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New York Times
27-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
The future of New Zealand football and an ambitious plan to host the World Cup
The New Zealand team Auckland City began the Club World Cup as the tournament's fall guys, losing 10-0 against the German champions Bayern Munich, but by the end of the group stage, the semi-professional outfit earned respect by holding Boca Juniors to a draw. They did so with their 20-year-old goalkeeper Nathan Garrow, who is a full-time student back home in New Zealand, and their goalscorer Christian Gray, a trainee teacher who said his 'assignments are piling up' in his day job. Advertisement 'It was a fantastic result and testimony to Auckland City's resilience,' Andrew Pragnell, the chief executive of New Zealand's football federation, tells The Athletic. 'We are enormously proud. We've got students, teachers, all sorts of people doing jobs back here in New Zealand playing against a South American powerhouse. It's what we love about football. It can be a great leveller. 'It has been reported as a huge headline across New Zealand. Everyone was across the Bayern result. It would have been easy to have your morale dashed but it did the opposite to this team. They turned around and got tougher. This is a Kiwi trait. When times are tough, we dig deep. 'Bayern are a multi-billion dollar club and we know the value of those players, so some people would say 10-0 was the expected result but no one would have predicted the draw for an 'amateur' team against Boca Juniors. The team can hold their heads high representing the country. I'd hope that the keeper is on the scouting list for a few player agents who watched him in the last couple of games — he is a young lad and showed plenty of potential.' While the Auckland City story turned heads, they do not offer a complete picture of the progress being made within football in New Zealand — or the broader ambitions for the nation over the coming decades. In sport, New Zealand is most famous for the rugby union All Blacks while they also ranked 11th in the overall medals table (including 10 gold medals) at the Paris Olympics last summer, with golds across canoeing, cycling, rowing, athletics, golf and rugby sevens. Football, however, is now the biggest participation sport in the country. In figures reported by the New Zealand Herald, rugby in New Zealand had 155,568 registered players in 2024 but football is up to over 170,000, factoring in those who also play futsal. Advertisement Pragnell says the challenge is to sustain that growth by ensuring there are a sufficient numbers of volunteers, coaches and facilities to meet the demand. Locally, Pragnell says parents have noted the physical impact of rugby on the body, with ever more education about the threat of concussion, while football's accessibility also helps. 'There's also the impact of the global game,' he continues. 'When I was a kid, you got little clips of the Premier League, almost in black and white, but you couldn't follow the game. These days, kids get everything on social media. These clubs have huge marketing budgets and appeal, and we see some of our young kids putting on football tops rather than All Blacks tops.' There is collaboration with the All Blacks, including exchanges with coaches and performance experts. 'They have done great things in terms of environment and standards, and the reason they've been world champions is because they're able to instil a powerful culture, so there are shared learnings.' In 2023, New Zealand co-hosted the Women's World Cup with Australia and 42,137 fans watched New Zealand defeat Norway in their opening match at Eden Park, while similar numbers turned out to watch the US. women's national team play Vietnam and Portugal in the group stages. Crowds of over 43,000 attended games held at Eden Park in the round of 16, the quarter-final and the semi-final. The men's team has already qualified for the World Cup in 2026, meaning a third appearance at a men's World Cup for a nation of just over five million people. They are yet to win a game at the competition but in 2010, they drew all three matches of the group stages — meaning they were the only unbeaten team at the tournament — but they did not qualify for the knockout stages. Their most famous name is 33-year-old forward Chris Wood, who hit 20 Premier League goals for Nottingham Forest last season, and Forest have two other New Zealand national team players on their books in Marko Stamenic and Tylwr Bindon, who spent 2024-25 loaned out to Olympiacos and Reading respsectively. Others are now playing in Italy, the Netherlands, Scandinavia and in MLS. Advertisement Signs of progress were underlined by this month's friendly win over Ivory Coast, the reigning AFCON champions, while they also drew with the USMNT last year. New Zealand are ranked 86th in the world by FIFA, between Bulgaria and Angola, while the women are ranked 33rd, between Argentina and Serbia. Pragnell has also registered New Zealand's interest in being a co-host for the men's World Cup in 2038. The locations for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups are already locked in, and FIFA's unusual choices for those two tournaments has opened the door. Under FIFA's confederation rotation principle, two