- Recent stats: New Zealand scored over 2.5 goals just once in their last five A-internationals.
- History: This is the first-ever A-international match between Palestine and New Zealand.
All Whites have more international experience
Fixture background:
It's not often two teams have never played each other before, so the fact that Palestine and New Zealand are meeting for the first time in their history for a friendly in Chongqing is something of a surprise. However, a friendly is all this game is about, with the visitors looking to build their squad ahead of the Kirin Cup and the hosts looking to hone their abilities ahead of another AFC campaign.
New Zealand form and tactics:
New Zealand finished on a solitary point in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group G as their draw with Iran wasn't enough to overcome the defeats to Egypt and Belgium that came either side of it. Darren Bazeley's All Whites set up in a proactive 4-2-3-1 shape and will look to pressure their opponents and make use of the tempo and pace of their wide-runners, but they are likely to encounter a much more compact shape here.
Palestine approach:
Ihab Abu Jazar's Al-Fida'i sit much deeper and are much narrower, happy to sit in a block and deny space while patiently looking to pounce in transition or through their few forward players. Oday Dabbagh is Palestine's most reliable name up front and the one who carries the biggest goal threat, and he can give the hosts a chance of nicking something on the break if they can frustrate New Zealand early on.
Oceania outfit can outsmart Al-Fida’i
The All Whites make this trip as the 1.67 favorites, but there's enough reason to oppose them at that price with Palestine available at 4.8 and the draw at 3.5. It's a toss-up, but New Zealand are likely to have more of the ball and territory on Thursday, so they should be able to edge this one, albeit not by much.
New Zealand win the narrow 1-0 or 2-0 match result markets, where the two selections match the odds and the low-scoring trend that both sides have exhibited recently. The under 2.5 goals line at 1.81 is a clear play in this clash between two nations that sit in the 90-100 and mid-80's range of the FIFA rankings.
Squad depth makes the difference
Anytime goalscorer bettors should consider both teams to score – no, at 1.77, as a tidy alternative angle.
- Chris Wood is the classic focal point in attack for the All Whites, but Finn Surman adds the set-piece threat and defensive leadership of a centre-back after scoring against Egypt in the 2026 World Cup.
- He played every minute of the tournament, and Ben Waine and Callum McCowatt add pace and rotation potential in an attacking sense.
- Elijah Just looks like New Zealand's live wire after his brace against Iran in the 2026 tournament, making him the All Whites' best hope of a goal on the counter in this fixture.
- Musab Al-Battat is a leader in the middle of the park for Palestine, while Abed Yassin's recent starts helped build the clean-sheet run in the Kyrgyzstan friendlies.
