All Whites draw 2-2 with Palestine in China
Thursday 24 September 2026 · 3 outlets · 4 reports · updated In this story All Whites, Darren Bazeley, Ben Waine, Jesse Randall
The All Whites drew 2-2 against Palestine at Tongliang Long Stadium in Chongqing. Ben Waine and Jesse Randall scored for New Zealand, while Palestine's goals came from Assad Al Hamlawi and Oday Dabbah. This was the team's first match since the FIFA World Cup in June.
Key facts
5 facts
- All Whites drew 2-2 with Palestine in Chongqing, China
- Ben Waine and Jesse Randall scored for New Zealand
- Assad Al-Hamlawi and Oday Dabbagh scored for Palestine
- The match was not broadcast or livestreamed
- New Zealand is ranked 86th and Palestine is ranked 95th
The full story
1 min read · 3 outlets
The All Whites drew 2-2 with Palestine at Tongliang Long Stadium in Chongqing, China, on Thursday. This was New Zealand's first match since their FIFA World Cup campaign in North America ended in June. All scoring occurred in the first half, with Ben Waine and Jesse Randall scoring for the All Whites, while Assad Al-Hamlawi and Oday Dabbagh scored for Palestine.
Coach Darren Bazeley fielded a new-look side featuring 11 changes from the team that lost to Belgium in Vancouver. Only Jesse Randall, who was among the 17 players to feature in the World Cup, started the match. Other players making appearances included debutants George Stanger, Henry Gray, and Stipe Ukich.
He expressed frustration that the team could not hold onto their leads, stating, "We weren't able to hold onto a lead, which is something we need to look at and understand why".
The All Whites will next face China at Longxing Football Stadium in Chongqing on Sunday local time. They will then travel to Japan to play Panama and either Ecuador or Japan.
How it developed
- Fri 25 Sep, 12:00pmThe draw occurs during a four-match Asian tour for the All Whites.
Where reports differ
- One report notes the next match against China is on Sunday local time, while another states it is on Monday morning New Zealand time.
Compiled from reports by Stuff, Otago Daily Times and The Post.
