New Zealand head coach Darren Bazely has selected 11 Isuzu UTE A-League players in a 21-strong All Whites squad set to begin the nation’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign this month.
The All Whites begin the upcoming window with a qualification fixture against Tahiti in Port Vila, Vanuatu on October 11 before welcoming Malaysia to North Harbour Stadium in Auckland for an international friendly on October 14.
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Five players from Isuzu UTE A-League newcomers Auckland FC have been selected: Bournemouth loanee Alex Paulsen, experienced midfielder Cam Howieson, Nando Pijnaker, Logan Rogerson and Tommy Smith.
They’ll be joined by Wellington Phoenix quartet Sam Sutton, Tim Payne, Alex Rufer and Kosta Barbarouses, while Oli Sail (Perth Glory) and Storm Roux (Central Coast Mariners) join the squad from their respective Australian-based A-Leagues clubs.
Former Wellington Phoenix stars Liberato Cacace, Ben Old and Ben Waine have made the 21-player squad featuring Nottingham Forest duo Chris Wood and Marko Stamenić.
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The Tahiti qualifier is New Zealand’s first competitive fixture on the trail to the 2026 World Cup; the All Whites have joined the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) qualification process in the second round and have been drawn in Group B with Tahiti, Vanuatu and Samoa.
Bazely’s side will face their three Group B opponents in fixtures between October 11 and November 18 with the top-two nations in the two four-team groups progressing to the third round of qualification.
Bazely expressed his delight at welcoming Auckland’s Cam Howieson and Central Coast Mariners Champion Roux back into the international fold, as New Zealand’s FIFA World Cup qualification campaign begins.
“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 (Roux) back for this window after him not being available for the last couple of tours, as well as Cam (Howieson) and Tyler (Bindon) 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.”
21-player New Zealand squad – October window
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
