Chris Wood suffers injury ahead of Nottingham Forest’s FA Cup and Man Utd clashes
Nottingham Forest have been handed an injury scare after captain Chris Wood limped off in New Zealand’s 3-0 victory over New Caledonia.
New Zealand’s win booked their place at the 2026 World Cup, joining Japan and co-hosts USA, Canada and Mexico as the five teams so far in the 48-nation competition.
But Wood’s knock will be a concern for his club and their chase for Champions League football. Forest visit Brighton on Saturday in the FA Cup quarter-finals, before hosting Manchester United at the City Ground three days later in the Premier League.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s team are currently third in the table with nine games left to play, seven points clear of sixth-placed Newcastle United as they bid to finish in the top five, which would likely be enough for a spot in next season’s Champions League. Forest won the European Cup in 1979 and retained it in 1980 but have not played in Europe since the mid-Nineties.
Wood, who has been prolific this season with 18 goals in 29 Premier League games, landed awkwardly on his hip after taking a shot in the second half and had to be replaced. There was no update on his injury after the match, although he was seen on the pitch celebrating with teammates after securing their World Cup spot.
Veterans Michael Boxall and Kosta Barbarouses scored in a second-half burst to help the All Whites return to the finals for the first time since 2010.
Boxall scored his first goal for New Zealand in his 55th international with a header on the hour-mark before Barbarouses volleyed over the goalkeeper five minutes later to send a crowd of more than 25,000 into ecstasy at Eden Park.
Substitute Elijah Just added the third goal in the 80th minute to ensure New Zealand advance to their third World Cup following the 1982 and 2010 finals.
New Zealand missed out on the last three World Cups after defeats in intercontinental playoffs. But with Oceania given an automatic berth at the finals for the first time, the All Whites were a shoo-in as the region’s dominant team.
“We’re going to another World Cup. I’m ecstatic,” said 35-year-old winger Barbarouses, who missed out on selection for New Zealand’s World Cup squad in 2010. “This is my fifth attempt to get to a World Cup, so I’m really emotional, very happy and sort of had flashbacks of the last 15 years. I’m very happy to contribute and help the team get over the line.”
New Zealand’s players put on white T-shirts emblazoned with “Qualified” and sprayed champagne on each other.
Ranked 152nd in the world and dominated by amateur footballers, New Caledonia battled hard to keep the match scoreless for more than 60 minutes of the Oceania final. The French territory will have another chance to qualify via intercontinental playoffs.
“We knew it was going to be hard against New Zealand on their home soil,” said coach Johann Sidaner. “We’ve got time to think about the playoffs for 2026.”
additional reporting by Reuters
Topics
-
Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood awaits scan results after suffering hip injury
Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood was awaiting the results of scans on a right hip injury which forced him from the field Monday in New Zealand’s World Cup qualifying victory over New ...Yahoo Sports - 21h -
New Zealand qualify for World Cup but Chris Wood injured
New Zealand reached the World Cup for only the third time with a 3-0 win over New Caledonia on Monday but lost in-form Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood to injury.New Zealand have been to the ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Chris Wood backs automatic World Cup qualifying for Oceania minnows
New Zealand captain Chris Wood says it's “only fair” that FIFA’s smallest confederation, Oceania, has been given direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup. New Zealand will play Fiji and Tahiti ...Yahoo Sports - 5d -
Wood hits hat-trick as rampant New Zealand move to brink of World Cup
Chris Wood scored a hat-trick of headers as New Zealand moved to within one win of the World Cup with a 7-0 demolition of Fiji on Friday.In the first semi-final of Oceania qualifying, New Caledonia ...Yahoo Sports - 4d -
Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood likely to miss clash against Man United
Manchester United have received some good news as in-form Nottingham Forest forward Chris Wood is unlikely to play against them in the next round of Premier League fixtures.The Red Devils will next ...Yahoo Sports - 14h -
Wood carded for signing autographs in NZ win
Chris Wood picked up a yellow card for signing autographs and taking pictures with fans during New Zealand's win over Fiji in their World Cup qualifier on Thursday.ESPN - 3d -
New Zealand join Japan as early qualifiers for 2026 World Cup
New Zealand qualified for their third men's World Cup following a 3-0 win over New Caledonia on Monday. The expansion of the 2026 tournament to 48 teams means Oceania has one automatic spot and New ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Injured Neymar out of Brazil World Cup qualifiers
Brazil star Neymar was on Friday ruled out of upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina after a thigh injury scuppered his recall to the national team.With Brazil down in ...Yahoo Sports - Mar. 14 -
Who qualified for World Cup 2026? New Zealand joins United States, Mexico and Canada with qualifying underway
Japan became the first national team to qualify through the World Cup qualifiers, with New Zealand following soon afterCBS Sports - 1d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
S. Africa take big World Cup lead, but may lose points over Mokoena
South Africa beat Benin 2-0 on Tuesday to lead an African 2026 World Cup qualifying group by five points, but the advantage could be reduced for fielding an ineligible player last week.- Nigeria ...Yahoo Sports - 37m -
Kim Mulkey laments JuJu Watkins injury, calls her 'such a great ambassador of our game'
During a radio appearance on Wednesday, LSU women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey spoke highly about USC's JuJu Watkins after her season-ending injury.Yahoo Sports - 37m -
The Astros brought Cam Smith’s family into the clubhouse to surprise him about making the big-league roster
A moment that Cam Smith will never forget.Yahoo Sports - 38m -
Bills have big plans for Dalton Kincaid after injury-filled second season
Brandon Beane was quick to pump the brakes. It was April 27, 2023 and Beane just traded up two spots to select tight end Dalton Kincaid in the first round of the draft. Not only that, but the ...Yahoo Sports - 38m -
Top 50 people who will impact the 2025 MLB season: Nos. 50-26
From Chandler Simpson to Mike Trout to Fernando Tatis Jr., these are the names to know as the regular season begins.Yahoo Sports - 41m
More in Sports
-
Women's Sweet 16 rankings: UConn is No. 1, USC holds tight at No. 4
The Sweet 16 is set, and there's a new No. 1. But all eyes are on USC and injured JuJu Watkins.ESPN - 36m -
Picks, predictions, key players for every women's Sweet 16 game
Why might every Sweet 16 team win its regional semifinal matchup in Birmingham and Spokane? We predict the winners.ESPN - 36m -
Cal Raleigh contract extension: Mariners locking up star catcher on six-year, $105 million deal, per reports
The deal will buy out Raleigh's first three years of free agencyCBS Sports - 37m -
S. Africa take big World Cup lead, but may lose points over Mokoena
South Africa beat Benin 2-0 on Tuesday to lead an African 2026 World Cup qualifying group by five points, but the advantage could be reduced for fielding an ineligible player last week.- Nigeria ...Yahoo Sports - 37m -
Kim Mulkey laments JuJu Watkins injury, calls her 'such a great ambassador of our game'
During a radio appearance on Wednesday, LSU women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey spoke highly about USC's JuJu Watkins after her season-ending injury.Yahoo Sports - 37m