tournaments need to pass by before a single confederation is able to host a World Cup again. In 2030, three confederations are hosting the World Cup because FIFA has split the tournament between South America, Africa and Europe, playing games in Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, Morocco, Spain and Portugal. Then, in 2034, the Asian confederation has the tournament in Saudi Arabia. This rules out those four confederations, which leaves only Concacaf and Oceania as potential destinations for 2038. Unless FIFA alter their policies, New Zealand would not be able to partner with Australia, because the Australian federation is part of the Asian confederation, which is why Pragnell is open to partnering with the United States in a trans-pacific tournament that, hypothetically, could also involve Hawaii and Fiji if stadium plans come to fruition by then. Prganell says New Zealand have the stadium capacity to host some group games and early knockout games – meaning partnership is key. 'You could argue we could partner with anyone based on the 2030 model,' he says. 'But geographically, New Zealand looks two ways frequently in economic discussions — either as part of Asia or part of the wider Asia-Pacific region, so you look across to the west coast of the Americas.' He added: 'Everyone wants something different. The idea may be that we're gonna look at this ocean, the Pacific, and that we could host it across that. The Paris Olympics (in 2024) held the surfing in Tahiti, right? People want different things. They are looking for a different experience and the idea of holding this across the ocean (appeals).' As for the club game, Auckland City are unlikely to be seen again at the Club World Cup because Oceania is changing its formula for teams to qualify for the next edition. They qualified for this tournament because they have won the past four Oceania Champions League trophies but the best teams in New Zealand do not play in that tournament. Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC (a different team to Auckland City) are professional sides who compete in the Australian A-League, but the Australian teams fall under the Asian confederation. Advertisement Oceania's new system will see the launch of the Oceania Pro League in 2026 and both Wellington and Auckland FC — but not Auckland City — have registered their interest in competing in the competition. Pragnell says: 'Auckland City have opted to not pursue that, so they're not currently in the mix. Oceania Football are going through the assessment phase and they're due to make a decision around September this year as to how many clubs from each country and region will be represented. It will ensure there's a professional competition for the whole region beyond the A-League and whoever's competing in that will then be competing in future editions of the Club World Cup. 'Oceania have put it out there that they're interested in having an Australian club in this Pro League, as it might open up some commercial interest in the league, bu t what they have been very clear about is that an Australian Club could not use the Pro League as a pathway to the Club World Cup. Those spots available for future Club World Cups are reserved for Oceania teams.' Auckland FC are owned by the billionaire Bill Foley, who also owns Premier League club AFC Bournemouth, French Ligue 1 side Lorient and Scottish Premier League team Hibernian. In the U.S., he is best known as the man who had the idea to launch a NHL team — the Vegas Golden Knights — in the Nevada desert. Auckland FC, founded only in 2024, averaged just over 18,000 per game in their first season: higher than any other team in the A-League. Their ownership, which partnered with Hollywood actor Michael B. Jordan as well as former All Black Ali Williams, AllBirds footwear billionaire Tim Brown and ex-NBA centre Steven Adams, makes it likely that we will see them sooner rather than later at a Club World Cup. Elsewhere in the capital, Auckland City FC players return home, back into their day jobs after requesting annual leave to fulfil their semi-professional obligations as footballers. According to Opta Sports power rankings, they are the 4,715th best team in the world and Boca Juniors are ranked 131st, underlining the achievement. Auckland FC are ranked 740th, which highlights how we saw the best of New Zealand spirit but not necessarily quality during this tournament. Within the Club World Cup, the next-lowest ranked team after Auckland City are Al-Ain of the UAE, and they are 637th. Auckland City earned $3.58m USD for their participation in the tournament, in addition to a $1m bonus from FIFA for the draw against Boca. Just under $1m of this is immediately taken out by the costs of the competition, as FIFA cover lodging but not travel or pre-tournament camps. Pragnell also points out that tax may be pretty hefty, with obligations in both New Zealand and the United States accounting for around 35 per cent of the earnings, while there may be some individual taxes to consider too. Advertisement There has been some tensions over the earnings but what remains is likely to be divided between players, coaches, local community projects and the federation to redistribute towards the development of football in New Zealand. The nation will be hoping the best is yet to come.
