The international playoff fever officially began in the Pearl of Jalisco with the arrival of international delegations. In stark contrast to the ostentatious travel of major footballing powers, the New Caledonia team landed in Guadalajara to face the decisive phase of the FIFA Play-offs. - WITH A STRONG SECURITY OPERATION - WITHOUT OFFICIAL UNIFORMS - IN A VAN This is how New Caledonia arrived in Guadalajara for the World Cup playoff. The Pacific archipelago's representative completed an exhausting journey using commercial airlines to set up their base camp in western Mexico, where they will seek a historic qualification for the 2026 World Cup. The footballers of the oceanic squad were seen at the airport terminals patiently waiting for their personal luggage and using their own suitcases as makeshift seats, reflecting the reality of a football that is managed with limited resources but with a strong sense of belonging. The Oceania team earned the right to dispute this intercontinental relegation after losing in the final of their zone to New Zealand. The immediate goal of the delegation is to recognize the playing field and the rapid adaptation to the time zone and altitude of the state of Jalisco. This group knows that the opportunity to play in a world-class stadium like Akron is an unparalleled showcase for their careers. More than 11,000 kilometers from home, but with the dream of going to a World Cup. New Caledonia has already arrived in Mexico for the intercontinental playoff in Guadalajara. An Oceanian territory that belongs to France with only 270,000 inhabitants. It is the worst team... The winner of this clash between New Caledonia and Jamaica will advance to the final of the route for the World Cup ticket, where the representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo awaits a rival for next Tuesday, March 31. For now, the selected players of the South Pacific island are concentrating in their hotel in Guadalajara, ready to start training sessions on local fields and to demonstrate that football does not understand budgets when heart and illusion push from the center of the field. Despite starting as the underdog in the playoff against Jamaica, the squad radiates optimism under the sports premise that they represent a small overseas territory that has absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain. The squad of 26 players called up by coach Johann Sidaner for this adventure combines standout elements from their domestic league with players who play in the fourth and fifth tier of French football. The media reference for this group is Angelo Fulgini, a midfielder with experience in more demanding leagues, who will be in charge of leading the attack.
