All Whites Fifa World Cup squad: Does veteran Tommy Smith deserve a spot?

Should Tommy Smith go to the 2026 Fifa World Cup with the All Whites?

It is one of the most polarising questions around the selection of this New Zealand squad, with coach Darren Bazeley set to announce his 26-player squad on Thursday.

If Smith is chosen – and the Herald suspects he will be – it could divide the football nation.

On one hand, Smith is highly regarded within the environment and a former captain.

He made his debut 16 years ago and is, crucially, one of only two veterans of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, alongside with Chris Wood.

He has also become a vital sounding board for Wood, as one of his best friends in football and life.

Smith has tons of experience and has been a professional for almost 20 years. As Football Fever co-host Jason Pine said in the latest podcast, Smith would be in essence the captain of the reserves, the leader of those players who are unlikely to take the field, but are crucial in training and to push the starters.

On the other hand, Smith hasn’t taken the field for the All Whites since September 2024, when he got 81 minutes against Mexico.

He has only started five matches in the current cycle (out of 34 possible internationals) and has been long since overtaken by the likes of Finn Surman, Michael Boxall, Tyler Bindon and Nando Pijnaker.

Even more pertinently, the 36-year-old has been turning out for Braintree Town FC over the last season, in the fifth tier of English football.

It’s a better level than many might think – given the depth in England – but it is still non-league football, with a lot of semi-professional players.

And Braintree Town have recently been relegated, out of the National League for next season, while Smith has missed almost half the season through injury.

It’s an impossible jump from that arena to World Cup level, against some of the best players in the world.

Of course, Smith wouldn’t be included for his on-field attributes, especially as it is likely that between six to nine players won’t be used on the field in North America, unless injuries or illness strike.

But maybe there is a left-field solution? What if the 36-year-old is instead listed as part of the coaching group, or as a technical advisor.

It could be an unofficial role – and he would have plenty to offer.

He could still be a “player”, take part in training and do everything he normally would, except he would be sitting a few places further along in the dug out on match day.

Maybe it’s a bad idea. Maybe Smith would turn it down anyway.

But it depends if Bazeley sees him as an option to be used in the closing minutes of a match – or not.

And if he is chosen as a player – as essentially the fifth centre back – he may need to be employed, even if it was a remote chance, in the event of a couple of injuries.

If Smith is selected, there will be consequences for others.

It could mean, for example, that Bill Tuiloma, who was part of the four-man leadership group in the previous cycle, misses out.

He has had ups-and-downs since then, but is still playing at a good level in the A-League. He offers cover across multiple positions and has been a stalwart of the team for a decade.

What about James McGarry? The left fullback could be a handy insurance option, given the recent injury to Francis de Vries and the physical issues that Libby Cacace has struggled with this season.

Then there is Andre de Jong, a possible wildcard option off the bench. De Jong is at one of the top clubs in Africa but is currently likely to miss out with only four striking spots available. Or Logan Rogerson, who offers versatility and an eye for a goal but plays in the most competitive position in the All Whites frame.

There is no doubt that Smith needs to be involved in North America, given he was one of the best performers back in 2010, and has almost 250 matches in the English Championship for Ipswich on his CV. He remains a solid professional, capable of adding plenty to what is a relatively young All Whites group, short of senior voices.

But there could be another way to ensure he is there, even if it is an unlikely scenario.

Michael Burgess has been a sports journalist for the NZ Herald since 2005, covering the Olympics, Fifa World Cups, and America’s Cup campaigns. He is a co-host of the Big League podcast.

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