Qatar Tribune
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Benfica pip Bayern to top spot as Auckland break duck at CWC
PAMedia/dpa New York Andreas Schjelderup's goal saw Benfica shock Bayern Munich 1-0 to top Group C in the Club World Cup. The Norwegian's finish into the bottom left corner in the 13th minute saw the Portuguese club topple the Bundesliga champions, with both sides still qualifying for the knockouts. Benfica's victory means that they will face either Chelsea or ES Tunis, with Bayern taking on Flamengo. Boca Juniors and Auckland exited the competition following a 1-1 draw which had to be paused due to lightning. After Nathan Garrow's own goal gave Boca the lead, Christian Gray's leveller in the 52nd minute brought Auckland's first goal of the tournament. It earned them a point as, shortly after lightning paused proceedings, Boca had a goal disallowed by VAR. Liam Delap scored his first Chelsea goal as the Blues reached the last 16 of the Club World Cup with a 3-0 win over Esperance Tunis. The former Ipswich forward struck just moments after defender Tosin Adarabioyo had opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time of their final Group D game in Philadelphia. Tyrique George scored a third in time added on at the end of the game after Chelsea had a penalty awarded for handball overturned by VAR. The result means the Londoners will now face Benfica - surprise winners of Group C, ahead of Bayern Munich - in the next round in Charlotte on Saturday. Wallace Yan's 86th-minute equaliser lifted Flamengo to a 1-1 draw with the already eliminated Los Angeles FC in Orlando. Neither side was able to impact the scoreboard until the dying stages of the Group D clash, when Denis Bouanga scored LAFC's first goal of the tournament in the 84th minute.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
New Zealanders hail Auckland City as "heroic" and "remarkable" after famous draw with Boca Juniors
Auckland City's Christian Gray, center, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal with teammates during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Johnnie Izquierdo) Auckland City's Nathan Garrow, right, and Auckland City's Jerson Lagos celebrate after the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Auckland City's Christian Gray, second right, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal with teammates during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Johnnie Izquierdo) Auckland City's Adam Mitchell, left, and Jerson Lagos celebrate after the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Auckland City's Christian Gray, center left, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Auckland City's Christian Gray, center left, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Auckland City's Christian Gray, center, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal with teammates during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Johnnie Izquierdo) Auckland City's Nathan Garrow, right, and Auckland City's Jerson Lagos celebrate after the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Auckland City's Christian Gray, second right, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal with teammates during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Johnnie Izquierdo) Auckland City's Adam Mitchell, left, and Jerson Lagos celebrate after the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Auckland City's Christian Gray, center left, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — It might not have been the shot heard around the world but it was a goal that reverbrated 13,000 kilometers (8,000 miles) away when Auckland City FC scored Tuesday to draw 1-1 with Boca Juniors at the FIFA Club World Cup. Christian Gray, a trainee teacher at Mt. Roskill Intermediate School in Auckland, rose to meet the corner of Jerson Lagos, a barber, and headed in the equalizer as the mostly-amateur team from New Zealand held Diego Maradona's fasmous old Argentine club to a draw. Advertisement Auckland lost 10-0 to Bayern Munich and 6-0 to Benfica in its first two matches, leading to questions over FIFA's decision to allow a team of part-timers from Oceania, it's smallest confederation, to compete with the professional superstars of world soccer. Even Auckland City's local paper, the New Zealand Herald, joined the critics, suggesting the team had 'damaged Auckland City FC's proud 20-year legacy' in FIFA events. 'It's been a trying few weeks,' the Herald reported after two defeats. 