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Strong All Whites team for OFC Qualifiers

Updated: Oct 2

Some big names including Chris Wood (pictured) will join the All Whites in their bid to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026 through the OFC Qualifying tournament.
Chris Wood has seen plenty of action for Nottingham Forest this season and will join the All Whites for the OFC Qualifiers. PHOTO: NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Some big names will join the All Whites in their bid to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026 through the OFC Qualifying tournament.


Chris Wood again heads the side along with other top-flight players Libby Cacace, Marko Stamenic Ben Old and Matt Garbett.


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All Whites head coach Darren Bazeley is keen to get the squad together again for a big tournament for New Zealand.


“It’s always great to name an All Whites squad, but with this window marking both the start of our FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers and our first home game of the year, it is particularly exciting.


“We have been building all year for this, so it is great to finally get underway as we look to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the third time in our history.


“This is a strong squad with real competition for places from the 50-plus players we are monitoring, we are having to make hard decisions which is what you want as a coach.


“It is great to welcome Storm back for this window after him not being available for the last couple of tours, as well as Cam and Tyler who weren’t part of the USA tour, I know they all can’t wait to be back out on the pitch again wearing the fern.”


The All Whites will play three matches in New Zealand this spring, with the team following up the Malaysia fixture with games against Vanuatu in Hamilton, and Samoa in Auckland, on November 15 and 18 as part of 2026 FIFA World Cup – OFC Qualifiers.


The All Whites squad for the home game against Malaysia at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland on Monday, October 14 (kick-off 7pm), and the OFC Qualifier against Tahiti in Port Vila, Vanuatu on Friday, October 11 (kick-off 3pm NZT) has been announced.


The 21-player squad sees three changes from September’s USA tour, with Reading FC’s Tyler Bindon, Auckland FC’s Cam Howieson and Central Coast Mariners’ Storm Roux returning.


ALL WHITES SQUAD


GOALKEEPERS

Max Crocombe (Burton Albion, England)

Alex Paulsen (Auckland FC, New Zealand (on loan from AFC Bournemouth)

Oli Sail (Perth Glory, Australia)


DEFENDERS

Tyler Bindon (Reading FC, England)

Michael Boxall (Minnesota United, USA)

Libby Cacace (Empoli FC, Italy)

Tim Payne (Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand)

Nando Pijnaker (Auckland FC, New Zealand)

Storm Roux (Central Coast Mariners, Australia)

Tommy Smith (Auckland FC, New Zealand)

Sam Sutton (Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand)


MIDFIELDERS

Matt Garbett (NAC Breda, Netherlands)

Cam Howieson (Auckland FC, New Zealand)

Alex Rufer (Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand)

Marko Stamenić (Olympiacos, Greece (on loan from Nottingham Forest)


FORWARDS

Kosta Barbarouses (Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand)

Eli Just (SKN St. Pölten, Austria (on loan from AC Horsens)

Ben Old (AS Saint Etienne, France)

Logan Rogerson (Auckland FC, New Zealand)

Ben Waine (Plymouth Argyle, England)

Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest, England)


ALL WHITES FIXTURES


All Whites vs Tahiti

Friday, October 11 (kick-off 3pm NZT)

2026 FIFA World Cup – OFC Qualifiers

VFF Freshwater Stadium, Port Vila, Vanuatu


All Whites vs Malaysia

Monday, October 14 (kick-off 7pm NZT)

International Friendly

North Harbour Stadium, Auckland


All Whites vs Vanuatu

Friday, November 15 (kick-off 7.30pm NZT)

2026 FIFA World Cup - OFC Qualifiers

FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton


All Whites vs Samoa

Monday, November 18 (kick-off 7.30pm NZT)

2026 FIFA World Cup – OFC Qualifiers

Go Media Stadium, Auckland

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