The All Whites are just two games from the FIFA World Cup and have named their squad for the crucial final stages of the Oceania Qualifiers taking place this March.

Aotearoa New Zealand will face Fiji in the semi-final of the FIFA World Cup 2026 – Oceania Qualifiers on 21 March 2025 at Sky Stadium in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, with the winner qualifying for the final, against the winner of the New Caledonia v Tahiti second semi-final, on 24 March 2025 at Eden Park in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

The winning team in the FIFA World Cup 2026 – Oceania Qualifiers final will automatically qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in history after the tournament was expanded giving an OFC side direct entry.

Should the All Whites win it will see Aotearoa New Zealand represented at the men’s FIFA World Cup for the first time in 16 years.

Head coach Darren Bazeley has named a strong squad with 22 of the 23 players part of the team that assembled for the All Whites back-to-back wins over Vanuatu and Samoa in November.

Joining the squad for this window is Auckland FC forward Jesse Randall, who made his debut in June 2024 at the OFC Men’s Nations Cup, earning four caps and scoring his first international goal as part of the tournament-winning side.

The full 23-player squad is:

Kosta Barbarouses (65 caps/7 goals) Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand
Joe Bell (22/1) Viking FK, Norway
Tyler Bindon (13/2) Reading FC, England (on loan from Nottingham Forest)
Michael Boxall (53/0) Minnesota United, USA
Liberato Cacace (31/1) Empoli FC, Italy
Max Crocombe (13/0) Burton Albion, England
Matt Garbett (28/5) NAC Breda, Netherlands
Eli Just (32/6) SKN St. Pölten, Austria (on loan from Horsens)
Callum McCowatt (21/4) Silkeborg IF, Denmark
Alex Paulsen (3/0) Auckland FC, Aotearoa New Zealand (on loan from AFC Bournemouth)
Tim Payne (41/2) Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand
Nando Pijnaker (23/0) Auckland FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Jesse Randall (4/1) Auckland FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Logan Rogerson (14/2) Auckland FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Storm Roux (15/0) Central Coast Mariners, Australia
Alex Rufer (18/0) Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand
Oli Sail (9/0) Perth Glory, Australia
Sarpreet Singh (16/2) U.D. Leiria, Portugal
Tommy Smith (56/2) Auckland FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Marko Stamenić (27/2) Olympiacos, Greece (on loan from Nottingham Forest)
Francis de Vries (8/1) Auckland FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Ben Waine (22/8) Mansfield Town, England (on loan from Plymouth Argyle)
Chris Wood (80/41) Nottingham Forest, England

Following conversations between the All Whites coaching staff and Portland Timbers, Finn Surman hasn’t been selected for this window due to the defender recently earning a starting place for the MLS side.

The MLS schedule continues during the FIFA window so Darren Bazeley elected not to call up Surman to prioritise the player’s development with his club.

All Whites head coach Darren Bazeley said:

“This is the business end of the competition now and we know we have a job to do in these games to see us return to the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 2010.

“We aren’t taking anything for granted, all of the squad are completely focused on what we want to achieve this month.

“We have been really consistent with a lot of our selections over the last year to drive cohesion in the team so that when players arrive in camp they know what is expected, especially when we have limited time together and need to perform.

“It was brilliant to see the support we had last year, and it is exciting that we get the opportunity to fight for our place at the FIFA World Cup 2026 in front of our own fans, we hope to see as many of you in the stands as possible.”

Tickets for all games at the FIFA World Cup 2026 – Oceania Qualifiers can be booked from Ticketek.

Tickets for the Semi-Finals are $20 for adults and $5 kids (plus ticketing fees).

Tickets for the Final are $20, $40 and $80 for adults and $10, $20 and $40 kids (plus ticketing fees).

All matches are available in Aotearoa New Zealand on FIFA+ and TVNZ+ with games featuring the All Whites will also be available on TVNZ 2.

All matches will also be available worldwide on FIFA+.

Article added: Tuesday 11 March 2025