'In the past, Auckland City have been renowned for punching above their weight on the global stage, while usually having a couple of outstanding individuals. That hasn't quite been the case here.' But Auckland City left its best to last, producing an outstanding performance to the satisfaction of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who was among the crowd at the match in Nashville. Advertisement 'It's been a tough trip, you know, we've had some tough results but just happy for the team,' Gray said. 'I think we deserve it. We got a little bit of respect back I hope. 'We rely on volunteers, we don't have a lot of money so I'm just happy that they're happy.' The New Zealand media hasn't paid close attention to the Club World Cup, mostly focused on the end of the Super Rugby competition. Soccer takes a back seat in rugby-mad New Zealand. But this result got prominant coverage. Radio New Zealand described the draw with Boca Juniors as 'stunning.' 'Thanks to Gray's heroics and some incredibly committed defense, Auckland City managed to pull off a result that will reverberate strongly around the football world,' RNZ said. Advertisement The New Zealand Herald branded it 'remarkable' and 'famous.' 'The squad of real estate agents, teachers, sales reps, tradesmen and students would have hoped they could make a mark on the world stage while knowing it was probably impossible,' the newspaper wrote. 'But they have done it — against massive odds. 'Anyone around the football world coming across this result will be rubbing their eyes in disbelief. But it's true. It's all true.' The Herald said Auckland City 'will leave the tournament on a bit of a high, knowing that the painful journey has been worthwhile.' A leading local news website, Stuff, said Auckland City 'were rank outsiders against one of South America's most famous institutions." Advertisement 'Most of their team is comprised of amateur players who will be returning to their regular jobs at home. But they went toe to toe against one of South America's largest professional clubs that was home to Argentine icon Diego Maradona.' Television New Zealand said Auckland City had been 'humiliated' in its first two matches at the World Cup but their performance on Tuesday was 'heroic.' It's unlikely a story of the same magnitude will be written in future. From now on Oceania — which includes the likes of New Zealand, Fiji and the Solomon Islands — will be represented by a professional team. ___ AP soccer:
News.com.au
25-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Amateurs Auckland City hold Boca Juniors to Club World Cup draw
Amateur side Auckland City earned the greatest result in the team's history with a 1-1 draw against Boca Juniors at the Club World Cup on Tuesday. The already-eliminated New Zealanders fought off the Argentine powerhouses, who entered the game with hopes of advancing if they won, although as Benfica beat Bayern Munich in the other Group C match, Boca would also have been ousted anyway. Auckland goalkeeper Nathan Garrow's own goal sent Boca ahead but Christian Gray equalised with a header in the second half to earn his team a remarkable point. After a weather delay, Boca kept pushing and racked up 40 shots but could not find a way past Garrow, who made up for his first half misfortune with several good saves. Auckland, who were crushed 10-0 by German giants Bayern in their first game and 6-0 by Benfica in the second, set up to defend with five at the back and it paid off. "It's been a tough trip, we've had some tough results but I'm just happy for the team and the boys, I think we deserve it, we got a little bit of respect back I hope," Auckland goalscorer Gray told DAZN. "We rely on volunteers, we don't have a lot of money, so I'm just happy that (everyone) is happy... "It's been a long four years to be honest, building up to this... (I'm) a little bit lost for words." As amateurs Auckland City players have regular jobs, with Gray working as a teacher. "I've got a few assignments that have piled up over the last month, so that's what I'll be going back to, and the school holidays thankfully," he added. Boca controlled the game but were slow in their build up and struggled to break down the New Zealanders' back-line, with 38-year-old veteran striker Edinson Cavani kept quiet. The minnows had the first chance of the game, with Regont Murati forcing a save from Agustin Marchesin from the edge of the box. Boca took the lead after 26 minutes when Lautaro Di Lollo's header from a corner hit the post and was palmed into his own net by Garrow. Boca twice came close to doubling their lead before the break, with Carlos Palacios whipping a shot from distance against the crossbar. Then, Miguel Merentiel's header hit the woodwork as well. Auckland, the only amateur side in the competition, scored their first goal of the tournament to level