Wellington Phoenix captain Alex Rufer is back in the All Whites for their final internationals of 2025.
Rufer has been named in the New Zealand squad for their upcoming matches against Colombia and Ecuador in the USA.
He missed last month’s friendlies against Poland and Norway in Europe as All Whites coach Darren Bazeley favoured northern hemisphere based players as the matches fell just days before the start of the new Isuzu UTE A-League season.
Phoenix fullback Tim Payne, who started against both Poland and Norway, wasn’t considered for selection after breaking his collarbone in the team’s home opener last month.
Rufer has 22 senior caps and last featured in the first match of the ‘Soccer Ashes’ in Canberra in September.
He will join up with the All Whites after this Saturday’s derby at Sky Stadium and will return to Wellington ahead of the Phoenix’s next home match against Macarthur FC on Saturday, November 22.
New Zealand’s first international will be against 13th ranked Colombia in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Sunday, November 16 NZT.
They will then play Ecuador (ranked 23 in the world) in New Jersey on Wednesday, November 19 NZT.
Both games will be broadcast live and free on FIFA+ and TVNZ+.
