He has been repeatedly written off as too small and skinny, but Elijah Just has now emerged as a World Cup star after his two clinical goals made New Zealand football history. The 26-year-old combined to deadly effect with striker Chris Wood in Monday’s lively 2-2 draw with Iran in Los Angeles. Just gave New […]
New Zealand
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‘The mullahs’ team’: Split loyalties for Iran fans at World Cup
Iran’s World Cup campaign began in Los Angeles in a blaze of goals and controversy Monday, with hundreds protesting against a team they see as stooges for an extremist government in Tehran. A boisterous protest greeted fans arriving at SoFi stadium in Los Angeles, with demonstrators waving the pre-revolutionary flag detested by the leaders of […]
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Iran begin fraught World Cup with 2-2 New Zealand draw
Iran twice battled back for a 2-2 draw with New Zealand on Monday in their frenetic opening match of a World Cup campaign that has been utterly overshadowed by war, politics and protests. The Iranian team’s very presence at the Los Angeles Stadium had long felt uncertain, after months of military conflict between their nation […]
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Kane edges England to underwhelming New Zealand victory
Harry Kane’s 79th international goal edged England to a 1-0 win over New Zealand as the Three Lions’ World Cup preparations got off to an underwhelming start in the Florida heat on Saturday. Kane flicked in Djed Spence’s cross in first half stoppage time as England laboured to victory against a side 81 places below […]
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‘No hiding’ as Haiti thrash New Zealand in pre-World Cup friendly
Coach Darren Bazeley called it “really disappointing” as his New Zealand side suffered a demoralizing 4-0 World Cup warm-up defeat to fellow qualifiers Haiti on Tuesday, in a match delayed by lightning in Florida. It was New Zealand’s heaviest loss in nine years and a rude awakening with a friendly against England next and the […]
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Braintree to City of Angels: NZ veteran’s unlikely World Cup journey
Veteran New Zealand defender Tommy Smith admits there’s only one reason he toiled away all last season in an English football backwater — a ticket to his second World Cup. Smith’s club Braintree Town were relegated to the sixth tier of English football at the end of the season, but the 36-year-old centre-back still earned a […]
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New Zealand World Cup player becomes social media star with influencer help
New Zealand’s World Cup-bound Tim Payne said Friday it was “pretty crazy” to have become the country’s most followed football account after an influencer identified him as the “least known” player in the competition and called for fans to boost his posts. The right-back, who plays his club football for Wellington Phoenix in the A […]
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Salah, Belgian golden generation eye last shot at World Cup glory
Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Belgium stalwarts Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois head into Group G at the 2026 World Cup knowing this summer’s tournament will likely be their last chance for glory on football’s biggest stage. Their respective countries have been drawn together into the same pool, alongside New Zealand and Iran, […]
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Women’s World Cup 2027: How things stand in qualifying
In November, the USA will face El Salvador, the only Concacaf quarterfinalist that has never played in the World Cup, with a ticket to Brazil on the line.
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‘I didn’t feel safe’: Banned Canada coach Bev Priestman explains move to New Zealand
Former Canada women’s coach Bev Priestman said Wednesday she “didn’t feel safe” living in North America following her one-year ban for spying at the Paris Olympics.