after 52 minutes. Defender Gray shook off his marker and headed home from Jerson Lagos' corner. - Another weather delay - The game was soon suspended because of a weather warning, the fifth at the tournament, and resumed around 50 minutes later. Boca fans have been some of the most fervent at the tournament and many refused to head inside despite repeated requests from the stadium announcer, preferring to chant in the stands during the storm delay. By the time the match restarted, without a drop of rain having fallen at Geodis Park, Benfica had beaten Bayern, leaving Boca no chance of progress to the knock-out rounds. Merentiel struck quickly for Boca but the goal was disallowed for a handball in the build-up. Garrow made a fine save from Malcom Braida's dipping header as Auckland tried to cling on for a point against one of the giants of world football. The goalkeeper pulled off another good stop from Kevin Zanon's curling effort from range as the clock ran down. Boca rained in shots as they desperately attempted to avoid an embarrassing draw but Garrow beat away a Palacios drive and the New Zealanders celebrated wildly as the final whistle blew.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Amateurs Auckland City hold Boca Juniors to Club World Cup draw
Amateur side Auckland City earned the greatest result in the team's history with a 1-1 draw against Boca Juniors at the Club World Cup on Tuesday. The already-eliminated New Zealanders fought off the Argentine powerhouses, who entered the game with hopes of advancing if they won, although as Benfica beat Bayern Munich in the other Group C match, Boca would also have been ousted anyway. Auckland goalkeeper Nathan Garrow's own goal sent Boca ahead but Christian Gray equalised with a header in the second half to earn his team a remarkable point. After a weather delay, Boca kept pushing and racked up 40 shots but could not find a way past Garrow, who made up for his first half misfortune with several good saves. Auckland, who were crushed 10-0 by German giants Bayern in their first game and 6-0 by Benfica in the second, set up to defend with five at the back and it paid off. "It's been a tough trip, we've had some tough results but I'm just happy for the team and the boys, I think we deserve it, we got a little bit of respect back I hope," Auckland goalscorer Gray told DAZN. "We rely on volunteers, we don't have a lot of money, so I'm just happy that (everyone) is happy... "It's been a long four years to be honest, building up to this... (I'm) a little bit lost for words." As amateurs Auckland City players have regular jobs, with Gray working as a teacher. "I've got a few assignments that have piled up over the last month, so that's what I'll be going back to, and the school holidays thankfully," he added. Boca controlled the game but were slow in their build up and struggled to break down the New Zealanders' back-line, with 38-year-old veteran striker Edinson Cavani kept quiet. The minnows had the first chance of the game, with Regont Murati forcing a save from Agustin Marchesin from the edge of the box. Boca took the lead after 26 minutes when Lautaro Di Lollo's header from a corner hit the post and was palmed into his own net by Garrow. Boca twice came close to doubling their lead before the break, with Carlos Palacios whipping a shot from distance against the crossbar. Then, Miguel Merentiel's header hit the woodwork as well. Auckland, the only amateur side in the competition, scored their first goal of the tournament to level after 52 minutes. Defender Gray shook off his marker and headed home from Jerson Lagos' corner. - Another weather delay - The game was soon suspended because of a weather warning, the fifth at the tournament, and resumed around 50 minutes later. Boca fans have been some of the most fervent at the tournament and many refused to head inside despite repeated requests from the stadium announcer, preferring to chant in the stands during the storm delay. By the time the match restarted, without a drop of rain having fallen at Geodis Park, Benfica had beaten Bayern, leaving Boca no chance of progress to the knock-out rounds. Merentiel struck quickly for Boca but the goal was disallowed for a handball in the build-up. Garrow made a fine save from Malcom Braida's dipping header as Auckland tried to cling on for a point against one of the giants of world football. The goalkeeper pulled off another good stop from Kevin Zanon's curling effort from range as the clock ran down. Boca rained in shots as they desperately attempted to avoid an embarrassing draw but Garrow beat away a Palacios drive and the New Zealanders celebrated wildly as the final whistle blew. rbs/rcw
