Source: Radio New Zealand
Chris Wood of the New Zealand All Whites. © Bildbyrån Photo Agency 2025 © Photosport Ltd 2025 www.photosport.nz
All Whites coach Darren Bazeley has been unable to call on a number of key players for World Cup warmup games at home against Finland and Chile later this month.
Missing through injury are regulars Michael Boxall, Liberato Cacace, Matt Garbett, Nando Pijnaker, Sarpreet Singh, and captain Chris Wood.
However, all are set to return to play ahead of the FIFA World Cup in June and July.
There is a debut call-up for Newcastle Jets’ Lachlan Bayliss.
“These are two really important games for us as we continue building towards the World Cup, so it is great to name our squad to play in front of our home fans for the last time before the tournament,” Bazeley said.
“I want to congratulate Lachlan Bayliss on his debut All Whites call-up. He has been in great form over the last few months with Newcastle Jets, so I’m pleased to bring him in for the first time at senior level.
“We know the deadline for naming our FIFA World Cup squad is getting closer and closer, so we are pleased to be able to give opportunities to a number of players to state their case, especially with a few regulars unavailable for this window.
“Finland and Chile should be great tests for us, and we look forward to taking them on in front of all of our home fans at Eden Park.”
The FIFA Series games at Eden Park also involve Cape Verde.
85th ranked New Zealand play 75th ranked Finland on 27 March and 55th ranked Chile on 30 March.
All Whites squad:
Kosta Barbarouses (70 caps, 9 goals) Western Sydney Wanderers, Australia
Lachlan Bayliss (debut) Newcastle Jets, Australia
Joe Bell (28/1) Viking FK, Norway
Tyler Bindon (20/3) Sheffield United, England (on loan from Nottingham Forest)
Max Crocombe (19/0) Millwall, England
Andre De Jong (11/2) Orlando Pirates, South Africa
Francis De Vries (15/1) Auckland FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Callan Elliot (7/0) Auckland FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Eli Just (38/8) Motherwell, Scotland
Callum McCowatt (28/4) Silkeborg IF, Denmark
James McGarry (3/0) Brisbane Roar, Australia
Ben Old (18/1) AS Saint-Étienne, France
Alex Paulsen (5/0) Lechia Gdańsk, Poland (on loan from AFC Bournemouth)
Tim Payne (48/3) Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand
Jesse Randall (5/1) Auckland FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Logan Rogerson (16/2) Auckland FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Alex Rufer (22/0) Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand
Marko Stamenic (33/3) Swansea City, Wales
Finn Surman (13/2) Portland Timbers, USA
Ryan Thomas (23/3) PEC Zwolle, Netherlands
Bill Tuiloma (45/4) Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand
Ben Waine (26/8) Port Vale, England
Michael Woud (6/0) Auckland FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
