The Wellington Phoenix are providing the backbone of the squad selected to represent New Zealand at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.
First team players Luke Brooke-Smith, Luke Supyk, Lukas Kelly-Heald, Nathan Walker, Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues, Xuan Loke, and Jayden Smith are all part of the squad, alongside academy standouts Ryan Watson and Fergus Gillion.
The selected players are very familiar to New Zealand U-20 head coach Chris Greenacre, as he has coached all of them in his other role as the Phoenix men’s reserves head coach.
“I’m really pleased with the squad we have assembled to take to Chile for the FIFA U-20 World Cup which has a good blend of domestic and international experience,” Greenacre said.
“Having been to Chile in June for our warm-up games, we have some idea of what to expect but obviously the tournament is going to be another level.
“We are up against three other good teams, including the hosts so it will be great to take them on in front of what I’m sure will be a big and passionate crowd.
“From speaking to the boys I know they are really excited, so we are all looking forward to boarding the plane and getting our FIFA U-20 World Cup campaign underway.”
It will be Lukas Kelly-Heald’s second appearance at the tournament, having featured in the 2023 edition where New Zealand made it to the round of 16.
Both he and Luke Brooke-Smith have also previously represented New Zealand at the senior level.
The U-20 All Whites have been drawn in Group A, where they will face hosts Chile, Japan, and Egypt.
The team start against the hosts on 28 September (KO 12pm) NZT, before facing Egypt on 1 October (KO 9am) NZT, with both matches played at Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos in Santiago.
They face Japan in their final group game on 4 October (KO 12pm) NZT at Estadio Elías Figueroa Brander in Valparaíso.
All of their games will be available to watch live and free on TVNZ.
