Lachlan Bayliss has been handed a major opportunity to stake his claim for a World Cup spot after being selected for New Zealand’s upcoming home friendlies against Finland and Chile. The 23‑year‑old Newcastle Jets midfielder is the only uncapped player in Darren Bazeley’s 23‑man squad, which is missing captain Chris Wood and several senior defenders due to injury. Bazeley praised Bayliss’ recent form in the A‑League, noting his strong run with league‑leading Newcastle, where he has scored five goals this season.
Bayliss previously represented New Zealand at the Paris Olympics and now steps into a senior group preparing for a demanding World Cup campaign. The All Whites will host Finland on March 27 and Chile three days later at Auckland’s Eden Park. With New Zealand drawn alongside Belgium, Egypt and Iran in Group G for the June–July tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, these matches offer crucial preparation for Bazeley’s squad.