New Zealand's Barbarouses Eyes World Cup Spot

Barbarouses battles for World Cup place

Barbarouses is competing with young guns for a spot in the squad. The Western Sydney Wanderers forward is looking to get back on track.

Barbarouses knows hard work isn't enough; his resilience is being tested...

Kosta Barbarouses is chasing redemption, and he's got one eye on the clock. At 36, the New Zealand winger knows his time is limited, but he's determined to make the most of it and finally get to play in a World Cup.

Barbarouses was instrumental in securing New Zealand's spot in the tournament, scoring a goal in the 3-0 win over New Caledonia last year. Now, he's fighting for a spot in the squad of 26 that'll head to San Diego, where they'll face Iran, Belgium, and Egypt in the group stage.

The veteran knows it's not guaranteed, but he's driven by the desire to make up for 2010, when New Zealand narrowly missed out on the World Cup. This could be his last shot, and he's going for it.

The pressure's on Western Sydney Wanderers forward, Marcus Antonsson, as he competes with young guns like Eli Just and Callum McCowatt for a spot in the squad.

Antonsson's had a tough season at club level, losing his starting spot at the Wanderers, who are struggling at the bottom of the A-League table. He's looking to use this opportunity to get back on track.

“It's not ⁠going the best for the club as ‌a whole so there’s that. But also I've had three, four years of really good work in club and with the All Whites, which will hopefully make up for it,” Barbarouses said.

“I feel like I’m in a good place.”

Kosta Barbarouses has two home games to prove his worth before the World Cup, and he's not letting the chance slip away.

The All Whites face Finland at Auckland's Eden Park on Friday, followed by a clash with Chile next week at the same venue. Barbarouses knows this is his moment to shine.

Barbarouses has been here before, but it wasn't his time. He was part of the squad that qualified for South Africa 2010, but didn't make the cut, stuck as a reserve in Ricki Herbert's roster.

Since then, he's been part of three failed World Cup qualifying campaigns, losing intercontinental playoffs to Brazil, Russia, and Qatar. Now, he's determined to make it right.

This year's expanded 48-team World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico has given New Zealand a guaranteed spot, and Barbarouses is determined to make the most of it.

“I'd say it’s probably my fourth attempt realistically to make the World Cup,” Barbarouses said.

“The 2010 one was give-or-take. But fourth attempt as an integral part of the squad.”

“Just to get there (in qualification) was an amazing feeling,” he added. “That's the beauty of football, right? It keeps finding ways to put you down but also to ‌reward hard work.”

He debuted for the All Whites 18 years ago.

How much does Kosta Barbarouses want to go to a World Cup? @newstalkzbsport pic.twitter.com/kxyNBqwnoB

— Jason Pine (@pineynz) March 25, 2026

Redemption Awaits

Barbarouses knows hard work isn't enough; his resilience is being tested. Four years ago, he was sent off for a rash challenge in a 1-0 playoff defeat to Costa Rica in Doha, ending New Zealand's Qatar 2022 hopes. That sting is driving him now.

The red card “still crosses my mind, to be honest, but it’s ⁠sort of comforting to know we’ve come ⁠full circle,” he added.

“Anyway, there’s too ‌much to look forward to now to think about it too much.”