A talented group of five players from Auckland FC is set to lead New Zealand’s squad as they gear up to take on Ivory Coast and Ukraine at the upcoming Canadian Shield Tournament in Toronto, Canada, next month.
The All Whites, who secured their spot in the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup back in March, have named seven stars from the Isuzu UTE A-League in a 23-player squad.
Callan Elliot, Alex Paulsen, Nando Pijnaker, Tommy Smith, and Francis de Vries have been selected from reigning champions Auckland, alongside Wellington Phoenix pair Kosta Barbarouses and Alex Rufer.
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Elliot has earned a recall, while Phoenix defender Tim Payne will be absent from the international window due to the impending birth of his child.
New Zealand will take on the 41st-ranked Ivory Coast on June 8, followed by a match against 25th-ranked Ukraine on June 11, both at BMO Field in Toronto.
The tournament will award three points for a win, one point for a draw, and two points for a victory in a penalty shoot-out. Matches will be decided by penalties after 90 minutes (plus injury time), ensuring a clear winner.
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“Qualifying for the FIFA World Cup was a significant achievement for us, but we recognise it is merely a step on our journey as a team,” remarked All Whites head coach Darren Bazeley.
“We’ve been fortunate to have played several home games recently, but it has always been our ambition to challenge ourselves by playing away against a variety of teams we may encounter in 2026.”
“Competing against two top-50 sides in a tournament format at one of the host venues for the 2026 FIFA World Cup presents an ideal challenge for our squad.”
“We’ve made a few alterations to the squad since March, allowing us to explore different player combinations in this environment.
“We aim for healthy competition for positions as we head towards the World Cup, and the opportunity is open for everyone to prove their worth for the 2026 squad.”
New Zealand’s Squad
Kosta Barbarouses (67 caps/9 goals) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Joe Bell (24/1) Viking FK, Norway
Tyler Bindon (15/3) Reading FC, England (on loan from Nottingham Forest)
Michael Boxall (55/1) Minnesota United, USA
Liberato Cacace (33/1) Empoli FC, Italy
Max Crocombe (15/0) Burton Albion, England
Callan Elliot (3/0) Auckland FC, New Zealand
Matt Garbett (30/5) NAC Breda, Netherlands
Eli Just (34/7) SKN St. Pölten, Austria (on loan from Horsens)
Callum McCowatt (23/4) Silkeborg IF, Denmark
Ben Old (12/1) AS Saint-Étienne, France
Alex Paulsen (3/0) Auckland FC, New Zealand (on loan from AFC Bournemouth)
Nando Pijnaker (23/0) Auckland FC, New Zealand
Alex Rufer (19/0) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Sarpreet Singh (18/3) U.D. Leiria, Portugal
Tommy Smith (56/2) Auckland FC, New Zealand
Marko Stamenić (29/2) Olympiacos, Greece (on loan from Nottingham Forest)
Finn Surman (7/1) Portland Timbers, USA
Bill Tuiloma (42/4) Charlotte FC, USA
Nik Tzanev (2/0) Northampton Town, England
Francis de Vries (10/1) Auckland FC, New Zealand
Ben Waine (23/8) Mansfield Town, England (on loan from Plymouth Argyle)
Chris Wood (82/44) Nottingham Forest, England
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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