India vs New Zealand football: Chris Wood headlines All Whites squad for November friendlies

Chris Wood had a breakthrough season at Forest in the 2024-25 season, scoring 20 goals across all competitions, and led New Zealand in the FIFA World Cup, earlier this year. | Photo Credit: Reuters

New Zealand and Nottingham Forest star Chris Wood will headlined the squad as the All Whites announced its squad for the November friendlies against India, later this month.

Wood had a breakthrough season at Forest in the 2024-25 season, scoring 20 goals across all competitions, and led New Zealand in the FIFA World Cup, earlier this year. He assisted twice against Iran, though the team exited the tournament in the group stage.

New Zealand will end 2026 with two games against India starting at Go Media Stadium in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland on November 12 before playing the first-ever international football match at One New Zealand Stadium in Ōtautahi, Christchurch three days later.

Its squad features three maiden call-ups in Corban Piper, Matthew Sheridan, and Nathan Walker, while midfielder Matt Garbett returns to the team after recovering from a hamstring injury that ruled him out of World Cup.

“We track around 50 players so they have all been on our radar for a while but it is their brilliant form at the start of the season which has led to them being selected and we look forward to seeing them step up to this level,” head coach Darren Bazeley said.

“With these games coming at the end of a really busy year, and with the number of European club games that some of our players are now playing, we have had to look at some different options for this window but that gives other players the chance to impress which I’m looking forward to seeing.”

NEW ZEALAND’S FULL SQUAD

Lachlan Bayliss, Tyler Bindon, Francis De Vries, Callan Elliot, Matt Garbett, Liam Gillion, Henry Gray, Callum McCowatt, James McGarry, Owen Parker-Price, Alex Paulsen, Nando Pijnaker, Corban Piper, Jesse Randall, Logan Rogerson, Alex Rufer, Matthew Sheridan, Finn Surman, Bill Tuiloma, Nathan Walker, Chris Wood, Michael Woud.