Does Oceania deserve a direct World Cup qualification spot?

[p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wood-chris/Cp7L7Gro/"]Chris Wood[/a]-captained All [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/leeds/tUxUbLR2/"]Whites[/a] made ‌a positive start with a 2-2 draw against a distracted [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/iran/xrRx85iA/"]Iran[/a] but bowed out of the group stage with a ‌5-1 demolition by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/belgium/GbB957na/"]Belgium[/a] on Friday following a 3-1 loss to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/egypt/bejDn7NN/"]Egypt[/a].[/p][p]Despite being one ‌of the tournament's lowest-ranked nations in a tough group, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-zealand/rLctHkpU/"]New Zealand[/a]'s early exit will feel like a ‌missed opportunity for the players and staff to make a bigger impact for football in ‌the rugby-mad country.[/p][p]While they fly home, similarly modest nations like [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-africa/W2ijYvlr/"]South Africa[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bosnia-herzegovina/fqe7WYTr/"]Bosnia & Herzegovina[/a] continue on after grinding through to the knockout phase.[/p][p]The only Oceania nation with professional football, the All Whites were virtually guaranteed ‌a free pass to the expanded 48-team finals, having previously needed ⁠to qualify on merit via intercontinental playoffs.[/p][p]The last ‌New Zealand team to qualify via that route were also eliminated at the group stage at South ​Africa 2010 but Ricki Herbert's men won worldwide acclaim for going unbeaten.[/p][embed guid="c7b178fe-aae1-4aa8-b5ec-c8dc17bdc33a" url="https://x.com/NZ_Football/status/2070733523917680897" social-type="twitter" /][p]This time, there will be no heroes' homecoming for Darren Bazeley's side, who enjoyed an armchair ride ​through qualification against Pacific nation teams laden with semi-professionals and amateurs.[/p][p]Oceania's automatic berth is a blessing for New Zealand, and its football association will cling to it jealously as it almost assures ⁠World Cup action every four years.[/p][p]But ​other nations who miss out in tougher continental qualifying may find the loophole hard to swallow.[/p][p]By most measures, Bazeley's New Zealand were the best-equipped of the three All Whites sides who qualified for World Cups, with a proven Premier League forward in Wood, an experienced spine and a schedule of ‌warmups against quality opponents.[/p][embed guid="06bb392e-450c-4047-9b8e-9418efeec551" url="https://x.com/aleaguemen/status/2070740815115346133" social-type="twitter" /][p]While few backed New Zealand to sail into the knockout phase, the team were confident of springing a surprise.[/p][p]Ultimately, they squandered a golden opportunity for three points in the Iran opener, having led twice through [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/just-elijah/CxtyLmOd/"]Elijah Just[/a]'s double only to be pegged back.[/p][p]"[b]That’ll be the big one we’ll look back on,[/b]" Wood told reporters on Friday after the Belgium blow-out.[/p][p]They also led 1-0 against Egypt before crumbling in the second half.[/p][p]Their defence, regarded pre-tournament as a relatively solid part of their setup, shipped ten goals.[/p][p]While disappointing for fans, New Zealand may ultimately be stronger for the harsh lessons.[/p][p]The qualifying prize money of US$12.5 million is a big boost ‌for a small football programme.[/p][embed guid="4aa9ed47-2b66-4b6b-a94b-744ba67c73cb" url="https://x.com/petetweetsshit/status/2070817525152334100" social-type="twitter" /][p]Rugby still dominates but soccer has a growing footprint, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/auckland-fc/2J7jacL6/"]Auckland FC[/a], ​the nation's second professional team, winning the Australian championship in their second season this year ‌and providing more pathways for talent.[/p][p]Scotland-based Just is now a household name in the nation of five million after scoring three of their four goals.[/p][p]Many of the 24 players in the squad who were at their first World Cup will be wiser if they return for 2028 in Morocco, Spain and Portugal.[/p][p]Wood, 34, who made his World Cup debut in ⁠2010, hopes to hang on for another.[/p][p]"[b]Hopefully, ⁠in four years’ time, those boys and ‌this team will be in a great state,[/b]" said the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/nottingham/UsushcZr/"]Nottingham Forest[/a] striker.[/p]