The All Whites are headed to the United States in the November international window, and four Isuzu UTE A-League stars have been selected to take on Colombia and Ecuador in a tune-up for the 2026 World Cup.
New Zealand will face Colombia at Chase Stadium in Florida on November 16 (AEDT) and Ecuador in New Jersey on November 19 (AEDT); ranked 13th and 23rd in the world respectively, the two South American nations will offer a stern test to Darren Bazeley’s All Whites in one of the three host nations of next year’s major tournament.
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Western Sydney Wanderers striker Kosta Barbarouses is one of four current Isuzu UTE A-League players in Bazeley’s squad for the November friendlies. Barbarouses is joined by Wellington Phoenix captain Alex Rufer, Central Coast Mariners fullback Storm Roux and Auckland FC star Francis De Vries in the 23-player squad.
The squad also features several Isuzu UTE A-League alumni with Finn Surman, Ben Waine, Michael Boxall, Sarpreet Singh, Alex Paulsen, Ben Old, Callum McCowatt, Max Crocombe and Liberato Cacace all selected for international duty.
Bazeley says the upcoming friendly tour in the US is important for the All Whites’ World Cup preparation, as they complete the set of FIFA confederations faced in the build-up to 2026.
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“The FIFA World Cup 2026 is getting closer every day, and we can definitely feel the excitement building, so it is great to name this squad ahead of two tough but important games for us, especially as they will give us another taste of playing in one of the host countries,” Bazeley said.
“We haven’t had the opportunity to test ourselves against South American teams so far this cycle, so this is a great chance to challenge the team against another style of play that we could realistically face next year.
“Especially for the game in Florida, we are expecting vocal local support from the South American communities there, which is another really good challenge.
Full All Whites squad: November friendlies
- Kosta Barbarouses – Western Sydney Wanderers
- Joe Bell – Viking FK
- Tyler Bindon – Sheffield United (on loan from Nottingham Forest)
- Michael Boxall – Minnesota United
- Liberato Cacace – Wrexham AFC
- Max Crocombe – Millwall
- Andre de Jong – Stellenbosch
- Francis de Vries – Auckland FC
- Matt Garbett – Peterborough United
- Eli Just – Motherwell
- Callum McCowatt – Silkeborg IF
- Ben Old – AS Saint-Étienne
- Alex Paulsen – Lechia Gdańsk (on loan from AFC Bournemouth)
- Alex Rufer – Wellington Phoenix
- Storm Roux – Central Coast Mariners
- Kees Sims – GAIS
- Sarpreet Singh – FK TSC Bačka Topola
- Marko Stamenić – Swansea City
- George Stanger – Kilmarnock
- Finn Surman – Portland Timbers
- Ryan Thomas – PEC Zwolle
- Bill Tuiloma – Charlotte FC
- Ben Waine – Port Vale
