New Zealand squad named for FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup in Qatar

A 21-player squad has been named to represent New Zealand at November’s FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup in Qatar.

Head coach Martin Bullock has included 15 players who were part of the squad that won the OFC Men’s U-16 Championship in 2024 to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025.

Fourteen of the squad play for clubs in Aotearoa New Zealand, with seven based overseas in Australia and England.

New Zealand, Fiji and New Caledonia will represent Oceania at the 48-nation tournament that runs from November 3-27, 2025.

New Zealand squad

Will Britton – Western Springs (Auckland Grammar School), New Zealand
Justin Cardozo – Macarthur Bulls, Australia
Aaron Cartwright – Melbourne City, Australia
Joseph Chalabi – Wellington Phoenix (Te Kura), New Zealand
Ethan Dyer – Sydney FC, Australia
Van Fitzharris – Auckland FC (Mount Maunganui College), New Zealand
Toby Borgnis – Reading FC, England
Sean Kane – Eastern Suburbs (St Kentigern College), New Zealand
Damion Kim – East Coast Bays (Westlake Boys High School), New Zealand
Alex Lienard – Sunderland AFC, England
Nathan Martin – Auckland FC (Te Kura), New Zealand
Will Martin – Lions FC, Australia
Evan Masamba Kuzmenko – Auckland FC (Auckland Grammar School), New Zealand
Joe McIntyre – Wellington Phoenix (Hutt International Boys’ School), New Zealand
Dan Nelson – Wellington Phoenix (St Patrick’s College, Silverstream), New Zealand
Matias Nunez – Auckland United (Mount Albert Grammar School), New Zealand
Jackson O’Reilly – Brisbane Roar, Australia
Ben Perez Baldoni – Auckland FC (Selwyn College), New Zealand
Jack Perniskie – Wellington Phoenix (Scots College), New Zealand
Luka Vicelich – Auckland FC (St Peter’s College), New Zealand
Michael Wong – Auckland United (Te Kura), New Zealand

“This is a strong squad, where the core group have been together for over a year now, so we are all keen to take that next step and show what we can do at a FIFA U-17 World Cup,” Bullock said.

“This will be a different kind of tournament, with everything in one location, which means we have the opportunity to fully concentrate on our game and test ourselves against some good teams.

“I know the whole group is looking forward to getting over to Qatar and getting our FIFA U-17 World Cup journey underway.”

New Zealand have been drawn in Group L at the tournament with Austria, Mali, and Saudi Arabia.

The team start against Mali on Thursday 6 November (KO 3:45am NZT), before facing Saudi Arabia on Sunday 9 November (KO 4:45am NZT), and Austria on Wednesday 12 November (KO 4:45am NZT).

In a change from previous tournaments, all matches excluding the Final will be played in a single location, the Aspire Zone in Doha, where games can take place simultaneously across multiple pitches.

The tournament will be streamed live and free on FIFA+, as well as all New Zealand games on TVNZ.

Fixtures

Game to be played on Thursday November 6, 2025 (NZT)

New Zealand v Mali
Aspire Zone, Doha, 3.45am (NZT)

Game to be played on Sunday November 9, 2025 (NZT)

New Zealand v Saudi Arabia
Aspire Zone, Doha, 4.45am (NZT)

Game to be played on Wednesday November 12, 2025

New Zealand v Austria
Aspire Zone, Doha, 4.45am (NZT)

New Zealand earned their place at the 2025 FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup by winning the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship. Photo: Phototek.

Main photo credit: FIFA.

FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup groups

Tournament format

The top two teams in each group, and the eight best third-placed sides, will qualify for the Round of 32.

From the Round of 32 onwards, the tournament will be played in a knockout format.

In knockout fixtures, if a game is level at the end of normal playing time, no extra time shall be played and a penalty shootout will determine the winner of the match.

Previous winners

This story was first published on October 16, 2025.

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