WELLINGTON, March 19 — Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood is enjoying the best season of his career, scoring 18 Premier League goals and pushing his club into surprise Champions League contention. Now, he’s determined to lead New Zealand to their first-ever World Cup win.
WELLINGTON, March 19 — Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood is enjoying the best season of his career, scoring 18 Premier League goals and pushing his club into surprise Champions League contention. Now, he’s determined to lead New Zealand to their first-ever World Cup win.
New Zealand, strong favorites in Oceania, are on the verge of qualifying for their third World Cup, following appearances in 1982 and 2010, where they failed to secure a victory. With the expanded 48-team format in 2026, Oceania gets an automatic spot, increasing their chances.
Wood, who has 41 goals in 80 games for New Zealand, believes this squad is the strongest in the nation’s history. “Our goal is to win a game and reach the knockout stages,” he told Radio New Zealand. “The squad keeps improving, playing in top leagues worldwide.”
Other key players include Marko Stamenic (Olympiacos), Tyler Bindon (Reading), and Matt Garbett (Breda). To qualify, New Zealand must first beat Fiji on Friday before facing New Caledonia or Tahiti on Monday.
“This team has the potential to be the best—but we have to prove it on the pitch,” Wood said. — AFP
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