New Zealand U-17 men’s team visit Japan for World Cup preparation

By Warren Olson

New Zealand’s U-17 men will begin an important phase of their FIFA World Cup preparations when they open a three-match tournament in Japan.

Head coach Martin Bullock’s 18-player squad will face hosts Niigata, Myanmar and Japan at the International Youth Soccer Tournament in Niigata.

The tournament provides New Zealand with competitive international football two months before the FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup in Qatar.

The squad prepared for Japan with two matches between academy teams from Wellington Phoenix and Auckland United at the NZCIS facility in Trentham last weekend.

Nine members of the Japan-bound squad featured for Wellington Phoenix, with players’ minutes managed because of the short turnaround before Thursday’s opener.

Wellington won the first match 1-0 through a Ben Trenberth goal before taking the second 2-1 after trailing at half-time.

Joseph McIntyre scored twice after coming on for the second half, including the winner from a free kick.

Goalkeeping coach Alex Brittan welcomed the demanding preparation, telling Friends of Football the players needed exposure to greater intensity.

“The intense trainings and stiff competition for spots in a squad are far more demanding in many of the strong footballing nations than what our boys are used to,” Brittan said.

Main photo: Action from the match between the academies of Wellington Phoenix (yellow strip) and Auckland United (blue). Photo credit: Warren Olson.

New Zealand open against Niigata at 3pm (NZT) on Thursday, followed by Myanmar at 6pm on Saturday.

Their final match is against Japan at Niigata’s Denka Big Swan Stadium at 6pm on Monday.

Bullock will use the tour to help assess his options before selecting his World Cup squad.

New Zealand have been drawn in Group G in Qatar alongside Belgium, Mali and Vietnam.

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

Fourteen members of the travelling squad helped New Zealand win last year’s OFC U-16 Men’s Championship, securing qualification for the 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,” 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.”

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)

Warren Olson

Warren Olson is a Wellington-based enthusiast for and long-time follower of the women’s game, and covers futsal and age-group football.

This story was first published on September 17, 2026.

More football stories