With veteran striker Chris Wood leading from the front, New Zealand head coach Darren Bazeley is confident the All Whites can break new ground on their return to the World Cup next year.
At 18, Wood was the youngest member of New Zealand's last World Cup squad at South Africa in 2010 and may be the oldest on Bazeley's roster at the 2026 finals in North America.
The 33-year-old is showing no signs of slowing down, though, starting Nottingham Forest's Premier League campaign with a double against Brentford after banging in 20 goals last season.
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