29. (32) Bill Tuiloma (Unattached)
Earned a surprise recall in the last two windows, having been only sporadically seen at international level in the last two years. His versatility is an asset, but his lack of a current club is of concern.
28. (30) James McGarry (Brisbane Roar, Australia)
After six years in the international wilderness, challenging hard to be Libby Cacace’s deputy at left back, and performing strongly in the A-League to stake his claim.
27. (22) Ben Waine (Port Vale, England)
Despite constant involvement in the All Whites for three years, a dearth of club minutes has come at the worst possible time. Needs game time to make the plane.
26. (21) Tommy Smith (Braintree Town, England)
To quote the NZ Football media release, he was called into the latest All Whites camp to “provide additional experience on and off the pitch”. Looks certain to end his international career at the 2026 World Cup, 16 years after starring at the 2010 tournament.
25. (NEW ENTRY) Luke Brooke-Smith (Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand)
Debuted off the bench against Australia in September and provides a point of difference. If Bazeley looks along his bench to find an unpredictable spark late in matches, his eyes may well fall on the talented teenager.
24. (NEW ENTRY) Owen Parker-Price (Orgryte, Sweden)
A late bloomer in international terms, debuting against Poland last month at the age of 26, but may have timed his run perfectly to nab a World Cup spot as midfield back-up.
23. (35) Kees Sims (GAIS, Sweden)
The current front-runner for the third goalkeeping spot before the likes of Nik Tzanev, Henry Gray, Michael Woud and Oli Sail, and will further strengthen his case with solid club minutes over the European winter.
22. (38) Callan Elliot (Auckland FC, New Zealand)
There’s a vacancy as back-up to Tim Payne at right fullback, and Elliot’s eye-catching performances at club level have put him firmly in the conversation.
21. (41) Jesse Randall (Auckland FC, New Zealand)
Has made a flying start to the new A-League season, combining goals and assists with pace and energy. If the World Cup squad was named today, he’d be in it.
20. (4) Nando Pijnaker (Auckland FC, New Zealand)
Hasn’t played for New Zealand in over a year, having been overtaken by Finn Surman and Tyler Bindon in the competitive centre back race. An injury which delayed his start to the new A-League season has also been unhelpful.
19. (16) Alex Rufer (Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand)
Logged 80 minutes in the most recent game against Ecuador, and plays every week as skipper of his club. Not part of New Zealand’s best 11, but certainly part of the World Cup squad.
18. (17) Kosta Barbarouses (Western Sydney Wanderers, Australia)
Has the chance to cap his nearly two-decade long football career at a World Cup. Was instrumental in New Zealand earning qualification, and brings both experience and a point of difference at New Zealand’s sharp end.
17. (13) Tyler Bindon (Sheffield United, England, on loan from Nottingham Forest, England)
Worryingly, hasn’t played a club game since late August, having fallen out of favour at Sheffield United. Has undoubted quality though and will go to this World Cup and possibly the next three.
16. (14) Ben Old (Saint-Etienne, France)
Another who could do with more significant club minutes over the next few months, but a rusted-on member of the All Whites and an X-factor creative player of great value.
15. (18) Francis de Vries (Auckland FC, New Zealand)
What a story. From being unwanted by any professional club to an impressive, consistent ever-present with Auckland FC, he’s now the current back-up to Libby Cacace at left back. Indeed, he has started the last six All Whites matches in Cacace’s absence.
14. (15) Callum McCowatt (Silkeborg IF, Denmark)
Playing every week in the Danish top flight and an absolute regular in the national side in the last five years. Pushing for a starting spot depending on the opposition.
13. (12) Alex Paulsen (Lechia Gdansk, Poland, on loan from AFC Bournemouth, England)
Injury prevented his involvement in the latest window, having played 90 minutes against both Poland and Norway in October. In a white-hot head-to-head battle with Max Crocombe for the starting spot in goal.
12. (5) Matt Garbett (Peterborough United, England)
Has had to reset his club career in England’s third tier, but approaching 40 caps for his country at the age of 23. Still some conjecture over his best position for New Zealand.
11. (8) Tim Payne (Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand)
New Zealand’s first-choice right back when he’s fit, which at the moment, he’s not. The only silver lining to the long-term shoulder injury he suffered in late October is the recovery time available to him before June.
