New Zealand National Football Team squad || World Cup Team || History
The New Zealand team was established in 1891 and played its first official international match against New South Wales on July 23, 1904. The New Zealand National Football Team Squad is the 6-time winner of the OFC Men’s Nations Cup.
The New Zealand National Football Team represents New Zealand in international football competitions and is affectionately known as the All Whites.
The team has achieved significant success in recent years, most notably qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after winning the OFC (Oceania Football Confederation) qualification campaign on March 24, 2025.
The team is governed by New Zealand Football and competes in the OFC confederation, representing the Oceania region.
The All Whites are based in Oceania and do not have a fixed home stadium, though they regularly play matches at various venues throughout New Zealand, with popular destinations including Eden Park in Auckland and Sky Stadium in Wellington. The team’s training facilities have been upgraded as they prepare for their World Cup campaign.
Darren Bazeley is the current head coach, appointed permanently in July 2023 after serving as interim coach since March 2023. Michael Boxall serves as team captain at 37 years old and remains a crucial defensive figure despite his age.
Chris Wood holds the record as New Zealand’s all-time leading goalscorer with 45 goals in 88 international appearances, having represented the nation with distinction over more than a decade at the highest levels of European football.
New Zealand National Football Team History
Chris Wood, Michael Boxall, Tommy Smith, Kosta Barbarouses, and Elijah Just are among the most prominent New Zealand soccer players competing at the highest levels in Europe and beyond.
Head coach Darren Bazeley, with his extensive age-group experience, including leading New Zealand’s U-20 squad, brings plenty of tactical know-how and valuable FIFA tournament expertise.
The team made history by qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ending a 16-year drought since their last appearance in South Africa 2010.
New Zealand’s Current History and Information
| Captain | Michael Boxall |
| FIFA code | NZL |
| FIFA Current Ranking | 86 (19 December 2025) |
| Top Scorer | Chris Wood (45 goals) |
| Head coach | Darren Bazeley |
| World Cup | Appearances – 3 Best Result – Group Stage (2010 unbeaten) |
| OFC Nations Cup | Appearances – 11 Best Result – Won 6 times (1973, 1998, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024) |
| AFC–OFC Challenge Cup | Appearances – 1 Best Result – Runners-up (1): 2003 |
New Zealand Men’s National Soccer Team Squad
As of December 2025, the New Zealand National Football Team is preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after successfully qualifying through the OFC confederation qualification process.
Under Darren Bazeley’s leadership, the team has demonstrated consistent improvement and is currently ranked 86th in the FIFA World Rankings. New Zealand qualified as OFC champions after an impressive campaign that saw them dominate the qualification tournament with 94 points in Group B, before decisively defeating New Caledonia 3-0 in the final on March 24, 2025.
The All Whites have recently completed friendly matches against Colombia (losing 2-1) and Ecuador (drawing 0-0) in November 2025, testing themselves against elite South American opposition ahead of the World Cup.
| Pos | Team | FIFA Ranking | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 86 | New Zealand | 86th (Dec 2025) | Qualified (OFC Champions) |
New Zealand Squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Under coach Darren Bazeley, the team is preparing for their return to the World Cup stage. Here’s the projected squad structure:
Here is New Zealand’s current squad, which has been selected for recent matches, including the November 2025 friendlies against Colombia and Ecuador.
