Still no update on whether the rumoured China and Turkmenistan games will happen?
I imagine a squad will be named sometime in next 2 weeks?
I'd guess at something like the below. Just 2 ALM players, so as not to disrupt pre season prep at ALM clubs.
Possible Sept-Oct window 22 man squad
I imagine a squad will be named sometime in next 2 weeks?
I'd guess at something like the below. Just 2 ALM players, so as not to disrupt pre season prep at ALM clubs.
Possible Sept-Oct window 22 man squad
Goalkeepers: Crocombe, Paulsen, Woud
Defenders: Old, Wilkins, Bindon, Surman, Boxall, Stanger, Elliott, Payne
Midfielders: Bell, Dibley-Dias, Parker-Price, Stamenić, Singh
Forwards: LBS, McCowatt, Just, Randall, Waine, Wood
Out injured - Cacace, Garbett. Max Mata
Assuming Unavailable - most of the ALM guys and Thomas. Potentially Dibley-Dias who is looking to build his club career.
Possibilities -
Pijnaker & Tuiloma if Surman & Boxall are both unavailable (MLS playing through some of the window)
Nikko Kirwan or Dane Ingham if Auckland would rather Elliott is not released.
Tzanev or Sims if Auckland would rather Woud not released.
Wild card selections
Skipe Ukich, Moses Dyer and Kyle Adams if Boxall would rather stay with Minnesota as the MLS gets to the business end.
MLS is not pausing for the entirety of the combined September–October 2026 FIFA international window. Only from September 21st – October 6th.
It maybe that both Boxall and Surman are unavailable for the 2 games in Japan (1st & 5th Oct).
If the China and Turkmenistan games happen, I'd be in favour of some ALM guys travelling to China for those two matches, and then returning downunder ie not going on to Japan.
Thinking some of - Gray, Hughes, Pijnaker, Vicelich, Tuiloma, FDV, McGarry, LKH, Sheridan, Howieson, Rufer, Bayliss, Gillion, Rogerson, Walker, Gibson & Piper.
No one likes to see AWs selection 'cheapened' but most of the above ALM guys have already been capped.
At this very early stage of the AWs cycle it's very useful to spread the net and experiment.
Out injured - Cacace, Garbett. Max Mata
Assuming Unavailable - most of the ALM guys and Thomas. Potentially Dibley-Dias who is looking to build his club career.
Possibilities -
Pijnaker & Tuiloma if Surman & Boxall are both unavailable (MLS playing through some of the window)
Nikko Kirwan or Dane Ingham if Auckland would rather Elliott is not released.
Tzanev or Sims if Auckland would rather Woud not released.
Wild card selections
Skipe Ukich, Moses Dyer and Kyle Adams if Boxall would rather stay with Minnesota as the MLS gets to the business end.
MLS is not pausing for the entirety of the combined September–October 2026 FIFA international window. Only from September 21st – October 6th.
It maybe that both Boxall and Surman are unavailable for the 2 games in Japan (1st & 5th Oct).
If the China and Turkmenistan games happen, I'd be in favour of some ALM guys travelling to China for those two matches, and then returning downunder ie not going on to Japan.
Thinking some of - Gray, Hughes, Pijnaker, Vicelich, Tuiloma, FDV, McGarry, LKH, Sheridan, Howieson, Rufer, Bayliss, Gillion, Rogerson, Walker, Gibson & Piper.
No one likes to see AWs selection 'cheapened' but most of the above ALM guys have already been capped.
At this very early stage of the AWs cycle it's very useful to spread the net and experiment.