The All Whites squad has been named for the team’s two international friendlies against 2026 FIFA World Cup hosts Mexico (FIFA rank 17) and the USA (FIFA rank 16), set to be played this September in Los Angeles and Cincinnati. 

The two high-profile friendlies will be the All Whites last two games before starting OFC FIFA World Cup qualifying, where in October they will face Tahiti in Port Vila, Vanuatu, before returning home to Aotearoa New Zealand in November to face Vanuatu in Kirikiriroa Hamilton, and the OFC preliminary qualifier winner in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. 

Head coach Darren Bazeley has named a 21-person squad with 16 players based internationally, and five playing in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

The side features players based in three of the top five European leagues, with players from the English Premier League (Chris Wood), Italian Serie A (Liberato Cacace), and French Ligue 1 (Ben Old) represented.

The full 21-person squad is:

Kosta Barbarouses (60 caps/7 goals) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Joe Bell (18/1) Viking FK, Norway
Tyler Bindon (10/0) Reading, England
Matthew Garbett (22/3) NAC Breda, Netherlands
Michael Boxall (49/0) Minnesota United, USA
Liberato Cacace (25/1) Empoli FC, Italy
Max Crocombe (9/0) Burton Albion, England
Elijah Just (26/2) SKN St. Pölten, Austria (on loan from AC Horsens)
Ben Old (8/1) AS Saint Etienne, France
Alex Paulsen (1/0) Auckland FC, New Zealand (on loan from AFC Bournemouth)
Tim Payne (37/2) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Nando Pijnaker (19/0) Sligo Rovers, Republic of Ireland
Alex Rufer (13/0) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Oli Sail (9/0) Perth Glory, Australia
Sarpreet Singh (14/1), Unattached
Tommy Smith (55/2) Auckland FC, New Zealand
Marko Stamenić (21/1) Olympiacos, Greece (on loan from Nottingham Forest)
Finn Surman (5/1) Portland Timbers, USA
Ben Waine (16/5) Plymouth Argyle, England
Dalton Wilkins (3/0) Sønderjyske Fodbold, Denmark
Chris Wood (74/34) Nottingham Forest, England

Head coach Darren Bazeley has highlighted the importance of these two games ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup – OFC Qualifiers starting in the next FIFA match window:

“Playing two games against two of the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosts, in one of the host countries, is the perfect motivation for our players ahead of starting our own journey to qualify for the tournament this October. 

“These are both two top sides but we need to be testing ourselves at this level so we are prepared for what we could face should we qualify for the World Cup. 

“For the Mexico game we are likely going to be facing a huge and passionate Mexican crowd, and for the USA game they could potentially have a new head coach in place, so these games will present new and interesting challenges for us which we will embrace as a team.

“We have seen a lot of high-profile transfers for our players over the last few months, so it will be great to assemble as a squad and witness how our players are developing ahead of some significant games for the team.”


UPCOMING FIXTURES:

8 September 2024 KO 1pm NZT [7 September KO 6pm local time]
All Whites vs Mexico
International Friendly
Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, California, USA

11 September 2024 KO 11am NZT [10 September 7pm local time]
All Whites vs USA
International Friendly
TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

11 October 2024 KO 3pm NZT [1pm local time]
All Whites vs Tahiti
FIFA World Cup 2026 – OFC Qualifiers 
VFF Freshwater Stadium, Port Vila, Vanuatu

15 November 2024 KO 19:30pm NZT
All Whites vs Vanuatu 
FIFA World Cup 2026 – OFC Qualifiers 
FMG Stadium Waikato, Kirikiriroa Hamilton

18 November 2024 KO 19:30pm NZT
All Whites vs OFC Qualifier Round One Winner 
FIFA World Cup 2026 – OFC Qualifiers 
Stadium to be announced, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland

Article added: Friday 23 August 2024