Australia and Tahiti progressing to the final. The two matches between New Zealand and Australia also doubled as the 1995 edition of the Trans-Tasman Cup.
Semi-final
Australia won 3–0 on aggregate.
1998 OFC Nations Cup
Six teams competed in the 1998 OFC Nations Cup which was held at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia. The six teams were divided into two groups of three, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the semi-finals. New Zealand defeated Australia in the final to earn a spot at the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Group A TeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification220091+86Advance to knockout stage210152+332002213–110
Semi-final
Final
2000 OFC Nations Cup
As in the previous edition of the Nations Cup, the 2000 tournament included six teams divided into two groups of three. The top two teams from each group progressed to the knockout stages with Australia defeating New Zealand in the final to claim the title of Oceania champion, and secure a place at the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Group B TeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification220051+46Advance to knockout stage210145–13200225–30
Semi-final
Final
2002 OFC Nations Cup
The sixth edition of the OFC Nations Cup saw eight teams participate in two groups of four teams each. Each team played the other once, and the top two teams progressed to the knockout stages. After defeating Vanuatu in the semi-final, New Zealand went on to defeat long-time rivals Australia to be crowned OFC Champions and qualify for the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Group B TeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification3300192+179Advance to knockout stage320167–16301239–613012212–101
Semi-final
Final
2004 OFC Nations Cup
The 2004 OFC Nations Cup - which doubled as FIFA World Cup qualifying for the Oceania region - consisted of two rounds. The first round saw six nations compete in a single group where each team played the other once. The top two teams progressed to a home-and-away finals series to determine the winner of the Nations Cup.
Due to a shock 4–2 loss to Vanuatu, New Zealand failed to place in the top two, resulting in Australia taking on the Solomon Islands in the two-legged final, eventually winning 5–1 away and 6–0 at home to claim the title of OFC Champions for a fourth time.
Group stage
2008 OFC Nations Cup
The 2008 tournament doubled as FIFA World Cup qualification matches for the Oceania region and consisted of just four teams in one group with matches spread out over two years. Each team played the other twice with New Zealand - the top team of the group - being crowned the OFC Nations Cup champions as well as earning a spot in the play-off match against the 5th best Asian team for a spot at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Notes
2012 OFC Nations Cup
The ninth edition of the OFC Nations Cup was held in Honiara, Solomon Islands with eight teams in the competition. The teams were divided into two groups of four, each playing the other teams once. The top two teams of each group progressed to the knockout stages which consisted of semi-finals a final round to determine the winner of the OFC Nations Cup.
Tahiti won the competition for the first time in its history after tournament favourites New Zealand lost to New Caledonia in the semi-final. Tahiti's triumph was also the first time a nation other than Australia or New Zealand has won the OFC Nations Cup.
The group stage of the 2012 Nations Cup also doubled as World Cup qualifying matches, with the top two teams from each group progressing to stage 3 of qualifying. The winner of the 2012 Nations Cup would also represent Oceania at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Group B
Semi-final
Third place match
2016 OFC Nations Cup
Group B
Semi-final
Final
2024 OFC Nations Cup
Group A
Knockout stage
Semi-finals
Final
Statistics Record players
RankPlayerMatchesTournaments1Ivan Vicelich201998, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 20122Simon Elliott121996, 2000, 2004 and 2008Chris Killen122000, 2002, 2008 and 20124Vaughan Coveny111996, 1998 and 2004Shane Smeltz112004, 2008 and 20126Chris Wood82012 and 2016
Top goalscorers
RankPlayerGoalsTournaments (goals)1Shane Smeltz102004 (0), 2008 (8) and 2012 (2)Vaughan Coveny101996 (0), 1998 (4), 2002 (0) and 2004 (6)3Chris Wood92012 (5) and 2016 (4)4Chris Killen72000 (2), 2002 (5), 2004 (0), 2008 (0) and 2012 (0)
See also New Zealand national football team results New Zealand at the FIFA World Cup New Zealand at the FIFA Confederations Cup
References