There are 10 weeks until the FIFA World Cup. You still haven’t seen the real All Whites yet
Saturday, 4 April 2026
ANALYSIS: You still haven’t seen the real All Whites yet.
The 4-1 win over Chile in Auckland on Monday was a delight.
Both in how they fought through early pressure to get on top by the half-hour mark, despite it still being 0-0, and how they capitalised on their man advantage after that.
Scoring while playing with 11 against 10 isn’t always a given. Auckland FC fans saw that on New Year’s Day.
At the same time, what unfolded wasn’t a surprise if you have been watching these All Whites closely.
If you’d seen them at their in-possession best since qualifying for June’s World Cup – in the 1-0 loss to Australia, the 1-1 draw with Norway, the 2-1 loss to Colombia – you would have had plenty of confidence once Chile’s Dario Osorio saw red at Eden Park.
When they’re on, they’re on. And they’ve been on more often than not of late.
The 1-0 win over Ivory Coast was built on an outstanding defensive display, more than anything they did with the ball, but that warrants mention too.
Even in the 2–0 defeat to Finland at Eden Park – and last year’s losses to Ukraine, Australia, Poland and Ecuador – they weren’t a million miles off.
Midfield general Joe Bell’s comments after the Chile win, that matches are “decided in the small moments” are instructive.
“I think we weren't so far off it against Finland,” he added. “It's just a few steps and a few meters … it's just small margins. Today we were there.”
Looking ahead to the World Cup, now 10 weeks away, finishing chances at 11 v 11 remains a big question mark, one it would have been nice to see answered on Monday night.
Still, it’s better to have finished chances emphatically when it was 11 v 10 than not at all.
Another question is how much better world No 9 Belgium, world No 21 Iran and world No 29 Egypt will be than the teams the world No 85 All Whites have faced to date.
Then there are questions over the fitness of a quarter of coach Darren Bazeley’s squad.
Hopefully they start being answered as soon as next week, with Chris Wood’s long-awaited return to action for Nottingham Forest.
Because the final question mark is whether the All Whites have another level to reach when they get their best XI on the park.
The answer, one suspects, is yes.
Don’t worry about a lack of playing time together beforehand.
The starting XI that finished undefeated in South Africa in 2010 didn’t play together before the tournament and didn’t play together after it, but united for three epic draws when it mattered most.
In March, we finally saw all three of Bell, Marko Stamenić and Ryan Thomas on the field together, if only for five minutes.
This looms as the biggest potential point of difference with regard to raising the All Whites’ floor.
Ben Old and Jesse Randall made it abundantly clear one of them must start on the left, to give the team a direct threat willing to take on defenders.
Alex Paulsen’s handling of Chile’s pressure with the ball at his feet reinforced that as an area where he has an edge over goalkeeping rival Max Crocombe.
There is more to debate about the All Whites’ top XI than their 26-man World Cup squad.
In November, I suggested 19 players whose absence would be a shock if fit.
Four months on, I’d add Callan Elliot, Nando Pijnaker, Randall and Ben Waine to that list.
Elliot has now backed up Tim Payne at right back in six of the All Whites’ 10 matches over the last 12 months.
Pijnaker is living the life of a fourth-choice centre back (and has also been injured). His invite to the tea’s dinner with the 1982 and 2010 World Cup squads last Sunday shows he hasn’t dropped further down the pecking order.
Randall built on his hot form for Auckland FC in A-League Men with eye-catching performances against Finland and Chile, scoring in the latter match.
Waine has become a regular fixture in Port Vale’s lineup after not playing at all for three months from September to December.
That leaves three places, one of which will go to a goalkeeper – Henry Gray, Kees Sims, Nik Tzanev or Michael Woud.
One of the other two will likely go to a central midfielder to cover injury and suspension – Lachlan Bayliss or Owen Parker-Price.
The last place can be considered the wildcard spot, but is probably going to a defender.
Andre de Jong and Logan Rogerson’s cards were marked when they got just 13 minutes against Chile. They will likely be next up in the forward ranks if injuries strike, as will James McGarry at left back.
Centre back/right back Bill Tuiloma’s versatility gives him an edge, but Bazeley seems minded to use spot No 26 on veteran centre back Tommy Smith for his off-field impact. The 36-year-old’s hamstrings might yet have the final say in a call that would attract plenty of criticism if it went the other way.
Between now and the naming of the World Cup squad – likely happening the week of May 4 or May 11 – what the All Whites need most is good news on the injury front.
The real work towards a first World Cup win and knockout stage place begins when they touch down in the US in late May.
All Whites – road to the World Cup
Week of May 4 or May 11: Squad named
Week of May 25: Players released by clubs and All Whites camp begins
June 2 or 3: Friendly to be confirmed (online listings suggest v Haiti in Florida)
June 7: Friendly v England; Tampa, Florida
June 16: World Cup group G match v Iran; SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
June 22: World Cup group G match v Egypt; BC Place, Vancouver
June 27: World Cup group G match v Belgium; BC Place, Vancouver