The final countdown: Which All Whites World Cup starting spots are up for grabs
Wednesday, 10 June 2026
The All Whites coaches are busy finalising their starting XI to face Iran in their FIFA World Cup opener next week.
They had the first of five training sessions in San Diego ahead of that match in Los Angeles on Tuesday local time.
Coach Darren Bazeley said the lineups he and his staff had been discussing have been around “80%” the same.
All Whites coach Darren Bazeley likes to canvas his coaching staff whenever they arrive at a decision point, such as the selection of a squad or the naming of a team.
They speak every day and conversation always turns to who they’ll be putting out on the field and where, for the matches that are ultimately the reason why they’re all here.
None of the 15 squads the All Whites staff had selected beforehand were scrutinised the way their 26-man FIFA World Cup squad was when it was revealed to the world almos a month ago, on May 14.
None of their previous 34 starting XIs were scrutinised the way the one for their World Cup opener against Iran in Los Angeles will be in the brief period between it being announced and the match kicking off on Monday night (1pm Tuesday NZ time).
Six days out, after the team’s first training in San Diego on Tuesday morning, Bazeley said the lineups he and his staff had been tossing about were “80%” the same.
He is hoping to confirm the team to the players three days out from the Iran match, so they can make their final preparations with confidence, though he could bracket players in a couple of positions for a day or two after that.
The public – and Iran – will find out 90 minutes before kickoff at SoFi Stadium
For the first time in his tenure, Bazeley has everyone he wants at his disposal.
Some are being monitored carefully – Joe Bell, Liberato Cacace – while there is a sense Ryan Thomas – now training fully with the team – is only set to be used off the bench in match one, but that is by no means set in stone.
The All Whites got stuck back in on Tuesday after taking two days off following their arrival in southern California on Saturday night.
They will park up at Torero Stadium at the University of San Diego from Wednesday, but for this session, they were based at the San Diego Wave’s facility at Surf City Park – 40km north of the city and 20km north of the team hotel.
Former All White Jason Batty – the Wave’s head of goalkeeping – helped make the connection.
It was a quiet location for them to ease back into their work, with a session that included finishing and defensive shape drills, some 11 v 11 action and came to an end, as always, with highly competitive small-sided games.
More 11 v 11 action is expected on Wednesday, with a day off to follow on Thursday before three days where their focus will be specifically on how they are looking to exploit and counter Iran, a team ranked 65 places higher than them in the world by FIFA.
Bazeley said on Tuesday there were “still a few” positions being debated – but no more than three.
Attacking midfield for sure, where the selection battle is incredibly closely fought. Eli Just is nailed on, while it would be a surprise if Bazeley didn’t continue to back Sarpreet Singh, despite two quiet warm-up outings. Matt Garbett and Jesse Randall each had a warm-up start, while Callum McCowatt and Ben Old are also in the conversation.
Maybe right back, where centre back Tyler Bindon could be a more defensive pick ahead of Tim Payne; perhaps centre back, though it’s looking like Finn Surman and Michael Boxall are going to be the duo; perhaps goalkeeper, where Max Crocombe is likewise in the box seat ahead of Alex Paulsen.
Captain Chris Wood, midfielders Joe Bell and Marko Stamenic and left back Liberato Cacace are the other certain starters.
“We talk every day around the potential [lineups], and we've probably got two or three different teams in our heads,” Bazeley said.
“Probably 80% of them are the same and then a couple little tweaks in some positions.
“We're going to have quite a few people play at this World Cup.
“We've got good options coming off the bench and we will be telling people, if you start against Iran, that doesn't mean you're starting every game, you need to go and perform.”
The All Whites had four training sessions in Boca Raton and two in Tampa during their Florida swing – in heat and humidity the players are glad to have left behind.
They will have a total of five in San Diego before heading north to LA to play Iran and Bazeley and his staff will be watching closely – both live as the sessions unfold, then later on their laptops, using drone footage gathered at the time.
“Every day in training we're monitoring the players,” Bazeley said when asked what would go into settling on his team to face Iran.
“We will review the video of training and watch that back. I'm talking to the players every day. Individually it's about performance, but also the connections with each other – the combinations and the cohesion of the group. There's some previous history of what players have done for us, and current form.
“There's lots going into the decision making. As staff, we talk all day about the different options. Eventually we'll name one and we'll move forward.”
All Whites – 2026 FIFA World Cup
Squad
GK: Max Crocombe, Alex Paulsen, Michael Woud; DF: Callan Elliot, Tim Payne; Tyler Bindon, Michael Boxall, Nando Pijnaker, Tommy Smith, Finn Surman; Liberato Cacace, Francis de Vries; MF: Lachlan Bayliss, Joe Bell, Matt Garbett, Eli Just, Ben Old, Alex Rufer, Sarpreet Singh, Marko Stamenić, Ryan Thomas; FW: Kosta Barbarouses, Callum McCowatt, Jesse Randall, Ben Waine, Chris Wood
Fixtures/results (NZ time)
Friendlies
World Cup group G
June 16, 1pm: v Iran; SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, California
June 22, 1pm: v Egypt; BC Place, Vancouver
June 27, 3pm: v Belgium, BC Place