New Zealand will face Haiti in a friendly in Florida in early June, four days before it takes on England to conclude its preparations for the World Cup, NZ Football said on Wednesday.
The All Whites, who are returning to football’s biggest stage for the first time since 2010, will play Haiti for the first time at Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, on June 3 ahead of their clash with England in Tampa.
“We have been working to lock in two games against fellow World Cup opposition to put us in the best place to perform at the tournament,” coach Darren Bazeley said in a statement.
“The combination of facing Haiti and England, both in Florida, is something we feel does exactly that.”
New Zealand, ranked 85th in the world, will play Iran, Egypt and Belgium in Group G as it seeks its first World Cup victory.
Haiti, two spots higher in the rankings, is preparing for its second World Cup appearance, 52 years after its first. It was drawn with Scotland, Brazil, and Morocco in Group C.
“Haiti are a good side and are ranked at a similar level to us, so we feel that provides a perfect test as we get ready to kick off against Iran in LA,” Bazeley added.
Bazeley will name his squad for the tournament in mid-May , and his side kicks off its campaign against the Iranians at Los Angeles Stadium on June 15.
Published on May 06, 2026