| No | Player Name | Current Club | Apps | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | ||||
| 15 | Max Crocombe | Millwall | 21 | 0 |
| 1 | Nik Tzanev | Newport County | 2 | 0 |
| 13 | Kees Sims | GAIS | 0 | 0 |
| Defender | ||||
| 15 | Michael Boxall | Minnesota United | 61 | 1 |
| 15 | Tommy Smith | Braintree Town | 56 | 2 |
| – | Bill Tuiloma | Charlotte FC | 47 | 4 |
| 6 | Tyler Bindon | Sheffield United | 21 | 3 |
| 15 | Storm Roux | Central Coast Mariners | 18 | 0 |
| – | Francis de Vries | Auckland FC | 17 | 1 |
| – | Finn Surman | Portland Timbers | 15 | 2 |
| – | James McGarry | Brisbane Roar | 5 | 0 |
| – | George Stanger | Kilmarnock | 0 | 0 |
| Midfielder | ||||
| 21 | Elijah Just | Motherwell | 40 | 8 |
| 28 | Matthew Garbett | Peterborough United | 35 | 5 |
| 6 | Marko Stamenić | Swansea City | 35 | 3 |
| 8 | Joe Bell | Viking | 29 | 1 |
| 17 | Callum McCowatt | Silkeborg | 28 | 4 |
| 11 | Sarpreet Singh | TSC | 26 | 3 |
| 14 | Alex Rufer | Wellington Phoenix | 23 | 0 |
| 11 | Ben Old | Saint-Étienne | 20 | 2 |
| – | Owen Parker-Price | Örgryte | 3 | 0 |
| Forward | ||||
| 9 | Kosta Barbarouses | Western Sydney Wanderers | 72 | 9 |
| 19 | Ben Waine | Port Vale | 28 | 8 |
| 18 | Andre de Jong | Stellenbosch | 11 | 2 |
| 21 | Jesse Randall | Auckland FC | 7 | 1 |
New Coach Darren Bazeley
Darren Bazeley was officially appointed permanent head coach of New Zealand’s men’s national team in July 2023, taking over from his interim role that began in March 2023. Bazeley brings extensive experience at age-group level, having led the New Zealand U-20 team to the Last 16 of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2015, 2017, and 2023.
Since taking permanent charge, Bazeley has transformed the All Whites’ performances, guiding them through a successful OFC World Cup qualification campaign. His tactical acumen and player development focus have been instrumental in New Zealand’s return to the World Cup after 16 years.
New Zealand Team in Other Tournaments
OFC Nations Cup 2024 Squad
- Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe (Millwall), Nik Tzanev (Newport County), Oliver Sail (Auckland FC)
- Defenders: Michael Boxall (Minnesota United), Tommy Smith (Braintree Town), Bill Tuiloma (Charlotte FC), Tyler Bindon (Sheffield United), Storm Roux (Central Coast Mariners), Francis de Vries (Auckland FC), Finn Surman (Portland Timbers)
- Midfielders: Elijah Just (Motherwell), Matthew Garbett (Peterborough United), Marko Stamenić (Swansea City), Joe Bell (Viking), Callum McCowatt (Silkeborg), Sarpreet Singh (TSC), Alex Rufer (Wellington Phoenix)
- Forwards: Kosta Barbarouses (Western Sydney Wanderers), Ben Waine (Port Vale), Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest), Andre de Jong (Stellenbosch)
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Nations Cup | Final | Winners | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 2 |
2010 FIFA World Cup Squad (Historic Unbeaten Group Stage)
- Goalkeepers: Mark Paston (Hammarby), Glen Moss (Hibernian), Paul Neumann (Whangarei)
- Defenders: Rory Fallon (Bristol City), Ivan Vicelich (Wisła Kraków), Simon Elliott (Leicester City), Andy Barron (Walsall), Jeremy Christie (Oldham Athletic), Thom Smith (Truro City)
- Midfielders: Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn Rovers), Paul Nevin (Dundee United), Leo Bertos (Thefold), Andy Williams (Grimsby Town), Chris Killen (Hibernian), Riki Herbert (Wellington Phoenix)
- Forwards: Shane Smeltz (AEK Larnaca), Peter Ramage (Hibernian), Emile Heskey (Birmingham City)
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 World Cup | Group Stage | – | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Historic Achievement: New Zealand became only the fourth nation in World Cup history to remain unbeaten in the group stage while failing to progress beyond the group stage.
2026 FIFA World Cup New Zealand Team Status
New Zealand successfully qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as OFC champions after defeating New Caledonia 3-0 in the final on March 24, 2025.
This marks only the third World Cup appearance in the nation’s history and comes 16 years after their memorable 2010 campaign in South Africa.
The All Whites will compete in the expanded 48 team format featuring 12 groups of four teams across the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
2026 FIFA World Cup OFC Qualification
Group B Performance
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Zealand | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 1 | +18 | 9 | Advance to Third Round |
| 2 | Fiji | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 3 | +6 | 6 | Advance to Third Round |
| 3 | Tahiti | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 3 | – |
| 4 | Vanuatu | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 22 | -20 | 0 | – |
Group Stage Matches Results
| S.R | Teams | Score | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Zealand vs Tahiti | 3-0 | Oct 11, 2024 | Port Vila, Vanuatu |
| 2 | New Zealand vs Vanuatu | 8-1 | Oct 15, 2024 | Hamilton, New Zealand |
| 3 | New Zealand vs Fiji | 8-1 | Nov 15, 2024 | Auckland, New Zealand |
Third Round (Knockout Stage)
Semi-final: New Zealand 7-0 Fiji (March 21, 2025)
Final: New Zealand 3-0 New Caledonia (March 24, 2025)
- Key Goalscorers in Qualification: Chris Wood scored a hat-trick in the semi-final. Michael Boxall, Kosta Barbarouses, and Elijah Just were also among the key scorers throughout the campaign.
