NZL
FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 · GROUP G · POT 4

New Zealand
World Cup 26-man squad

Manager Darren Bazeley · English head coach since 2023. As a player he was a right-back for Watford (leaving as they were promoted) and Wolves, spending his career in the lower divisions rather than the Premier League. He served long as the NZ assistant and engineered New Zealand's first World Cup in 16 years.
MD1 Jun 15 vs Iran MD2 Jun 21 vs Egypt MD3 Jun 26 vs Belgium
2th World Cup appearance · best finish: Group stage (1982, 2010)
26
Squad size
27.6
Avg. age
18 / 26
Overseas-based
2 / 24
WC veterans / Debutants
TEAM STORY

Darren Bazeley's (English) New Zealand announced their final 26 on May 14 (second-earliest in Tier 3). This is the All Whites' first World Cup in 16 years (since South Africa 2010) — their third overall. Captain Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest, Premier League scorer) leads the attack as undisputed ace.

Backbone: Chris Wood (45 international goals — all-time top scorer) + 21-year-old Tyler Bindon (Sheffield United, young defensive core) + Liberato Cacace (Wrexham, left-back) + Marko Stamenić (Swansea, midfield). A mix of English EFL, Scottish Premiership and A-League — dominated OFC qualifying.

Group G fixtures: June 15 vs Iran → June 21 vs Egypt → June 26 vs Belgium. The Belgium clash is the headline. Bettering the 1982 and 2010 group exits — and reaching the knockouts for the first time — is the target.

PREDICTED XI

LIKELY 4-2-3-1.

Bazeley's preferred 4-2-3-1. Talisman Chris Wood at No.9 with Garbett as the No.10 and Just/Old on the wings. Rufer and Stamenić form the double pivot, with Tyler Bindon and veteran Boxall (37) at CB.

4-2-3-1 (predicted)
KEY PLAYERS

KEY PLAYERS.

The five players who set the tone in the group stage — by role and trait.

9
ST · FW
Chris Wood
Nottingham Forest · 34 · Premier League
88 caps · 45G WC: 2010
Captain & all-time top scorer
CAPTAIN
4
CB · DF
Tyler Bindon
Sheffield United · 21
23 caps · 3G WC debut
Young defensive core (Sheffield United)
ACE
1
GK · GK
Max Crocombe
Millwall · 32
22 caps · 0G WC debut
No.1 keeper (Millwall)
7
CAM · MF
Matthew Garbett
Peterborough United · 24
35 caps · 5G WC debut
Midfield attacking core
13
LB · DF
Liberato Cacace
Wrexham · 25
35 caps · 1G WC debut
Left-back (Wrexham)
SQUAD

SQUAD 26.

GK GOALKEEPERS 3
DF DEFENDERS 9
MF MIDFIELDERS 10
FW FORWARDS 4
GROUP G

GROUP G.

BEL
Belgium
POT 1
EGY
Egypt
POT 2
IRN
Iran
POT 3
NZL
New Zealand
POT 4
Mon, Jun 15
Iran vs New Zealand
Los Angeles Stadium · Inglewood, CA
All Whites' first World Cup match in 16 years (since South Africa 2010). Iran (AFC qualifiers' table-toppers, led by Taremi) await — Wood and Bindon seek a point.
View lineups →
MD1
Sun, Jun 21
Egypt vs New Zealand
Vancouver Stadium · Vancouver
Vancouver clash vs Egypt. Containing Salah and Marmoush tests Crocombe and young Bindon — a critical match in pursuit of a historic knockout berth.
View lineups →
MD2
Fri, Jun 26
Belgium vs New Zealand
Vancouver Stadium · Vancouver
Group decider vs Pot 1 Belgium (De Bruyne, Lukaku). Set-piece defending in the Kiwi 4-2-3-1 is critical.
View lineups →
MD3

Road to the final

Spoiler-free: the potential bracket route by final group position. No results shown.

Win Group G
  1. Round of 32 Jul 01 · Seattle vs 3rd place (A/E/H/I/J)
  2. Round of 16 Jul 06 · Seattle vs Winner of Match 81
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 10 · Inglewood vs Winner of Match 93
  4. Semi-finals Jul 14 · Arlington vs Winner of Match 97
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 102
Runners-up, Group G
  1. Round of 32 Jul 03 · Arlington vs Runners-up Group D
  2. Round of 16 Jul 07 · Atlanta vs Winner of Match 86
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 11 · Kansas City vs Winner of Match 96
  4. Semi-finals Jul 15 · Atlanta vs Winner of Match 99
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 101
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