New Zealand beat India 5-0 in Auckland in FIFA friendly
New Zealand defeated India 5-0 in a FIFA international friendly in Auckland on November 12, 2026, in India's first match of the November FIFA window. Jesse Randall scored twice, Chris Wood and Lachlan Bayliss also found the net, and an early own goal from Bijoy Varghese opened the scoring.
The match was India’s first-ever fixture in New Zealand and featured several squad and personnel storylines: goalkeeper Vishal Kaith made his first national-team appearance since last June and produced a series of significant saves, while Anirudh Thapa captained India for the first time since 2018. New Zealand set the tempo from the outset and converted a scramble in the box to take the lead inside five minutes.
New Zealand pressed early and Thapa stopped a Randall run down the left, but the hosts went ahead in the fifth minute after Bijoy Varghese’s deflection resulted in an own goal. Shortly afterwards Kaith flew across his goal to deny Matthew Garbett’s attempt from distance, keeping India in the contest during the opening phase.
India began to grow into the game as Ryan Williams combined with wingers Liston Colaco and Jithin MS to create chances, producing their clearest opening in the 19th minute. A combination between Bijoy Varghese and Williams took Williams down the right and his cut-back found Manvir Singh, whose shot was blocked by Callan Elliott inside the box.
Kaith continued to keep India competitive in the first half, making an acrobatic save from a header in the 25th minute and coming off his line to deny Randall moments later. He also blocked an initial effort from Randall around the half-hour mark and palmed away the rebound, but New Zealand’s pressure produced Randall goals in the 34th and 43rd minutes to extend their lead before halftime.
India made five changes at the interval as head coach Khalid Jamil introduced Jay Gupta, Lalrinliana Hnamte, Mehtab Singh, Ricky Meetei Haobam and Muhammad Suhail, with Haobam and Suhail making their debuts. Colaco tested New Zealand keeper Alex Paulsen early in the second half, before Wood converted a header in the 57th minute and Lachlan Bayliss volleyed home the fifth in the 74th minute; Mehtab produced several key defensive blocks during the half.
The 30-year-old Kaith produced a decisive intervention in the 78th minute, diving full-stretch to deny Bill Tuiloma’s penalty and then keeping out the rebound. Jamil later handed debuts to striker David Lalhlansanga and midfielder Tomba Singh Haobam, with Tomba testing Paulsen from distance in the 88th minute but the goalkeeper gathering comfortably.
Both sides will meet again in Christchurch on Sunday.
