The New Zealand U-17 men’s squad has been named for the 2026 International Youth Soccer Tournament, to be held in Niigata, Japan, this month.
The tournament, which New Zealand also participated in in 2023, brings together U-17 teams from around the world to play competitive matches ahead of major international tournaments, including the FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup.
For the 2026 edition, New Zealand will face the Niigata U-17 regional rep side, and the national U-17 teams representing Myanmar and Japan.
The tournament takes place two months ahead of the FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup, which will be played in Qatar from November 20 till December 14.
New Zealand have been drawn in Group G with Belgium, Mali and Vietnam at the World Cup tournament.
Head coach Martin Bullock has selected an 18-player squad for the Japan tour, with 14 players based domestically and four playing overseas in Australia, England and the Republic of Ireland.
Fourteen of the players selected were part of the squad that won the 2025 OFC U-16 Men’s Championship, the qualifying tournament for the FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup.
“It is really important to give players the opportunity to test themselves in competitive international games ahead of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, so this tournament is the perfect preparation,” Bullock said.
“The majority of the group already know each other well from the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship campaign last year, but this tournament gives us even more opportunity to build on those relationships on and off the pitch, as well as introduce some new players, ahead of naming our squad for the World Cup in just over a month’s time.”
New Zealand squad
Tomas Blackhall — Melville United / Hamilton Boys’ High School, New Zealand
Luke Carter — Western Springs / Avondale College, New Zealand
Zach Ashmore — Wellington Phoenix / Scots College, New Zealand
Grayson Cattle — Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Jack Clegg — Wellington Phoenix / New Zealand Performance Academy Aotearoa, New Zealand
Willem des Tombe — Wellington Phoenix / St Patrick’s College, New Zealand
Gethyn Foster — Wellington Phoenix / New Zealand Performance Academy Aotearoa, New Zealand
Cailean Hamilton — Wellington Phoenix / New Zealand Performance Academy Aotearoa, New Zealand
Sean Kane — Auckland FC / St Kentigern, New Zealand
Lachlan MacIntyre — Brentford FC / Elthorne Park High School, England
William Martin — Queensland Lions / Ipswich Grammar School, Australia
Joseph McIntyre — Wellington Phoenix / New Zealand Performance Academy Aotearoa, New Zealand
Matias Nunez — Auckland United / Rutherford College, New Zealand
Cruz Pietersen — Wellington Phoenix / New Zealand Performance Academy Aotearoa, New Zealand
Keigo Shimokawa — Melbourne Victory / Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School, Australia
Zac Thomas — Bohemian FC / Castleknock Community College, Ireland
Ben Trenberth — Wellington Phoenix / New Zealand Performance Academy Aotearoa, New Zealand
Sena Vesty — Christchurch United / Burnside High School, New Zealand
Fixtures
Game to be played on Thursday September 17, 2026
New Zealand v Niigata
Niigata City Athletic Stadium, 3pm (NZT)
Game to be played on Saturday September 19, 2026
New Zealand v Myanmar
Niigata City Athletic Stadium, 6pm (NZT)
Game to be played on Monday September 21, 2026
New Zealand v Japan
Denka Big Swan Stadium, Niigata, 6pm (NZT)
This story was first published on September 1, 2026.