Who’s in, who’s out: All Whites’ squad named for 2026 FIFA World Cup

Thursday, 14 May 2026

Lachlan Bayliss was yet to make his All Whites debut two months ago – now he's off to a FIFA World Cup.

The Newcastle Jets midfielder was one of three notable inclusions in the 26-man squad named by coach Darren Bazeley on Thursday morning for the tournament in North America.

The 24-year-old has had a breakout season in A-League Men, helping the Jets secure the Premiers' Plate, and his selection will no doubt lift him ahead of the second leg of their semifinal against Sydney FC on Saturday.

Ahead of his first call-up and subsequent debut, against Finland in Auckland in March, Bayliss told Stuff: “Everyone dreams of going to a World Cup as a kid, but it's not something that I've thought about yet”.

Now that dream is set to become a reality – and it will mean the world to Bayliss, who was born in Australia, but is eligible for New Zealand through his Kiwi dad, who died of cancer in 2018 when he was a teenager.

“It's nice to be able to represent his side of the family through my football,” he said.

Also buoyed ahead of an A-League Men semifinal will be Auckland FC goalkeeper Michael Woud, who has won the race to join Max Crocombe and Alex Paulsen as the third-choice goalkeeper.

Crocombe has been given the No 1 jersey and Paulsen No 12, but no decision has been made as to who will start at the World Cup.

Auckland are away to Adelaide United on Friday night and also have Francis de Vries, Callan Elliot, Nando Pijnaker and Jesse Randall off to the World Cup.

Veteran centre back Tommy Smith has been included, as expected, even though he last took the field for the All Whites in September 2024 and has been playing in England's fifth-tier National League this season. His selection is based on experience and leadership more than form and is set to divide opinion.

That means there is no place for Bill Tuiloma, leaving the Wellington Phoenix with three players – right back Tim Payne, off-contract midfielder Alex Rufer and Sarpreet Singh, who has been with them on loan this season, but only made two appearances during an injury-hit stint.

“I don’t see it as a bold decision, bringing Tommy,” Bazeley told reporters on Thursday. “We see Tommy as vital to ensuring our environment is the best it can be all times, whether that’s the starting XI, the subs coming on or potentially those players who potentially might not be so happy not playing”.

Added assistant Tony Readings: “We know people will have a perception that he’s not playing at the same level as some of the others, but when we see him in the environment, he makes other players better. Ultimately for us, he’s an important part of our team, but he’s still a good player”.

Three-cap midfielder Owen Parker-Price was likely the closest rival to Bayliss for his spot, while Kees Sims and Nik Tzanev lost out to Woud.

Forwards Andre de Jong and Logan Rogerson and left back James McGarry were in the All Whites’ squad in March, but were always likely to miss out once injured players were back fit.

The 26 selected players are set to receive roughly 40% of the $16.85m of prize money New Zealand Football is guaranteed as a result of qualification – about $250,000 each.

Chris Wood will captain the side as he looks to put a frustrating club season with Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League behind him.

He and his close friend Smith are the two survivors from the All Whites' last World Cup appearance in South Africa in 2010.

Wood will have Kosta Barbarouses – who missed out on selection in 2010 – and Ben Waine for support up top, with Randall also capable of playing there.

Barbarouses has had a long journey to get to this point – he was sent off as the All Whites lost to Costa Rica in a playoff to make the last World Cup, then scored the goal that put them in front against New Caledonia in the Oceania final last March.

He told Stuff during the most recent All Whites camp: 'Everyone here is thinking about the World Cup every day. I can tell you that for sure'.

Matt Garbett, Eli Just, Callum McCowatt, Ben Old, Sarpreet Singh and Randall give Bazeley a wealth of options across attacking midfield, with Bayliss and Ryan Thomas also likely to be seen there.

The latter two could also play deeper, where Joe Bell and Marko Stamenić are the established duo and Rufer is also an option.

Tyler Bindon, Michael Boxall and Finn Surman are the other centre backs and will be competing for two starting spots, with Pijnaker and Smith expected to play supporting roles.

Vice-captain Liberato Cacace, like Wood, will be looking to put an injury-wrecked club season with Wrexham behind him.

De Vries and Old will be Bazeley's other options at left back, with Elliot and Payne (and in an emergency, Bindon) the options on the right.

The All Whites will face Iran in Los Angeles on June 16 (NZ time) and Egypt and Belgium in Vancouver on June 22 and 27 in group G.

They will play Haiti and England in warm-up friendlies in Florida on June 3 and 7, after assembling there in the last week of May.

The All Whites had three losses the first time they qualified for the World Cup, in Spain in 1982, then finished undefeated with three draws in 2010, but missed out on a place in the knockout stage.

They will have their work cut out against world No 21 Iran, No 29 Egypt and No 9 Belgium.

Their only wins against opponents ranked in the top 50 since their last World Cup appearance were against Ivory Coast (then No 41) last June and Honduras (then No 50) in June 2012.

Bazeley leaves for Florida next Wednesday, where he will work with players whose club seasons have finished. The All Whites will formally go into camp from May 27.

All Whites – FIFA World Cup 2026

Squad

Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Alex Paulsen, Michael Woud

Defenders: Callan Elliot, Tim Payne; Tyler Bindon, Michael Boxall, Nando Pijnaker, Tommy Smith, Finn Surman; Liberato Cacace, Francis de Vries

Midfielders: Lachlan Bayliss, Joe Bell, Matt Garbett, Eli Just, Ben Old, Alex Rufer, Sarpreet Singh, Marko Stamenić, Ryan Thomas

Forwards: Kosta Barbarouses, Callum McCowatt, Jesse Randall, Ben Waine, Chris Wood

Fixtures (NZ time)

Friendlies

June 3, 12pm: v Haiti; Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale

June 7, 8am: v England; Raymond James Stadium, Tampa

World Cup – group G

June 16, 1pm: v Iran: SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles

June 22, 1pm: v Egypt; BC Place, Vancouver

June 27, 3pm: v Belgium; BC Place