India vs New Zealand: All-time head-to-head record in international football
The Blue Tigers will face the Kiwis on 12th November
The India national football team are poised to play their final matches of 2026 when they face off against New Zealand in two back-to-back friendly matches in the November (2026) international window.
Khalid Jamil will be determined for his side to cap off their year in a positive fashion with some notable results in the bag from tricky fixtures. This will be the first time that India and New Zealand face each other in international football since 2018.
These two nations might regularly play each other Internationally in Cricket, but they don’t really meet each other that often in Football. There is a strong reason for this as India and New Zealand are not in the same confederation and thus don’t get to meet in any continental competition either.
With that being said, there is still an interesting history of the Blue Tigers and the All Whites facing off against each other in football. New Zealand are currently ranked 88th in the latest FIFA World Rankings, 50 spots higher than India (138th). This upcoming clash should still be an entertaining one where a lot of intensity and drama should be on show to entertain fans watching.
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The shaky form plaguing both India and New Zealand
Heading into the upcoming New Zealand vs India matches, the form of both these teams are actually not as good as either side would’ve wanted. The Indian football team might be enjoying their good form at the ongoing SAFF Championship 2026, when an alternative side is playing, but their overall form in 2026 hasn’t been anything to be proud of.
India were only able to hold Panama to a draw in one of their three matches in the September-October (2026) international break. They ended up conceding 10 goals in the two matches against Brazil and Uruguay.
The SAFF Championship win over Pakistan aside, India have lost five of their last seven matches in all competitions. In fact, the only match that the Blue Tigers have won against prominent opponents is their win over Hong Kong in their final match of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification clash in March 2026.
Even though India’s form has been shaky in this calendar year, a same issue has also troubled the New Zealand football team. The All Whites might have played at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but their performances in the competition were a badge of shame, not honour. They ended up losing all three of their group games, conceding a whopping 10 goals in the tournament as well.
In fact, New Zealand have only been able to win three of their 11 matches in competitive football in 2026 so far. They have won two of their four matches since after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but ended up losing 2026 Kirin Cup Soccer final against Japan in their last match.
With both sides not having the best win rate in 2026 so far, India and New Zealand should both be eager to win the two friendly matches they’ll be taking part in to cap off the year.
New Zealand have a slender lead in the head-to-head record
The India vs New Zealand head-to-head matches have only taken place twice in international football in the two national team’s history. These two sides also have a fascinating difference in terms of the gap in years from their meetings.
The first ever New Zealand vs India match took place all the way back in the 1981 Merdeka Tournament. The Blue Tigers and the All Whites were two of the six teams that were in the same group of the Merdeka Tournament alongside Japan, UAE, Indonesia and hosts Malaysia. The India vs New Zealand match in the Merdeka Tournament that year was both teams’ first match.
However, it turned out to be a relatively cagey encounter in both sides basically neutralized each other’s threat. The first India vs New Zealand match ended up being a drab 0-0 draw for these two sides in their first match of the Merdeka Tournament. The Blue Tigers actually managed to qualify for the semi-finals of the Merdeka Tournament above New Zealand thanks to their superior goal difference.
After that meeting, it would take 37 years before the Indian and New Zealand football team would take part in another competitive match. Their second match took place in the 2018 Intercontinental Cup, where the All Whites were of the three sides to have been invited to take part in the tournament.
The Blue Tigers actually had a dominant start to their 2018 Intercontinental Cup edition, as they picked up big wins Chinese Taipei (5-0) and Kenya (3-0) in the group stage before facing off against New Zealand. In the game against New Zealand, however, they ended up seeing their hot run of form evaporate.
Despite Sunil Chhetri putting the Blue Tigers in front thanks to a 47th minute goal, the All Whites ended up mounting an inspired comeback. Goals from Andre de Jong and Moses Dyer helped New Zealand get away with a 2-1 win to end the Blue Tigers’ winning run in the competition.
The All Whites failed to reach the final of the competition because they had lost to Kenya earlier in the group stages, as India would go onto win the Intercontinental Cup with a 2-0 win over the African side in the finale.
All-time head-to-head record
Matches Played – 2
India wins – 0
New Zealand wins – 1
Draws – 1
The upcoming India vs New Zealand clash will be one where India will be desperate to get their first ever win over the All Whites. New Zealand, meanwhile, aim to defeat the Blue Tigers in their first-ever home game against them and maintain their strong unbeaten record against the Indian side.
When will India play their International Friendly against New Zealand?
India will play against New Zealand on 12th November in Auckland, New Zealand.
What is the head-to-head record between India and New Zealand in International Football matches?
New Zealand have faced India twice before, winning 1 match & drawing their first meeting with the Blue Tigers.
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