There is a strong Wellington Phoenix presence in the Young All Whites team that are attempting to qualify for the 2023 FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup in Peru.
Seven Phoenix academy players are in the 23-strong New Zealand squad at the OFC U-17 Championship in Fiji, which starts today.
Luke Flowerdew is the latest addition to the squad as an injury replacement, joining academy team-mates Anaru Cassidy, Jesper Edwards, Eamonn McCarron, Gabriel Sloane Rodrigues, Luke Supyk and Harrison Tisch.
The Phoenix academy’s head of performance Steve Coleman is the team’s assistant coach.
The New Zealand U-17 team will play New Caledonia in the opening match at 4pm NZT today (Wednesday, January 11), with their second and final group game against American Samoa on Saturday afternoon.
The top two sides from their three nation group will advance to the quarter-finals.
Both of the finalists will qualify for the 2023 FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup in Peru.
