Scouting report
New Zealand return to the World Cup stage as comfortable masters of Oceania, having dominated their confederation to claim the OFC's automatic berth. The All Whites are built around English Premier League striker Chris Wood, who carries the goalscoring burden and the captain's armband into the expanded 2026 finals.
This is a side blending hardened veterans with a genuinely exciting crop of young Europe-based talent. Players like Tyler Bindon, Marko Stamenic and Ben Old give Darren Bazeley's group more technical quality and athleticism than any previous New Zealand squad.
Expectations remain modest but real: the goal is to finally win a World Cup match and prove Oceania belongs among the elite.
Style of play
Organised, physically robust and defensively disciplined, looking to spring quick transitions and feed crosses to Chris Wood. They are pragmatic out of possession and dangerous from set pieces.
X-factor
Ben Old's electric pace and fearless dribbling can unlock packed defences in an instant.
Outlook
A first-ever World Cup win is the realistic dream; escaping the group would be a historic, fairytale overachievement.
Key players
Model outlook
Proj. finish
36.4
Exp. points
2.00
Seed Elo
1500
Title-odds trajectory
Champion % across 9 daily snapshots
Full squad
- 118caps
Max Crocombe
Burton Albion · First-choice shot-stopper
- 126caps
Alex Paulsen
AFC Bournemouth · Promising young keeper
- 234caps
Oliver Sail
Wellington Phoenix · Reliable domestic option
- 212caps
Tyler Bindon
Nottingham Forest · Composed young center-back
- 355caps
Michael Boxall
Minnesota United · Veteran defensive leader
- 420caps
Nando Pijnaker
Sporting Kansas City · Ball-playing defender
- 535caps
Liberato Cacace
Empoli · Attacking left-back
- 640caps
Tim Payne
Auckland FC · Versatile experienced full-back
- 1310caps
Finn Surman
Portland Timbers · Emerging defensive talent
- 158caps
Sam Sutton
Wellington Phoenix · Hard-working full-back
- 2215caps
Dane Ingham
Hamilton Wanderers · Energetic wide defender
- 722caps
Marko Stamenic
Olympiacos · Box-to-box dynamo
- 830caps
Joe Bell
Viking FK · Midfield engine room
- 1025caps
Matthew Garbett
NAC Breda · Creative deep playmaker
- 1418caps
Clayton Lewis
Auckland FC · Tidy central distributor
- 1615caps
Alex Greive
St Mirren · Industrious attacking midfielder
- 1745caps
Bill Tuiloma
Charlotte FC · Versatile midfield anchor
- 1820caps
Cameron Howieson
Wellington Phoenix · Composed midfield veteran
- 975caps
Chris Wood
Nottingham Forest · Captain and talisman striker
- 1112caps
Ben Old
St Etienne · Pacey wing threat
- 1920caps
Sarpreet Singh
Hapoel Be'er Sheva · Skillful attacking spark
- 2014caps
Eli Just
Odense BK · Direct dribbling forward
- 2160caps
Kosta Barbarouses
Auckland FC · Experienced attacking option
World Cup history
2022
Did not qualify / Group stage