New Zealand's return to the World Cup stage in 2026 will mark the end of a long road for a number of the nation's players who have carried the regrets from a string of past qualifying failures.

New Zealand qualified for the 2026 World Cup on Monday with a 3-0 defeat of New Caledonia as veterans Michael Boxall and Kosta Barbarouses scored in a second-half burst to help the All Whites return ...