New Zealand Football have today confirmed the 26-person squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ intercontinental play-offs and warm-up games.
Included is Marco Rojas for the first time since 2019, following a stellar season with Melbourne Victory. Michael Boxall also returns after missing the last tour with injury.
The remainder of the squad were all part of side that won the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Oceania Qualifiers tournament in March, while 13 of them were also part of the men’s Olympic team that finished 6th at Tokyo 2020.
“I’m very happy with the squad we have assembled. The vast majority were part of the qualifying campaign, and a significant number were in the Olympic side, so this is a group that understands how we want to play and what is expected of them,” head coach Danny Hay said.
“While it is unfortunate that Sarpreet Singh and Ryan Thomas are missing with injury, it is great we are able to bring Marco Rojas and Michael Boxall back after they weren’t available in March.
“We know this is a massive moment for football in New Zealand and I believe these are the players that give us the best possible chance of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup later this year.”
The All Whites will face Costa Rica in Doha on June 14, 2022 at 9pm (June 15 at 6am in NZ) in the intercontinental play-off for a place at the World Cup. Ahead of the game they will play a warm-up match against Peru in Barcelona on June 5 at 5.30pm (June 6 at 3.30am NZ) and a yet to be announced behind closed doors game against a second national team in Doha on June 9 (June 10 NZ).
New Zealand squad:
Kosta Barbarouses (49 caps) Sydney FC, Australia
Joe Bell (8 caps) Brøndby IF, Denmark
Michael Boxall (36 caps) Minnesota United, USA
Liberato Cacace (8 caps) FC Empoli, Italy
Joe Champness (5 caps) Unattached
Francis de Vries (5 caps) IFK Värnamo, Sweden
Matthew Garbett (8 caps) Torino, Italy
Matthew Gould (0 caps) Altrincham FC, England
Alex Greive (4 caps) St Mirren, Scotland
Dane Ingham (10 caps) Newcastle Jets, Australia
Elijah Just (9 caps) FC Helsingør, Denmark
Niko Kirwan (6 caps) Calcio Padova, Italy
Clayton Lewis (18 caps) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Stefan Marinovic (29 caps) Hapoel Nof HaGalil, Israel
Callum McCowatt (8 caps) FC Helsingør, Denmark
Tim Payne (25 caps) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Nando Pijnaker (7 caps) Sligo Rovers, Ireland
Logan Rogerson (8 caps) FC Haka, Finland
Marco Rojas (42 caps) Melbourne Victory, Australia
Winston Reid (30 caps) Unattached
Oli Sail (2 caps) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Tommy Smith (47 caps) Colchester United, England
Marko Stamenic (6 caps) HB Køge, Denmark
Bill Tuiloma (31 caps) Portland Timbers, USA
Ben Waine (2 caps) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Chris Wood (65 caps) Newcastle United, England
Upcoming games:
New Zealand v Peru – International Friendly
Sunday June 5, 2022 – 5:30pm (local)
Barcelona, Spain
New Zealand v To Be Announced – International Friendly (behind closed doors)
Thursday June 9, 2022 – Time TBC (local)
Doha, Qatar
New Zealand v Costa Rica – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Intercontinental Play-Off
Tuesday June 14, 2022 – 9pm (local)
Doha, Qatar