New Caledonia will be holding onto hope they can pull off a couple of upsets on the world stage over the next 12 months to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Pacific island's last chance of making the final 48-team draw comes on the back of a 3-0 defeat to New Zealand in the Oceania final on Monday night.

While the All Whites expectedly advanced to the World Cup for the third time in their history, the runners-up from the Oceania confederation still moved into a historic-first FIFA worldwide intercontinental playoffs tournament.

Known as Les Cagous, New Caledonia must now win two knockout finals, including a second match against a seeded European or South American nation, following the final FIFA draw to secure its place in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Ranked 152nd in the world and dominated by amateur footballers and a number of semi-professionals, Oceania's sole entrant in the final stage of qualifying will battle for one of the last two places against five remaining confederation sides held across the three host nations.

New Zealand's win over New Caledonia gained them a guaranteed place after most recent playoff losses to Costa Rica (2022), Peru (2018) and Mexico (2014).

For the first time, Oceania's champion benefited from FIFA's decision to offer the tiny confederation direct qualification, rather than previously also requiring them to defeat a nation from either South American CONMEBOL or from North, Central America and Caribbean CONCACAF.

But there was a nervous wait for the odds-on favourites to cast aside the brave New Caledonians, after both sides first walked off the pitch in Auckland at half-time scores level.

"Despite the loss, I love the way my team played, the attitude on the pitch," New Caledonia coach Johan Sidaner said after the match.

"They gave everything."

New Caledonia frustrated New Zealand in the first half, especially prior to the break, upsetting Darren Bazeley's side with more physical tactics and a desperate defence.

Les Cagous' gallant attempts to reach the World Cup finals of the new but larger 48-team draw would have also been seen as the biggest shock during qualification in World Cup history.

The French territory that doesn't does full independence and sovereignty - yet is allowed to be a member of FIFA - while its players are also eligible to play for France's national side, is hoping to be the first island in the Pacific Ocean to ever reach football's World Cup.

Prior to joining FIFA in 2004, New Caledonia held observer status with the Oceania Football Confederation, and only automatically became an official member of the OFC with its application for FIFA membership that year.

The side comprised of both Indigenous Kanak and French Metropolitan players had reached the 2025 OFC final on Monday after defeating Tahiti, another overseas collectivity in French Polynesia, 3-0 in a double-header last Friday, with New Zealand thrashing Fiji 7-0 in the other semi-final in Wellington.

Heroic goalkeeping from Rocky Nyikéïne - who by chance was also in goal the only time Les Cagous defeated the All Whites back in 2012 - was denying the home side at set pieces and in general play on the night.

But after the interval, Les Cagous struggled to hold the All Whites from reaching the World Cup for the first time in 16 years.

In spite of New Zealand and Nottingham Forest striker, Chris Wood, creating plenty of chances, it was Wood's exit on the hour mark with a thigh injury which strangely provided the turning point.

He was replaced by Kosta Barbarouses, the A-League veteran, then only moments later Michael Boxall, of Samoan heritage, headed home the first goal in the 61st minute from a corner to give the All Whites the lead.

The 25,000-strong Eden Park crowd more used to cheering on the All Blacks at the sacred home of rugby union had barely found their seats when Barbarouses got clear on goal in the 66th minute, finishing with a deft chip over Nyikéïne to provide a vital two-goal buffer.

That moment seemed to take the wind out of the New Caledonian's proverbial sails, and the pro-Aotearoa fan base could sense it was time start to making plans to celebrate the night of World Cup qualification.

Māori man Elijah Just goaled in the 80th minute to all but ice the result with 10 minutes remaining to the final whistle.