New Zealand have added two more international matches to an increasingly busy programme following their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign, with the All Whites set to face Palestine and China PR before travelling to Japan for the Kirin Cup.
Darren Bazeley’s side will take on Palestine on 24 September before facing China PR on 28 September, with both matches to be played in Chongqing. The additions mean New Zealand are now scheduled to play four games during the extended September-October international period.
The All Whites will move directly from China to Japan, where they have already been confirmed as one of four participants in the 2026 Kirin Cup alongside hosts Japan, Ecuador and Panama.
New Zealand open the tournament against Panama at Yokohama International Stadium on 1 October. Japan face Ecuador later on the same day, with the competition then moving to Tokyo’s National Stadium on 5 October. The winners of the opening matches will meet one another, while the defeated teams will contest the other fixture, meaning New Zealand will finish the tournament against either Japan or Ecuador.
It represents a demanding Asian programme for a team beginning a new cycle immediately after competing at the World Cup.
All four nations involved in the Kirin Cup also featured at the 2026 World Cup, giving Bazeley another opportunity to test his squad against opposition accustomed to football at the highest international level.
When New Zealand announced their participation in the tournament, Bazeley highlighted the importance of continuing to expose the squad to strong international opposition and to tournament-style football.
The September and October programme also demonstrates New Zealand Football’s intention to maintain the momentum surrounding the national team beyond the World Cup rather than entering a quieter rebuilding period.
The All Whites’ year will not finish in Asia either.
New Zealand will return home in November for a two-match series against India, meeting the South Asian side at Go Media Stadium in Auckland on 12 November before playing again three days later at the new One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch.
The Christchurch fixture will be particularly significant as the first football match announced for the new venue and will also mark another rare meeting between the two national teams.
New Zealand and India have only met twice previously at senior level. Their first encounter finished goalless in 1981, while the All Whites defeated India 2-1 at the 2018 Intercontinental Cup in Mumbai.
The India series is scheduled to close New Zealand’s 2026 international programme.
With Palestine, China PR, Panama, either Japan or Ecuador and then two matches against India all awaiting after the World Cup, the All Whites are set for a particularly active conclusion to the year — and one which gives Bazeley little shortage of opportunities to begin shaping the team for its next international cycle.
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