New Zealand pushes closer to World Cup

March 24, 2025

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Chris Wood scored three goals as New Zealand’s All Whites beat Fiji 7-0, moving one step away from qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

They will face New Caledonia in a final match at Eden Park in Auckland on Monday. New Caledonia reached the qualifier after a surprising 3-0 victory over Tahiti.

The winner of Monday’s game will qualify directly for the World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. For New Zealand, it would be their first appearance since 2010. For New Caledonia, it would be their first ever.

In the semifinals, New Caledonia’s veteran player Georges Gope-Fenepej scored two amazing goals to lead his team past Tahiti. His goals came in the 50th and 75th minutes, and a third was added in stoppage time by Lues Waha. Tahiti also had a player sent off late in the match.

Meanwhile, New Zealand’s strong performance showed why they’re favourites. Chris Wood scored early and added two more goals before being substituted. Other goals came from Sarpreet Singh, Tim Payne, and Kosta Barbarouses, with one more added as an own goal.

Article written by Milli Banbury

This article was written using AI as an assistive tool for research, writing, and proofreading.
The te reo Māori version of this article was translated with AI assistance. While care has been taken to keep it accurate, if you spot anything that doesn't read quite right, please let us know

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Learning Options

Recall Questions

Thinking questions

Digital Thinking

Our school library has changed in several ways this term. New shelves now display graphic novels, history books, and sport biographies in separate sections, making titles easier to find. A quieter reading corner has also been set up for students who prefer to read on their own. Although some people first noticed the new furniture, the most important change is that more students have started borrowing books and spending time in the library. The librarian said the aim was to make the library more welcoming to different readers.

What is the main idea of this passage?

Students enjoy reading in a quiet corner by themselves. The librarian prefers history books to graphic novels. The library bought new furniture this term. The library changes have made it more welcoming and useful for students.