New Zealand have lost 2-0 to Finland in their opening game of the FIFA Series at Auckland’s Eden Park.
Playing before a crowd of 17,603, Finland capitalised on mistakes by the All Whites to score a goal in each half.
Joel Pohjanpalo opened the scoring for the visitors in the 25th minute, heading in from a corner at the far post after rising high above his marker, Francis de Vries.
Main photo: Finland’s Joel Pohjanpalo celebrates after his goal gives his side the lead.
Finland added a second goal with five minutes of the game left, when the New Zealand defence did not deal with a fast break, and Jaakko Oksanen steered the ball into the net from right in front.
All Whites head coach Darren Bazeley started with in-form duo Ben Waine and Eli Just up front, and midfielder Marko Stamenić wore the captain’s armband.
Finland go ahead when Joel Pohjanpalo rises high to head the ball into the New Zealand goal.
After Finland took the lead, full back Tim Payne struck a shot from outside the box but it bent wide of the post.
Left back de Vries was forced off the pitch just before half-time with an injury, providing an opportunity for James McGarry to come off the bench.
Winger Jesse Randall replaced Callum McCowatt for the second half and he caused havoc when he ran at the Finland defence, forcing their defenders to backpedal.
Randall shot wide after one such run.
Finland’s Leo Waita fired a long-range shot that gave goalkeeper Max Crocombe no chance, and the ball rattled off the crossbar.
As New Zealand ventured forward in search of a late equaliser, Finland hit them on the counterattack.
The ball was blocked but fell kindly for Oksanen who struck it cleanly into the net.
The All Whites have till Monday to regroup before they play Chile, who beat African side Cape Verde 4-2 in the early game at Eden Park.
Match stats
New Zealand / Finland
Shots (on target): 11 (2) / 10 (3)
Possession: 50.1% / 49.9%
Passes: 426 / 420
Passing accuracy: 80.5% / 83.3%
Touches inside the opposition box: 12 / 16
Fouls committed: 12 / 10
Corners: 2 / 7
Offsides: 1 / 2
Results
Games played on Friday March 27, 2026
New Zealand 0
Finland 2 (Joel Pohjanpalo 25′, Jaakko Oksanen 85′)
Line-ups
New Zealand
1. Max Crocombe (Gk), 2. Tim Payne (24. Callan Elliot 64′), 3. Francis de Vries (15. James McGarry 44′), 4. Tyler Bindon, 16. Finn Surman, 11. Elijah Just (7. Logan Rogerson 79′), 19. Ben Old (25. Andre de Jong 80′), 20. Callum McCowatt (9. Jesse Randall 45′), 8. Marko Stamenic (captain) (6. Joe Bell 80′), 23. Ryan Thomas (10. Lachlan Bayliss 65′), 18. Ben Waine (17. Kosta Barbarouses 64′).
Subs not used: 12. Alex Paulsen (Gk), 22. Michael Woud, 21. Bill Tuiloma, 14. Alex Rufer.
Finland
23. Viljami Sinisalo (Gk), 3. Samuli Miettinen, 17. Nikolai Alho (2. Matti Peltola 80′), 21. Ville Koski (4. Tony Miettinen 45′), 6. Leo Walta, 10. Naatan Skyttä (22. Onni Valakari 59′), 11. Adam Markhiyev (24. Jaakko Oksanen 45′), 13. Juho Lähteenmäki (15. Ryan Mahuta 45′), 16. Anssi Suhonen (25. Doni Arifi 67′), 7. Oliver Antman (18. Topi Keskinen 67′), 20. Joel Pohjanpalo (captain) (26. Kasper Paananen 45′).
Subs not used: 1. Lukas Hradecky (Gk), 12. Jesse Joronen, 5. Miro Tenho, 8. Oiva Jukkola.
Officials
Referee: Casey Reibelt.
Assistant referees: Arvin Shanmuganathan, Ashley Beecham.
Fourth official: Jack Morgan.
Chile 4 (Ben Brereton 16′, Maximiliano Gutiérrez 58′, Felipe Loyola 67′, Gonzalo Tapia 79′)
Cape Verde 2 (Dailon Livramento 21′, Sidny Cabral 45+3′)
Fixtures
Games to be played on Monday March 30, 2026
#Current FIFA world rankings
Cape Verde (#65) v Finland (#75)
Eden Park, Auckland, 4pm
New Zealand (#85) v Chile (#55)
Eden Park, Auckland, 7pm
General sale tickets are available through Ticketek.
This story was first published on March 27, 2026.