New Zealand is the only OFC representative at the 2026 World Cup and enters Group G as a clear underdog. But the All Whites, as the team is known, are known for their tenacious performances and intend to savor every moment on the big stage.

Coach Darren Bazeley has named three goalkeepers for the All Whites: Max Crocombe, Alex Paulsen, and Michael Woud. New Zealand is participating in the World Cup for the third time ever—following appearances in 1982 and 2010—and will face Iran, Egypt, and Belgium in Group G.

Crocombe, 32 years old and born in Auckland, is wearing the number one jersey in this tournament and, with 22 international caps, is the most experienced goalkeeper on the New Zealand squad. His path to professional soccer was anything but straightforward: via Oxford United, Carlisle, Salford City, Brisbane Roar, Melbourne Victory, and Grimsby Town, he worked his way step by step into the English Football League. He finally established himself as a solid goalkeeper at Burton Albion over two seasons before moving to Millwall in the Championship on a free transfer in the summer of 2025. There, with 23 appearances and a save percentage of over 75 percent this season, he is delivering his most consistent performances at this level to date.

Crocombe embodies exactly what New Zealand needs as an underdog: composure, reliability, and the ability to rise to the occasion in big moments.

Paulsen, 23, is New Zealand’s most promising young goalkeeper—and the only one in the trio with a Premier League contract. Bournemouth signed him from Wellington in 2024 for around two million euros, immediately loaning him to Auckland FC, where he impressed in the A-League with 14 clean sheets in 28 matches and won the Players' Player of the Season Award. This season, he is on loan to Lechia Gdańsk in the Polish Ekstraklasa. Lechia president Paolo Urfer described him as one of the best U24 goalkeepers in the world when he signed his contract. Injury concerns temporarily slowed his season. For New Zealand, he is the number two and, in the long term, the natural successor in goal.

Woud, 27 years old and 6'5", has had an unusual career path: the Sunderland Academy, Willem II and Almere City in the Netherlands, Kyoto Sanga in Japan, and Auckland FC since 2024. This A-League season, he took over the starting role after Paulsen left for Poland and Auckland’s backup goalkeeper, Oli Sail, was sidelined with a serious injury. His decisive penalty save in the quarterfinal shootout against Melbourne City secured Auckland’s spot in the semifinals. Woud joins as the third goalkeeper with Olympic experience (Tokyo 2020) and a long history with the national team, dating back to the U-17 and U-20 World Cups.