Recent Match Results (2025)
| S.R | Teams | Score | Date | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colombia vs New Zealand | 2-1 | Nov 16, 2025 | Friendly |
| 2 | Ecuador vs New Zealand | 0-0 | Nov 19, 2025 | Friendly |
2026 New Zealand National Football Team Fixtures and Results
FIFA Series
The 2026 FIFA Series schedule will start in March.
| Date | Teams | Match | Host(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2026 | New Zealand vs TBA | FIFA Series | Mexico City |
| March 2026 | New Zealand vs TBA | FIFA Series | Atlanta, United States |
2026 FIFA World Cup Schedule – Group Stage G
| Date | Teams | Match | Host(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 June 2026 | Iran vs New Zealand | Group Stage | Inglewood, United States |
| 21 June 2026 | New Zealand vs Egypt | Group Stage | Vancouver, Canada |
| 26 June 2026 | New Zealand vs Belgium | Group Stage | Vancouver, Canada |
Top Players of the New Zealand National Football Team
Most Capped Players (Active Squad)
| S. No | Name | Caps (Goals) | Current Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Boxall | 61 (1) | Minnesota United |
| 2 | Tommy Smith | 56 (2) | Braintree Town |
| 3 | Bill Tuiloma | 47 (4) | Charlotte FC |
| 4 | Chris Wood | 88 (45) | Nottingham Forest |
| 5 | Kosta Barbarouses | 72 (9) | Western Sydney Wanderers |
Top Goalscorer Players
Chris Wood is New Zealand’s all-time leading goalscorer with 45 goals in 88 international appearances, having achieved legendary status for the All Whites.
| S. No | Name | Goals (Caps) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Wood | 45 (88) | Active |
| 2 | Kosta Barbarouses | 9 (72) | Active |
| 3 | Vaughan Coveny | 29 (64) | Retired |
| 4 | Wynton Rufer | 23 (49) | Retired |
| 5 | Ben Waine | 8 (28) | Active |
New Zealand Historic Achievements
1982: First FIFA World Cup Appearance
New Zealand made its maiden World Cup appearance in Spain, establishing itself on the global football stage. Despite being eliminated in the group stage, the team’s participation marked a significant milestone for Oceanian football.
2010: Historic Unbeaten Group Stage in South Africa
Under coach Ricki Herbert, New Zealand achieved one of football’s great anomalies: remaining unbeaten in the group stage yet failing to advance to the knockout rounds.
The All Whites drew 0-0 with Slovakia and Italy and 1-1 with Paraguay, becoming only the fourth nation in World Cup history to achieve this feat.
| Match | Score | Opponent |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand vs Slovakia | 1-1 | – |
| New Zealand vs Italy | 0-0 | – |
| New Zealand vs Paraguay | 0-0 | – |
The performances earned worldwide admiration and respect from global football commentators who praised New Zealand’s defensive organization and tactical discipline against elite opposition.
OFC Nations Cup: Six-Time Champions
New Zealand has won the OFC Nations Cup on six occasions (1973, 1998, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024), establishing themselves as the confederation’s dominant force. Most recently, they won the 2024 Nations Cup tournament held in the region.
All-time Football records and statistics
- Played – 450+
- Win – 140+
- Loss – 190+
- Drew – 120+
- Win % – 31.1%
New Zealand Soccer Team Logo
The New Zealand Men’s National Soccer Team logo features the traditional white color with the silver fern emblem, representing New Zealand’s national symbol. The crest incorporates the iconic All Whites designation alongside the New Zealand Football Association branding.
New Zealand National Football Team Awards and Achievements
| Tournament | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIFA World Cup | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| OFC Nations Cup | 6 | 3 | 2 | 15 |
| OFC Qualifying | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Olympic Games | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Pacific Games | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Total | 8 | 5 | 4 | 29 |
