Teenage striker Stipe Ukich says he was “buzzing” when he received the call confirming his first selection for the All Whites.
Auckland-born Ukich (19) has joined head coach Darren Bazeley’s squad for four internationals against Palestine, China PR, Panama and either Japan or Ecuador.
“When I got the call from the coach, I was buzzing,” Ukich said in a video interview released by NZ Football.
“I was just in my room, just relaxing, and then you get a call, and it’s a good feeling.
“The squad’s a good bunch of guys. They’re very welcoming. Of course, they’re all much older than me, but I’m getting used to it.”
Ukich hopes the demanding four-match schedule will give him a chance to make his senior international debut.
“Hopefully, I’ll get some minutes this tour. We’ve got four games. All four games are pretty short in between, so we don’t have much rest.”
Ukich has broken into the first team at Croatian top-flight club Istra 1961 this season, becoming the first New Zealander to play in the HNL.
The former Central United and Auckland City forward also scored his first senior goal for Istra in their Croatian Cup win against Zagorec Krapina.
READ MORE: Young Kiwi striker Stipe Ukich making his mark in Croatian football >>>>
Ukich has previously represented New Zealand at U-17 and U-20 level.
Making his All Whites debut, he said, would “mean a lot for everybody back home who’s watching me in Croatia, also my family.”
READ MORE: Four match-ups await All Whites in FIFA’s mega international window >>>>
New Zealand squad
Player / caps/goals / club
Lachlan Bayliss (4/0) – Auckland FC, New Zealand
Tyler Bindon (28/3) – Charlton Athletic (loan), England
Moses Dyer (11/1) – Phnom Penh Crown, Cambodia
Callan Elliot (12/0) – Auckland FC, New Zealand*
Henry Gray (0/0) – Wellington Phoenix (loan), New Zealand
Dane Ingham (14/1) – Sabah, Malaysia
Eli Just (47/12) – Swansea City, Wales
Callum McCowatt (35/4) – AGF, Denmark
Ben Old (27/2) – Saint-Étienne, France
Owen Parker-Price (3/0) – Örgryte, Sweden
Alex Paulsen (8 caps/ 0 goals) – Motherwell (loan), Scotland
Jesse Randall (14/2) – Dundee United, Scotland
Logan Rogerson (18/2) – Auckland FC, New Zealand
Alex Rufer (25/0) – Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Marko Stamenić (42/3) – Swansea City, Wales
George Stanger (0/0) – Kilmarnock, Scotland
Finn Surman (22/2) – Portland Timbers, United States**
Sam Sutton (5/0) – Perth Glory, Australia
Bill Tuiloma (47/4) – Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand***
Stipe Ukich (debut) – NK Istra 1961, Croatia
Ben Waine (31/9) – Port Vale, England
Dalton Wilkins (3/0) – Sønderjyske, Denmark
Chris Wood (93/45) – Nottingham Forest, England**
Michael Woud (6/0) – Auckland FC, New Zealand
*Available for matches against Palestine and China PR
** Not available for matches against Palestine and China PR
*** Injury replacement
Withdrawn
Nando Pijnaker (25/0) – Auckland FC, New Zealand (injury)
Fixtures
Game to be played on Thursday September 24, 2026
New Zealand v Palestine
Longxing Long Stadium, Chongqing, China, 9.30pm (NZT)
READ MORE: Live stream unavailable for All Whites’ match against Palestine >>>>
Game to be played on Monday September 28, 2026
New Zealand v China PR
Longxing Football Stadium, Chongqing, China, 12.35am (NZT)
Games to be played on Thursday October 1, 2026 (NZT)
Match 1
New Zealand v Panama
Yokohama International Stadium, Yokohama, Japan, kick-off 7.10pm
Match 2
Japan v Ecuador
Yokohama International Stadium, Yokohama, Japan, kick-off tbc
Games to be played on Monday October 5, 2026 (NZT)
Play-off for third
Losers match 1 v losers match 2
National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan, kick-off tbc
Final
Winners match 1 v winners match 2
National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan, kick-off tbc
Game to be played on Thursday November 12, 2026
New Zealand v India
Go Media Stadium, Mt Smart, 7pm
READ MORE: All Whites to play two-match series against India in Auckland and Christchurch >>>>
Game to be played on Sunday November 15, 2026
New Zealand v India
One New Zealand Stadium, Christchurch, 4pm
This story was first published on September 24, 2026.