New Zealand announced the 26-man squad for its third World Cup appearance in history on Thursday.
Notably, Nottingham Forest forward Chris Wood and Braintree Town’s Tommy Smith will become the first players in New Zealand history to make multiple World Cup squads. Both were also on the 2010 squad, with the country’s other World Cup appearance coming in 1982.
Wood’s status was somewhat in doubt after he was sidelined from last October until April with a knee injury which required surgery. However, he’s returned for Nottingham Forest in the Premier League and will be available for this summer’s historic 48-team World Cup in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
Wood, 34, is already the country’s all-time leading scorer with 45 goals. With his next appearance, his 89th cap would also make him the country’s career leader in appearances.
At No. 85 in the FIFA/Coca Cola World Rankings, the Kiwis are the lowest-ranked team in this World Cup.
After warmup matches against Haiti (June 3 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and England (June 7 in Tampa), New Zealand will compete in Group G against Iran (June 15), Egypt (June 21) and Belgium (June 26), seeking its first World Cup win in history.
“We have spent the last few years building to this moment and tracking around 55 players in contention to make it on to the plane to Canada, Mexico, the U.S.A,” New Zealand head coach Darren Bazeley said Thursday.
“Now the time for discussions is over, we need to head to the tournament and take the opportunity in front of us to make history for New Zealand.”
NEW ZEALAND WORLD CUP ROSTER
Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe (Millwall), Alex Paulsen (Lechia Gdansk), Michael Woud (Auckland FC)
Defenders: Tyler Bindon (Nottingham Forest), Michael Boxall (Minnesota United), Liberato Cacace (Wrexham), Callan Elliot (Auckland FC), Tim Payne (Wellington Phoenix), Nando Pijnaker (Auckland FC), Tommy Smith (Braintree Town), Finn Surman (Portland Timbers), Francis De Vries (Auckland FC)
Midfielders: Joe Bell (Viking FK), Matt Garbett (Peterborough United), Alex Rufer (Wellington Phoenix), Sarpreet Singh (Wellington Phoenix), Marko Stamenic (Swansea), Ryan Thomas (PEC Zwolle).
Forwards: Kosta Barbarouses (Western Sydney Wanderers), Lachlan Bayliss (Newcastle Jets), Eli Just (Motherwell), Callum McCowatt (Silkeborg), Ben Old (Saint-Etienne), Jesse Randall (Auckland FC), Ben Waine (Port Vale), Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest)
–Field Level Media
