Chris Wood to lead All Whites World Cup squad
- May 14
- 2 min read
No bolters and only one real talking point in the New Zealand All Whites squad selected by coach Darren Bazeley for next mont's FIFA World Cup.
Chris Wood as captain the 26-player squad to go to North America. Their pool matches are against Iran, Egypt and Belgium.
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Bazeley said 55 players were in contention and the task of leaving out some of them was "really challenging".
Smith and Wood both 34, were the only two players named who were at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa - the last time New Zealand took part, while Kosta Barbarouses was a non-travelling reserve.
Auckland FC players Jesse Randall and goalkeeper Michael Woud and Callan Elliott are three of the more recent inclusions in Bazeley's squads, while Newcastle Jets midfielder Lachlan Bayliss is the least experienced with just two caps.
Among those to miss out are Wellington Phoenix's Bill Tuiloma, Logan Rogerson and Andre de Jong, who were in the squad earlier this year.
"As a coaching team, we have selected a squad that we feel will put us in the best place to perform, a blend of really exciting young talent and experienced players to maximise our chances of winning games and getting out of our group," Bazeley said.
"This is never going to be an easy process, and the responsibility isn't lost on us, but I'm confident we have landed on the best possible squad to face IR Iran, Egypt, Belgium, and beyond."
Smith has had limited playing time of late and is part of English fifth-tier club Braintree Town.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Alex Paulsen, Michael Woud
Defenders: Callan Elliot, Tim Payne; Tyler Bindon, Michael Boxall, Nando Pijnaker, Tommy Smith, Finn Surman; Liberato Cacace, Francis de Vries
Midfielders: Lachlan Bayliss, Joe Bell, Matt Garbett, Eli Just, Ben Old, Alex Rufer, Sarpreet Singh, Marko Stamenić, Ryan Thomas
Forwards: Kosta Barbarouses, Callum McCowatt, Jesse Randall, Ben Waine, Chris Wood
3 June 2026
KO 12pm
HAITI VS NEW ZEALAND
Chase Stadium
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
7 June 2026
KO 8am
ENGLAND VS NEW ZEALAND
Raymond James Stadium
Tampa, Florida, USA
16 June 2026
KO 1pm
IR IRAN VS NEW ZEALAND
Los Angeles Stadium
Los Angeles, California, USA
22 June 2026
KO 1pm
NEW ZEALAND VS EGYPT
BC Place
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
27 June 2026
KO 3pm
NEW ZEALAND VS BELGIUM
BC Place
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
