Wellington Phoenix trio Corban Piper, Matthew Sheridan and Nathan Walker have earned their first-ever All Whites call-ups after being named in Darren Bazeley’s squad for November’s two-match series against India.
The three players have been rewarded for their impressive form during the Phoenix’s best-ever start to an A-League Men season, with the club’s strong early-season performances translating into international recognition.
While Sheridan and Walker have previously represented Aotearoa New Zealand at age-group level, the call-up marks Piper’s first taste of international football.
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Wellington Phoenix quartet Bill Tuiloma, James McGarry, Alex Rufer and Henry Gray have also been called up following an excellent start to the season which has seen them keep two clean sheets from Wellington’s opening three games, all of which have been wins.
The squad also contains six Auckland FC players with Lachlan Bayliss, Francis De Vries, Callan Elliott, Nando Pijnaker, Michael Woud and Logan Rogerson all selected.
Western Sydney Wanderers flyer Liam Gillion is also in the squad.
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WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND – OCTOBER 18: Henry Gray of the Phoenix celebrates the win during the round one A-League Men match between Wellington Phoenix and Melbourne Victory at Hnry Stadium, on October 18, 2026, in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND – OCTOBER 25: ruwarms up prior to the round two A-League Men match between Wellington Phoenix and Central Coast Mariners at Hnry Stadium, on October 25, 2026, in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
All Whites head coach Darren Bazeley welcomed the three new faces, highlighting their performances at club level as the driving force behind their selections.
“Firstly I want to congratulate Corban, Matt, and Nathan on their first-ever call ups to the All Whites.
“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.
“I also want to welcome back Matt Garbett who we were all gutted to see miss out on the FIFA World Cup, it is great he is back so quickly as he is an important player for this team now and going forward.
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“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.
“It’s great to be back playing at home here in New Zealand at the end of this big year and I’m looking forward to getting this group together and putting in strong performances against India to finish 2026 on a high.”
The All Whites will conclude their 2026 campaign with two home fixtures against India, beginning at Go Media Stadium in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland on November 12.
The teams will then meet at One New Zealand Stadium in Ōtautahi Christchurch on November 15, marking the first-ever international football match at the venue.
All Whites Squad for India Matches:
Lachlan BAYLISS (7 caps/0 goals) – Auckland FC, New Zealand
Tyler BINDON (32/4) – Charlton Athletic (loan), England
Francis DE VRIES (22/1) – Auckland FC, New Zealand
Callan ELLIOT (16/0) – Auckland FC, New Zealand
Matt GARBETT (38/5) – Peterborough United, England
Liam GILLION (2/0) – Western Sydney Wanderers, Australia
Henry GRAY (1/0) – Wellington Phoenix (loan), New Zealand
Callum MCCOWATT (37/4) – AGF, Denmark
James MCGARRY (7/0) – Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Owen PARKER-PRICE (6/1) – Örgryte, Sweden
Alex PAULSEN (11/0) – Motherwell (loan), Scotland
Nando PIJNAKER (25/0) – Auckland FC, New Zealand
Corban PIPER (debut) – Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Jesse RANDALL (18/3) – Dundee United, Scotland
Logan ROGERSON (22/2) – Auckland FC, New Zealand
Alex RUFER (29/0) – Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Matthew SHERIDAN (debut) – Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Finn SURMAN (22/3) – Portland Timbers, USA
Bill TUILOMA (49/4) – Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Nathan WALKER (debut) – Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Chris WOOD (95/45) – Nottingham Forest, England
Michael WOUD (7/0) – Auckland FC, New Zealand
