New Zealand rout India 5-0 in Auckland as November friendly opens on November 12, 2026
New Zealand beat India 5-0 at Go Media Stadium in Auckland in the opening international friendly of the November FIFA window on Thursday, November 12, 2026. Jesse Randall scored twice, while Chris Wood and Lachlan Bayliss also found the net after an early own goal from Bijoy Varghese opened the scoring.
Vishal Kaith, returning to the national team for the first time since June, was among India’s most notable performers, producing a sequence of saves including a second-half penalty stop; Anirudh Thapa captained the side for the first time since 2018. The result came in India’s first-ever match played in New Zealand and the two teams are scheduled to meet again in Christchurch on Sunday, giving India an immediate chance to respond.
The hosts seized an early advantage in the fifth minute when Bijoy Varghese inadvertently turned the ball into his own net following a scramble inside the Indian penalty area. Kaith was called into action almost immediately, denying Matthew Garbett from distance and later making an acrobatic save to keep out a header in the 25th minute.
India created a clear opening in the 19th minute after a composed move involving Ryan Williams, Liston Colaco and Jithin MS; Williams’ run down the right produced a cut-back to Manvir Singh, whose effort was blocked by Callan Elliott. Despite that chance, New Zealand maintained pressure and forced repeated interventions from Kaith, who also came off his line to stop Jesse Randall on at least two occasions before Randall scored.
Randall broke the deadlock for New Zealand in the 34th minute and added his second just before half-time, giving the All Whites a 3-0 lead at the break. Head coach Khalid Jamil made five changes at half-time, bringing on Jay Gupta, Lalrinliana Hnamte, Mehtab Singh, Ricky Meetei Haobam and Muhammad Suhail; Ricky Meetei Haobam and Muhammad Suhail made their international debuts.
Chris Wood extended New Zealand’s lead with a header in the 57th minute and Lachlan Bayliss volleyed in the fifth goal in the 74th minute. Mehtab Singh produced several important blocks after coming on, and Kaith’s best moment of the second half arrived in the 78th minute when he saved Bill Tuiloma’s penalty and then prevented the subsequent rebound.
Coach Jamil later introduced striker David Lalhlansanga and midfielder Tomba Singh Haobam, both making late international debuts; Tomba’s long-range attempt in the 88th minute was comfortably gathered by goalkeeper Alex Paulsen. The result leaves India with plenty to address before Sunday's rematch in Christchurch, which is scheduled for November 15 at One New Zealand Stadium and set to begin at 8:40 AM IST, with the game available on FIFA+ via DAZN.com and the DAZN app.