The Futsal Whites have made two late changes to their touring squad to play a three-match international series in Vietnam.
Capital Futsal’s Luc Saker has been recalled to the national squad, while Canterbury United Dragons’ Hemi Innes has earned his debut call-up after an impressive Ford Futsal Superleague campaign.
They replace England-based Logan Wisnewski and Southern United’s Oban Hawkins who have been forced to withdraw through injury.
The Futsal Whites will play IR Iran (FIFA rank #7), Morocco (#8), and hosts Vietnam (#38) in Ho Chi Minh City in late March 2024. New Zealand are currently ranked 49th.
The series is an important part of the team’s preparation for their first-ever appearance at a FIFA Futsal World Cup, in Uzbekistan in September.
Main photo: The New Zealand squad heading to Vietnam. Photo credit: NZF Futsal.
New Zealand squad
(Caps/goals)
Rahan Ali (12/14) Moreland Futsal, Australia
Mike Antamanov (12/1) Auckland City FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Stephen Ashby-Peckham (41/17) Auckland City FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Sean Beresford* (0/0) Capital Futsal, Aotearoa New Zealand
Jordi Ditfort (23/13) Bloomsbury Futsal, England
Hamish Grey (12/6) Zambu CFS Pinatar, Spain
Hemi Innes (0/0) Canterbury United Dragons, Aotearoa New Zealand
Dylan Manickum (63/37) Auckland City FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Ethan Martin (12/8) Waikato Rapids, Aotearoa New Zealand
Adam Paulsen (12/5) Auckland City FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Thomas Picken (7/1) Auckland City FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Luc Saker (23/4) Capital Futsal, Aotearoa New Zealand
Casey Sharplin (12/5) Waikato Rapids, Aotearoa New Zealand
Art Twigg (7/3) Auckland City FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Denny Twigg (5/0) Auckland City FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Sam Twigg* (0/0) Auckland City FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
* Indicates a debut Futsal Whites call-up
Withdrawals
Oban Hawkins (20/7) Southern United, Aotearoa New Zealand (injury)
Logan Wisnewski (20/5) Bloomsbury Futsal, England
New Zealand’s opponents
IR Iran and Morocco are among the powerhouses of international futsal, both reaching the quarter-finals at the 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup.
IR Iran have qualified for every FIFA Futsal World Cup since 1992, finishing third at the 2016 edition, and have won the AFC Asian Futsal Cup a record 12 times.
Morocco have won three straight Arab Futsal Cups (2023, 2022, and 2021) as well as the last Futsal Confederations Cup in 2022.
Vietnam are looking to qualify for a third consecutive FIFA Futsal World Cup, with qualifiers taking place following this series, and reached the Round of 16 in 2021.
Fixtures
Game to be played on Thursday March 28, 2024
New Zealand v Vietnam
Lanh Binh Thang Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, 11pm (NZT)
Game to be played on Saturday March 30, 2024
New Zealand v Iran
Lanh Binh Thang Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, 8pm (NZT)
Game to be played on Sunday March 31, 2024
New Zealand v Morocco
Lanh Binh Thang Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, 8pm (NZT)
About the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup
The tournament will be staged in Uzbekistan from September 14 – October 6, 2024.
It will be the 10th Futsal World Cup and 24 teams will participate, including the host nation and New Zealand.
READ MORE: More teams qualify to join Futsal Whites at FIFA Futsal World Cup tournament >>>>
More football stories
