Wellington Phoenix forward Luke Brooke-Smith can become the youngest player to debut for New Zealand since 1980 when the All Whites take on the CommBank Socceroos in Canberra on Friday night.
The highly-rated Phoenix attacker will be 17 years and 89 days old when the first of two games in the ANZAC Soccer Ashes Series kicks off in Australia’s capital.
Should he be handed his international debut, Brooke-Smith would become the second-youngest All Whites debutant of all time after Ceri Evans, who debuted aged 17 years and 14 days against Kuwait in 1980.
Drafted into the All Whites squad as an injury replacement player, Brooke-Smith spoke to New Zealand Football media about the prospect of debuting for his nation against the Socceroos – a feat that would cap off an incredible 12 months for the highly rated Phoenix talent.
“Honestly, it’s one of those things that obviously you can say is a dream come true, but it really is one of mine,” he said.
“I got the call, and I don’t think I’ve stopped being on adrenaline since then.”
Last season, Brooke-Smith became the youngest New Zealand player to play in the Isuzu UTE A-League before becoming Wellington’s youngest-ever goalscorer in the competition at the age of 16.
In his debut season, Brooke-Smith played alongside several experienced All Whites at the Phoenix whose collective presence in the current New Zealand squad has helped the teenager settle into the senior environment.
“Training was good, all the boys were super welcoming towards me,” he said. “I know Kosta (Barbarouses), (Alex) Rufer and Payney (Tim Payne) quite closely because of being with them (at the Phoenix) but honestly, it’s such a good environment. I can’t wait to finish off the week.”
Brooke-Smith was just 14 when the Socceroos and All Whites met in Auckland in 2022; sat in the stands for the friendly affair, Brooke-Smith was motivated to one day represent his nation against Australia.
With the prospect of achieving that very feat potentially just days away, the Phoenix youngster could hardly contain his excitement.
“It would mean a lot,” he said with a beaming smile.
“I was at the last Soccer Ashes when they played in Auckland, and I was at the All Whites game, the semi-final of the World Cup qualifiers. I was watching it and thinking it would be so sick to get on the field.
“So now, having this opportunity, hopefully to be able to get on the field would just be amazing.”
New Zealand play the Socceroos in Canberra on Friday, September 5 before a return across the ditch to face off in Auckland on Tuesday, September 9 in the battle for the Soccer Ashes.
Match Details
CommBank Socceroos v New Zealand
Friday, 5 September
GIO Stadium, Canberra
Kick-off: 7.45pm AEST
Broadcast: 10, 10 Play and Paramount+
New Zealand v CommBank Socceroos
Tuesday, 9 September
Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Kick-off: 7.00pm local / 5.00pm AEST
Broadcast: Paramount+
