Fifa World Cup: Chris Wood under the microscope on eve of All Whites opener against Iran
Monday, 15 June 2026
What: Fifa World Cup Group G, All Whites v Iran. Where: Los Angeles Stadium. When: 1pm Tuesday (NZT), TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+ (free to air).
San Diego: Chris Wood has scored a lot of goals for the All Whites.
But has he scored an iconic goal for the All Whites?
The 34-year-old English Premier League striker has scored 45 goals in 90 appearances for his national team – a record that will take some breaking.
But he is still searching for a moment that will be the first thing people think of when they hear his name.
Rory Fallon had the header against Bahrain in 2009 that sent the All Whites to the World Cup after 28 years away.
Winston Reid had the header against Slovakia in their opening match at that World Cup in South Africa – the one that earned New Zealand its first World Cup point.
Shane Smeltz had his toe poke early against Italy, a goal that briefly gave the All Whites the lead against the reigning world champions.
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Iconic goal-scoring moments are admittedly hard to come by when you play the fixtures the All Whites do in Oceania.
Which might make the 2026 FIFA World Cup Wood's last best chance for such a moment, because for all that he has talked about wanting to go in four year's time, it will be a worry for the All Whites if he's still heavily involved in 2030 aged 38.
His first goal – the one against Honduras at North Harbour Stadium in October 2010 where he celebrated by pulling down his pants to reveal underwear emblazoned with WOODZEE – was one that came to mind.
Wood said he doesn't know where that pair of underwear is now, nor does he remember why he decided to celebrate in that fashion.
He also pointed to the three he has scored in two matches against Japan. Australia and Mexico – at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia – are two other notable opponents he netted against, but in all four instances, those matches ended in defeat.
A goal that helps secure a win – or a draw that feels like a point gained – is what he's after.
Four All Whites have scored at World Cups – Reid and Smeltz in 2010 and Steve Sumner and Steve Wooddin in 1982 – and Wood would love to add his name to that list.
“I have all the belief that it will happen and I will be giving everything to do that, but also, I want to do more than that, I want to play well for this team and bring everybody else in.
“Those are all big historic goals. I like to think I've brought a longevity of goals, which is great, but I also want to have that moment in the World Cup as well.”
Wood's old team-mate Fallon said a World Cup goal “would probably be the cherry on the top” for him, especially if it came in the All Whites' first World Cup win.
“’82 were the trailblazers. They got to the first World Cup. They'll always be first. We [2010] will always be the ones that got the first points. And now we’re waiting for the next team to get the first-ever win. And then after the first win, it will be, can we get to the next stage?“
New Zealand finished with three losses the first time they took part 44 years ago and three draws the second time around 16 years ago, but don't expect that pattern to continue as the world's 85th-ranked team face world No 20 Iran, No 29 Egypt and No 9 Belgium in group G.
Wood is set to lead his team out in Los Angeles against Iran on Tuesday (1pm NZT), returning to a stage he last graced at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on June 24, 2010, as the All Whites bowed out with a 0-0 draw against Paraguay.
Sixteen years on – and 200 goals in all competitions in English football later, in addition to his 45 for his country – Wood seems to have put his injury-wrecked club season with Nottingham Forest well behind him.
There is one last training to go on Monday (NZT) before he joins his coach for the pre-match press conference in Los Angeles. Then that iconic moment beckons.