10. (10) Max Crocombe (Millwall, England)
In the face of Paulsen’s inexorable rise, his consistency has ensured the All Whites gloves are well and truly contestable. Crocombe has incumbency, but who is between the sticks in the first game of the World Cup is very much a live conversation.
9. (19) Finn Surman (Portland Timbers, USA)
One of the big movers in 2025. Elected to skip the final World Cup qualifiers to establish himself at club level, which he’s done exceptionally, even captaining his side on occasion. Has started seven of New Zealand’s last eight matches and scored bravely against Norway last month. Ahead of Bindon in the centre back pecking order right now.
8. (11) Eli Just (Motherwell, Scotland)
A move to the Scottish Premier League in July has been the latest step in Just’s upward trajectory, with the left-sided attacker impressing in every match. No one has played more often for New Zealand in the last five years.
7. (6) Joe Bell (Viking, Norway)
Capped an outstanding individual season by helping his side clinch the Norwegian title. A steadying influence and bottomless engine at the base of New Zealand’s midfield.
6. (7) Sarpreet Singh (TSC Backa Topola, Serbia)
New Zealand’s most creative attacking player and the only man to start every one of New Zealand’s 10 matches this year. Against world-class defences next June, moments of inspiration will be needed, and Singh is the most obvious source.
5. (9) Michael Boxall (Minnesota United, USA)
The saying about fine wine applies perfectly here. Having first played for the All Whites in 2011, he’s arguably a better defender now, combining supreme fitness with unmatched game awareness. Quite simply, New Zealand look more secure when Boxall plays.
4. (3) Marko Stamenic (Swansea City, England)
Arguably the player with the highest ceiling among the current crop. Technically excellent, combative, composed and never overawed, he’s already an utterly crucial cog in the national side, with his best years still ahead.
3. (20) Ryan Thomas (PEC Zwolle, Netherlands)
His return to the national side in September after a six-year absence was a stark reminder of what the All Whites had been missing. Adds a touch of class to every footballing action he performs and has the innate, yet rare commodity of time. Space just seems to open up around him when he has the ball. Class personified.
2. (2) Libby Cacace (Wrexham, Wales)
One of very few players in this team who unquestionably starts when available. Much as others can fill a gap in his absence (which they’ve had to recently), his insatiable engine, pace, athleticism and big-league experience combine to make him a genuine international player, regardless of the opposition.
1. (1) Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest, England)
New Zealand’s skipper, talisman and most important player. Operating in the rarefied air of the Premier League has sharpened him into a generational New Zealand striker. Chances won’t come along too often at the World Cup, but Wood has shown an invaluable ability to score goals when opportunity knocks.
Possible 26-man World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Crocombe, Paulsen, Sims.
Defenders: Bindon, Boxall, Cacace, De Vries, Elliot, Payne, Pijnaker, Smith, Surman.
Midfielders: Bell, Garbett, Old, Parker-Price, Rufer, Stamenic, Thomas, Singh.
Forwards: Barbarouses, Brooke-Smith, Just, McCowatt, Randall, Wood.
Other players in the rankings
50. (42) Joey Champness (Havadar SC, Iran)
49. (26) Max Mata (St Patrick’s Athletic FC, Ireland)
48. (RE-ENTRY) Kyle Adams (Louisville City FC, USA)
47. (23) Oli Sail (Auckland FC, New Zealand)
46. (NEW ENTRY) Lukas Kelly-Heald (Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand)
45. (50) Corban Piper (Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand)
44. (NEW ENTRY) Moses Dyer (Phnom Penh Crown, Cambodia)
43. (NEW ENTRY) Michael Woud (Auckland FC, New Zealand)
42. (NEW ENTRY) Ben Gibson (Newcastle Jets, Australia)
41. (37) Liam Gillion (Auckland FC, New Zealand)
40. (27) Sam Sutton (Perth Glory, Australia)
39. (47) Henry Gray (Ipswich Town, England)
38. (49) Lachlan Bayliss (Newcastle Jets, Australia)
37. (31) Niko Kirwan (Trapani, Italy)
36. (25) Dalton Wilkins (Kolding IF, on loan from Sonderjyske, Denmark)
35. (33) Cam Howieson (Auckland FC, New Zealand)
34. (39) Andre de Jong (Stellenbosch, South Africa)
33. (28) Nik Tzanev (Newport, Wales)
32. (29) Logan Rogerson (Auckland FC, New Zealand)
31. (24) Storm Roux (Central Coast Mariners, Australia)