New Delhi, May 14 -- Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood has been selected to lead New Zealand's 26-strong World Cup squad despite an injury-disrupted season in the Premier League.

Wood and 36-year-old defender Tommy Smith, who has been recalled from England's fifth-tier National League to join the All Whites squad for the first time since late 2024, will become the first New Zealand men to play at two soccer World Cups. Both were part of the New Zealand squad for the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

As skipper, Wood follows Steve Sumner, who captained New Zealand to the World Cup in Spain in 1982, and Ryan Nelsen, who led the team in 2010.

The New Zealand squad was announced Thursday by coach Darren Bazeley in Auckland. Bazeley said ...