Oceania’s representative for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, the New Zealand All Whites, have finalised their lineup.
The 18-player roster includes ten members from the team that recently won the OFC Men’s Nations Cup. According to the men’s football competition regulations, Olympic squads are limited to 18 players, with at least 15 aged 23 or under, and three overage players allowed.
Joe Bell, Michael Boxall, and Sarpreet Singh have been chosen as the overage players.
Head Coach Darren Bazeley expressed his excitement about leading his young team to France: “The Olympics is a special tournament, so it is great to name the side that will be heading over to Paris 2024 as part of the wider New Zealand Team,” he told OFC Media.
“With the competition happening outside of a FIFA window, there have been some challenges with clubs releasing players, who are all really keen to be part of the tournament, but that is an issue that numerous countries have faced.
“Over half of this group were part of the All Whites squad that won the OFC Men’s Nations Cup last month, so we are looking to continue that momentum when we get to France.
“This is a rare opportunity for us to test ourselves against some top teams, especially the hosts France in our final group game, and I know all of the players are massively excited and proud to be representing 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, Aotearoa New Zealand
Matthew Sheridan – Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand
Finn Surman – Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand
Sam Sutton – Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand
Midfielders:
Joe Bell* – Viking FK, Norway
Fin Conchie – Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa 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, Aotearoa New Zealand
Oskar van Hattum – Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand
Ben Waine – Plymouth Argyle, England
*Players aged over 23
Travelling reserves:
Lachlan Bayliss – Newcastle Jets, Australia
Liam Gillion – Auckland FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Henry Gray – Ipswich Town FC, England
Isaac Hughes – Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand
The men’s team has been placed in Group A for the tournament, alongside hosts France, Guinea, and the USA.
Their Paris 2024 campaign kicks off against Guinea on Thursday, 25 July (KO 3 am NZT) in Nice, followed by games against the USA on Sunday, 28 July (KO 5 am NZT), and France on Wednesday, 31 July (KO 5 am NZT), both in Marseille.