WELLINGTON, March 11, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Star Nottingham Forest striker Chris 
Wood spearheaded New Zealand's squad named Tuesday for crunch games that 
could see them reach the World Cup for the first time in 16 years.

The All Whites meet Fiji in the semi-finals of Oceania qualifying in 
Wellington on March 21, with New Caledonia facing Tahiti on the same day.

The winners will play at Auckland's Eden Park three days later with the 
victor making the 2026 World Cup in North America after an Oceania side was 
awarded direct entry for the first time.

They will join co-hosts the United States, Mexico and Canada.

New Zealand have played at the World Cup twice before, in 1982 and 2010, and 
are yet to win a game.

They are heavy favourites to qualify again, but coach Darren Bazeley said he 
was taking nothing for granted.

"This is the business end of the competition now and we know we have a job to 
do in these games to see us return to the World Cup for the first time since 
2010," he said.

"We aren't taking anything for granted, all of the squad are completely 
focused on what we want to achieve this month."

The 23-man squad is led by Woods, who is in the form of his life with 18 
goals in the English Premier League so far this season.

"We have been really consistent with a lot of our selections over the last 
year to drive cohesion in the team so that when players arrive in camp they 
know what is expected, especially when we have limited time together and need 
to perform," said Bazeley.

Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe (Burton Albion/ENG), Alex Paulsen (Auckland 
FC/NZL), Oli Sail (Perth Glory/AUS)

Defenders: Tyler Bindon (Reading FC/ENG), Michael Boxall (Minnesota 
United/USA), Liberato Caccace (Empoli FC/ITA), Francis de Vries (Auckland 
FC/NZL), Tim Payne (Wellington Phoenix/NZL), Nando Pijnaker (Auckland 
FC/NZL), Storm Roux (Central Coast Mariners/AUS), Tommy Smith (Auckland 
FC/NZL)

Midfielders: Joe Bell (Viking FK/NOR), Matt Garbett (NAC Breda/NED), Eli Just 
(SKN St. Polten/AUT), Alex Rufer (Wellington Phoenix/NZL), Sarpreet Singh (UD 
Leiria/POR), Marko Stamenic (Olympiacos/GRE)

Forwards: Kosta Barbarouses (Wellington Phoenix/NZL), Callum McCowatt 
(Silkeborg IF/DEN), Jesse Randall (Auckland FC/NZL), Logan Rogerson (Auckland 
FC/NZL), Ben Waine (Mansfield Town/ENG), Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest/ENG)