Oceania’s representative at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, the New Zealand All Whites, have finalized their team.
The 18-player squad includes ten members who were part of the OFC Men’s Nation’s Cup-winning New Zealand team last month.
Olympic regulations for the men’s football competition limit squads to 18 players, with at least 15 aged 23 and under, and three overage players permitted.
Joe Bell, Michael Boxall, and Sarpreet Singh have been chosen as the overage players.
Head Coach Darren Bazeley expressed his excitement about assembling the young side in France:
“The Olympics is a special tournament, so it’s great to announce the team heading to Paris 2024 as part of the wider New Zealand Team,” he told OFC Media.
“With the competition taking place outside a FIFA window, there have been challenges with clubs releasing players, who are all eager to participate in the tournament, but this is a challenge many countries face.”
“Over half of this group were part of the All Whites squad that won the OFC Men’s Nations Cup last month, so we aim to continue that momentum in France.”
“This is a rare opportunity to test ourselves against top teams, especially the hosts France in our final group game. All the players are excited and proud to represent Aotearoa New Zealand.”
New Zealand Men’s Olympic Football Team squad:
Goalkeepers:
Alex Paulsen – AFC Bournemouth, England
Kees Sims – GAIS Göteborg, Sweden
Defenders:
Tyler Bindon – Reading FC, England
Michael Boxall* – Minnesota United, USA
Lukas Kelly-Heald – Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Matthew Sheridan – Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Finn Surman – Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Sam Sutton – Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Midfielders:
Joe Bell* – Viking FK, Norway
Fin Conchie – Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Matt Garbett – NAC Breda, Netherlands
Ben Old – AS Saint-Etienne, France
Sarpreet Singh* – Unattached
Forwards:
Riley Bidois – Loudoun United, USA
Jay Herdman – Vancouver Whitecaps, Canada
Jesse Randall – Auckland FC, New Zealand
Oskar van Hattum – Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Ben Waine – Plymouth Argyle, England
*Players aged over 23
Travelling reserves:
Lachlan Bayliss – Newcastle Jets, Australia
Liam Gillion – Auckland FC, New Zealand
Henry Gray – Ipswich Town FC, England
Isaac Hughes – Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
The men’s team has been drawn in Group A alongside hosts France, Guinea, and the USA.
Their Paris 2024 campaign begins against Guinea on Thursday, 25 July (KO 3 am NZT) in Nice, before facing the USA on Sunday, 28 July (KO 5 am NZT), and France on Wednesday, 31 July (KO 5 am NZT), both in Marseille.