History for coochiee

Good wrap up from AV on the current AW contenders, as the 2026 big dance starts to loom on the horizon.

I'd chuck Lachlan Bayliss (Jets) in the mix of young ALM guys with a chance to make an AWs claim this season.

There won't be any Andy Barron bank workers or Jeremy Christies in North America.

WC still nearly 2 years away but hard to see many if anyone picked outside those named below. Maybe a Sims or Gray as the 3rd keeper, if they end up a starting GK in Sweden or say League One level. Sheridan possibly a RB bolter. Same Hughes at CB. McGarry needs to be playing to be a chance at LB. George Stanger will push his case if Ayr get promoted, and in 12 months he's performing in the SPL.  

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350435070/all-whites-squad-named-first-2026-fifa-world-cup-qualifier

Taking stock

The start of a World Cup qualification campaign, short though it might be, is a good time to assess where things stand when it comes to the makeup of the All Whites.

In goal, Bazeley has made it clear Burton Albion's Max Crocombe is considered the No 1, with Alex Paulsen – on loan at Auckland from English Premier League club Bournemouth – the No 2, and a chance to play in the friendly against Malaysia. Oli Sail is the third-choice at present, with Nik Tzanev and Michael Woud among those watching on.

In defence, Payne and Roux have little competition at right back, with Bazeley also using centre backs Bindon and Tuiloma there in recent windows. Callan Elliot will be looking to put himself in contention at Auckland, but might struggle for playing time behind former Japanese international Hiroki Sakai in that position.

With Surman missing this month, it is likely either Bindon or Boxall partner Pijnaker next Friday. Smith continues to make squads as his experience is valued, especially off the field, but with a bench role at Auckland looming, crunch time could be coming for his international career.

At left back, Empoli's Liberato Cacace has the most firm grip on a starting spot of any All White outside English Premier League striker Chris Wood. Wilkins was Bazeley's first pick to back the Serie A player up before getting injured, which means Sutton and Auckland's Francis de Vries will be eyeing strong A-League Men campaigns to improve their standing.

In midfield, Bell, Singh, Matt Garbett, Eli Just, Ben Old, Alex Rufer and Marko Stamenic are some of the first names Bazeley goes to write down when he assembles his squads, but he's yet to really figure out the optimum way to deploy them, something that hasn't been helped by Singh's injuries and absences like Bell's this around. Just's move to struggling Austrian second-tier club SKN St. Pölten could hurt his cause.

Ryan Thomas has not been forgotten amidst a horror run of injuries and surgeries, but he needs an extended run of playing time for his Dutch club, PEC Zwolle, before proper conversations with Bazeley can start. When they do, it will mostly be Thomas' call as to whether he feels he is ready to return to international duty, as his technical ability remains a class above. Don’t look for him before next June.

Marco Rojas is another Bazeley will keep the door open for, but he will need to make an impact week-in, week-out in his return to the Phoenix after 13 years away for an All Whites return to become a realistic prospect.

Wood will be eager to turn his Nottingham Forest form into more goals for his country this month, with Ben Waine, now on loan from Plymouth Argyle at Mansfield Town, his chief understudy up front.

Kosta Barbarouses had his most prolific A-League Men campaign in five years with the Phoenix last season, but will start again from scratch later this month. Rogerson will be hoping to find the back of the net as he returns to A-League Men with Auckland, while McCowatt should return to the fold once he's back playing in Denmark.

The forward ranks outside Wood are set to be where the coming A-League Men season – the first to feature two New Zealand teams, after Auckland's entry – could have the biggest impact on the All Whites, given the national team's persistent struggles with scoring goals.

In addition to Barbarouses and Rogerson, there are plenty of contenders who could make Bazeley pay attention if they first get on the field, then deliver, with Joey Champness, Liam Gillion, Max Mata and Jesse Randall all trying to become beneficiaries of Auckland's arrival, and Oskar van Hattum looking to grow at the Phoenix.

One player who has already done that, even if he didn't make the cut this time, is Andre de Jong, who has scored four goals across three competitions early in the new South African season with Stellenbosch. "He's definitely in the conversation," Bazeley said. "All Andre can do is keep doing his job."