Finland head coach Jacob Friis has named a largely European-based squad to face the All Whites in the FIFA Series at Auckland’s Eden Park.
Friis has named a 23-player for the series, which starts with a match between New Zealand and Finland on Friday March 27, 2026.
The Nordic side will arrive with players drawn from clubs across Europe and North America, and who are regular starters in strong professional leagues.
Veteran goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky (36) remains Finland’s most recognisable figure and the national team captain is one of the country’s most decorated internationals with 90 caps.
Finland’s main attacking threat is likely to come from Joel Pohjanpalo, whose goals for Palermo in Italy’s Serie B have made him one of the squad’s most reliable scorers.
Wide attacker Oliver Antman, now with Scottish club Rangers, adds pace and creativity, while Benjamin Källman has also impressed in Germany with Hannover 96.
A notable absence from the squad is veteran striker Teemu Pukki (34), Finland’s record goalscorer with 38 international goals, and a central figure during their historic Euro 2020 qualification campaign.
Coach Friis, appointed early this year, appears to be using the FIFA Series to provide opportunities for younger prospects.
Finland are #75 in the FIFA men’s world rankings, while New Zealand are #85, Chile are #52 and Cape Verde are #67.
“When we were thinking about potential opponents for the March window, I had one criterion. We needed opponents whose level would prepare us for the UEFA Nations League in the fall,” Friis said when announcing his squad.
“We wanted to face teams that were close to us in the FIFA rankings.
“FIFA asked us to participate in this tournament in New Zealand. After discussions, we decided to go. We also talked to the players about the long journey. New Zealand is far away, but that will not be visible on the field.”
Finland will use the FIFA Series to prepare for their UEFA Nations League C-league fixtures in September.
“Every international match is important. These are matches that prepare us for this journey. We now have the opportunity to take steps forward and develop even more in detail,” Friis said.
New Zealand name squad for FIFA Series
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(Player, caps/goals, club)
Goalkeepers
Max Crocombe (19/0), Millwall, England
Alex Paulsen (5/0), Lechia Gdańsk, Poland (on loan from AFC Bournemouth)
Michael Woud (6/0), Auckland FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Defenders
Tyler Bindon (20/3), Sheffield United, England (on loan from Nottingham Forest)
Francis de Vries (15/1), Auckland FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Callan Elliot (7/0), Auckland FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
James McGarry (3/0), Brisbane Roar, Australia
Tim Payne (48/3), Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand
Finn Surman (13/2), Portland Timbers, United States
Bill Tuiloma (45/4), Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand
Midfielders
Lachlan Bayliss (debut), Newcastle Jets, Australia
Joe Bell (28/1), Viking FK, Norway
Andre de Jong (11/2), Orlando Pirates, South Africa
Callum McCowatt (28/4), Silkeborg IF, Denmark
Ben Old (18/1), AS Saint-Étienne, France
Jesse Randall (5/1), Auckland FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Alex Rufer (22/0), Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand
Marko Stamenić (33/3), Swansea City, Wales
Ryan Thomas (23/3), PEC Zwolle, Netherlands
Forwards
Kosta Barbarouses (70/9), Western Sydney Wanderers, Australia
Eli Just (38/8), Motherwell, Scotland
Logan Rogerson (16/2), Auckland FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Ben Waine (26/8), Port Vale, England
Head coach
Darren Bazeley
Goalkeepers
Lukas Hradecky, AS Monaco, France
Jesse Joronen, Palermo FC, Italy
Viljami Sinisalo, Celtic FC, Scotland
Defenders
Juho Lähteenmäki, FC Nordsjaelland, Denmark
Tony Miettinen, Mjällby AIF, Sweden
Ville Koski, Deportivo Alavés, Spain
Miro Tenho, Djurgårdens IF, Sweden
Nikolai Alho, Asteras Tripolis, Greece
Samuli Miettinen, NK Istra 1961, Croatia
Ryan Mahuta, FK Pardubice, Czech Republic
Midfielders
Matti Peltola, D.C. United, United States
Leo Walta, Swansea City, Wales
Kaan Kairinen, AC Sparta Praha, Czech Republic
Adam Marhiev, 1. FC Nürnberg, Germany
Anssi Suhonen, Odense BK, Denmark
Daniel Håkans, Lech Poznań, Poland
Oliver Antman, Rangers FC, Scotland
Naatan Skyttä, 1. FC Kaiserslautern, Germany
Onni Valakari, San Diego FC, United States
Forwards
Topi Keskinen, Aberdeen FC, Scotland
Joel Pohjanpalo, Palermo FC, Italy
Casper Terho, Sparta Rotterdam, Netherlands
Benjamin Källman, Hannover 96, Germany
Head coach
Jacob Friis
FIFA Series fixtures
Games to be played on Friday March 27, 2026
Chile v Cape Verde
Eden Park, Auckland, 4pm
New Zealand v Finland
Eden Park, Auckland, 7pm
General sale tickets are available through Ticketek.
Games to be played on Monday March 30, 2026
Cape Verde v Finland
Eden Park, Auckland, 4pm
New Zealand v Chile
Eden Park, Auckland, 7pm
General sale tickets are available through Ticketek.
This story was first published on March 16, 2025.