Michael Woud Profile, Stats and Career
Michael Woud is a New Zealand goalkeeper in the All Whites squad for FIFA World Cup 2026. He plays for Auckland FC and has built a career across England, the Netherlands, Japan, and New Zealand. This article covers Michael Woud’s age, club status, stats, market value, salary status, and international record.
Quick Answer
Michael Cornelis Woud is a left-footed New Zealand goalkeeper from Auckland. He plays for Auckland FC, holds six senior caps, and signed with the club in 2024. Public market trackers place him in the EUR200,000 to EUR300,000 range, while verified salary and net worth figures remain unavailable.
Michael Woud Personal Info and Career Details
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Michael Cornelis Woud |
| Date of birth | 16 January 1999 |
| Age | 27 |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| Height | 196 cm / 1.96 m |
| Weight | 89 kg |
| Position | Goalkeeper |
| Preferred foot | Left |
| Current club | Auckland FC |
| Jersey number | 1 |
| Weekly salary | Will be updated soon |
| Estimated net worth | Will be updated soon |
Early Life and Background
Woud was born in Auckland and came through local football before leaving for England as a teenager. Search records on his early pathway place him with Waitakere City and Bay Olympic. Sunderland then moved for him in 2015, so his senior development started overseas.
His background also carried a Dutch link through family heritage. That gave him eligibility beyond New Zealand, yet he kept his international route with the All Whites. Youth tournaments arrived early, and those games shaped his tournament experience long before the 2026 squad call.
Birthplace, family, and youth football journey
Auckland gave Woud his football base, then Europe gave him his first professional test. Sunderland used him in the academy structure from 2015 to 2018. He did not make a senior league appearance there, yet the move put him inside a full-time system at a young age.
Willem II then signed him in 2018, and his pro debut came in the Eredivisie in March 2019. That jump mattered because he had moved from youth football into first-division senior minutes. He kept building through loans and permanent moves after that.
Transfer News and Market Value
Auckland FC announced Woud as one of the club’s first four signings on May 30, 2024. Transfermarkt now lists his contract expiry as June 30, 2027, so his current club position looks stable. He entered the 2026 World Cup period as an active A-League goalkeeper, not as a short-term free agent.
Public market trackers place him in a modest but clear band. Transfermarkt lists Michael Woud at EUR300,000, while FootballTransfers places his estimated transfer value around EUR200,000. Taken together, those platforms put him in the low-to-mid six-figure euro range.
Michael Woud Salary and Net Worth
No verified wage database currently lists Woud’s active Auckland FC salary. Public contract pages confirm his deal window, yet they do not show a trusted weekly figure. His salary will be updated soon.
No reliable public finance source confirms Michael Woud’s net worth either. He has played across several countries, yet no audited personal figure is available. His net worth will be updated soon.
Michael Woud Club Career
Woud’s club career has moved through several football cultures. England gave him academy work, the Netherlands gave him league minutes, Japan added another league system, and Auckland FC brought him back home. That route helps explain why his game now looks mature and calm.
Early clubs and development
Woud left Sunderland for Willem II in July 2018 and made his Eredivisie debut the next season. Almere City then became a key step. He joined on loan in 2020, turned that move permanent in January 2021, and logged 50 league appearances across the loan and full transfer spell.
Kyoto Sanga signed him in January 2022, then sent him on loan to Ventforet Kofu in 2023. Those moves did not bring the same volume of starts, yet they kept him in professional environments. His career never stalled because he kept finding new competitive settings.
Current club and recent form
Auckland FC first used Woud as depth behind Alex Paulsen in 2024-25. The picture changed in 2025-26 because injuries and form opened the starting role again. Auckland’s official player page lists 27 games, 2,391 minutes, 26 starts, and one assist for Woud in the current season.
His strongest late-season moment came in the A-League finals. He saved a penalty in Auckland’s shootout win over Melbourne City, and that performance helped drive the club into the semi-final phase. The injury to Oliver Sail also pushed Woud into heavier match demand during the World Cup build-up.
Michael Woud Stats and Performance
The numbers show a goalkeeper who has had peaks in the Netherlands and a fresh run of starts in Auckland. Verified assist data is only easy to confirm for his current Auckland season, so older assist entries stay marked where public records are thin. League appearances give the clearest cross-country comparison.
| Season | Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Auckland FC | 27 | 0 | 1 |
| 2023 | Ventforet Kofu | 1 | 0 | yet to be confirmed |
| 2021 | Almere City | 29 | 0 | yet to be confirmed |
| 2020-21 | Almere City | 21 | 0 | yet to be confirmed |
| 2018-19 | Willem II | 5 | 0 | yet to be confirmed |
International Career
Woud’s international route started well before his current Auckland run. He played at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup and the 2017 and 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cups. He also featured with the OlyWhites in Tokyo, so tournament football has followed him through each stage.
Caps, goals, and major tournaments
He made his senior New Zealand debut at the 2018 Intercontinental Cup and helped the side beat India 2-1. New Zealand Football listed him on six senior caps when the final World Cup 2026 squad was named on May 14, 2026. That placed him in the same goalkeeper group as Max Crocombe and the wider New Zealand World Cup 2026 squad.
One detail from 2018 still stands out. Dutch youth selectors called Woud toward their under-20 setup, yet he rejected that chance to keep his New Zealand pathway open. That choice settled any doubt over his senior national direction.
| National Team | Caps | Goals | Tournament Involvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand U17 | 9 | 0 | 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup |
| New Zealand U20 | 12 | 0 | 2017 and 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cups |
| New Zealand U23 | 3 | 0 | Tokyo 2020 Olympics |
| New Zealand | 6 | 0 | 2018 Intercontinental Cup debut, FIFA World Cup 2026 squad |
Playing Style and Key Strengths
Woud brings size and reach first. At 1.96 metres, he can cover the upper corners and attack high balls with authority. His left foot also gives a different passing angle, which helps teams play out under pressure.
Position, role, and standout qualities
He plays as a goalkeeper who likes to control his box early. His frame helps on crosses, and his late-season Auckland work showed calm in penalties and second-ball moments. He is not a flashy goalkeeper, yet he often looks settled when the match becomes direct.
Honours and Trophies
| Honour | Team or Body | Season or Year |
|---|---|---|
| A-League Men Premiership | Auckland FC | 2024-25 |
| OFC U-17 Championship | New Zealand U17 | 2015 |
| OFC U-20 Championship | New Zealand U20 | 2016 |
| OFC U-20 Championship Golden Gloves | Individual | 2016 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Michael Woud is 27 years old and he represents New Zealand. He was born in Auckland on January 16, 1999.
He plays for Auckland FC in the 2025-26 season. Transfermarkt lists his contract there through June 30, 2027.
Yes. New Zealand Football named him in the official 26-man squad on May 14, 2026. The same squad release listed him on six senior caps.
He is a left-footed goalkeeper with a strong aerial frame and calm box control. His game leans on reach, handling, and steady distribution rather than constant risk.
No verified public source currently confirms Michael Woud’s active salary or personal net worth. Both figures will be updated soon once a reliable financial source appears.
Conclusion
Michael Woud has taken a long route into New Zealand’s 2026 World Cup squad. Europe shaped his early years, yet Auckland FC has become the club that restored his weekly rhythm. His six senior caps and strong late-season form keep him relevant in the All Whites goalkeeper race.
He does not arrive with the loudest profile, yet his record shows resilience and range. Because of that, he remains a useful name to track beside New Zealand keepers such as Max Crocombe, Alex Paulsen, and Oliver Sail. The next matches will decide how large his 2026 role becomes.