New Zealand’s Futsal Whites have lost their opening game at the 2026 Continental Futsal Championship, going down 6-0 to hosts Thailand.
Three goals in each half gave Thailand — ranked #11 in the FIFA world rankings — a comfortable win at the Nonthaburi Provincial Stadium.
The Futsal Whites, ranked #48, face a quick turnaround, with their second match (against Vietnam) scheduled to be played at the same venue less than 24 hours after their opener.
Vietnam drew their first game. 2-2 with Russia.
Match highlights
Results
Games played on Sunday August 2, 2026 (NZT)
Thailand 6 (Adinan Moolsap 11′, Worasak Sriharangpairoi 12′, Itticha Prapaphan 18′, Narongsak Wingwon 22′, Chaowala Sriawut 24′, Panas Kittiphanuwong 37′)
New Zealand 0
Russia 2
Vietnam 2
Continental Futsal Championship
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Thailand
1
1
0
0
6
0
6
3
Russia
1
0
1
0
2
2
0
1
Vietnam
1
0
1
0
2
2
0
1
Afghanistan
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
New Zealand
1
0
0
1
0
6
-6
0
Current FIFA world rankings
New Zealand (#48)
Thailand (#11)
Russia (#7)
Afghanistan (#21)
Vietnam (#22)
Zambia were originally expected to participate in the tournament but withdrew in the lead-up to the event.
Tournament format
The tournament features a round-robin format, with each team playing each other once. The team with the most points at the conclusion of the round-robin will be named champion.
New Zealand squad
*indicates a debut senior international call-up
(caps/goals)
Mike Antamanov (25/1) | Auckland City, New Zealand
Steve Ashby-Peckham (58/20) | Auckland City, New Zealand
*Hayden Cooper (0/0) | Auckland City, New Zealand
Jordan Ditfort (49/17) | Waikato Rapids, New Zealand
*Tyler Ericksen (0/0) | ARD Sarzedo, Portugal
Philip Fatialofa (16/3) | Capital Futsal, New Zealand
Hamish Grey (34/12) | Zambu CFS Pinatar, Spain
Dylan Manickum (83/42) | Auckland City, New Zealand
Adam Paulsen (26/2) | Auckland City, New Zealand
Matthew Peden (11/2) | Unattached
Thomas Picken (25/4) | Bloomsbury Futsal, England
Casey Sharplin (37/7) | Waikato Rapids, New Zealand
En Watanabe (8/5) | Capital Futsal, New Zealand
Logan Wisnewski (39/8) | Unattached
Fixtures
Game to be played on Sunday August 2, 2026 (NZT)
New Zealand v Vietnam
Nonthaburi, Thailand, 11pm (NZT)
Game to be played on Monday August 3, 2026 (NZT)
Russia v New Zealand
Nonthaburi, Thailand, 11pm (NZT)
Game to be played on Thursday August 6, 2026
New Zealand v Afghanistan
Nonthaburi, Thailand, 11pm (NZT)
This story was first published on August 2, 2026.