New Zealand recall Tommy Smith and Lachlan Bayliss for 2026 World Cup | OneFootball

New Zealand have named veteran Tommy Smith and 23-year-old Lachlan Bayliss in Darren Bazeley’s 26-player squad for the 2026 World Cup.

L'Équipe reports that Bazeley confirmed his travelling party for the United States finals, which run from 11 June to 19 July, as the All Whites prepare for only their third appearance after 1982 and 2010.

Smith, 36, was part of the 2010 squad and now plays for Braintree Town in the fifth tier of English football. He has not featured for the All Whites since 2024, with Bazeley turning to his experience as New Zealand chase a first World Cup finals win.

Bayliss, 23, is enjoying a standout season with Newcastle Jets and was at the Paris 2024 Olympics. He made his senior debut in March in home friendlies, a 4-1 win over Chile and a 0-2 defeat to Finland.

Captain Chris Wood, 34, is New Zealand’s record goalscorer and was also involved in 2010. The Nottingham Forest striker described leading his country at the tournament as a huge privilege and expressed hope of making history in a video shown at the squad reveal.

New Zealand are in Group G with Egypt, Belgium and Iran, and open on 15 June against Iran at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

Source: L'Équipe