{"id":898828,"date":"2026-04-13T12:14:38","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T17:14:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/13\/portlands-finn-surman-dreams-of-world-cup-history-with-new-zealand-mlssoccer-com\/"},"modified":"2026-04-13T12:14:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T17:14:38","slug":"portlands-finn-surman-dreams-of-world-cup-history-with-new-zealand-mlssoccer-com","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/13\/portlands-finn-surman-dreams-of-world-cup-history-with-new-zealand-mlssoccer-com\/","title":{"rendered":"Portland&#8217;s Finn Surman dreams of World Cup history with New Zealand | MLSSoccer.com"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Soccer <\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/players\/finn-surman\/\">Finn Surman<\/a> didn\u2019t grow up playing soccer.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Instead, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/clubs\/portland-timbers\/\">Portland Timbers<\/a> center back began properly playing the beautiful game at the age of 10 \u2013 a few years after New Zealand\u2019s last <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/competitions\/fifa-world-cup\/\">FIFA World Cup<\/a> appearance in 2010 ignited childhood dreams of representing his country on the world\u2019s biggest stage.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt did slowly become more and more of a dream as I got more into football,\u201d Surman told MLSsoccer.com ahead of Saturday&#8217;s test vs. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/clubs\/los-angeles-football-club\/\">LAFC<\/a> (4:45 pm ET | FOX, <a href=\"https:\/\/soc.cr\/3Q4T2MQ\" target=\"_blank\">Apple TV<\/a>). \u201cFingers crossed I go, but I think it&#8217;s going to be a pretty awesome feeling, experience, all of that stuff.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt&#8217;s something that I&#8217;ve worked towards for a long time, and it&#8217;s been one of those goals in the back of my mind throughout football is to get myself into the national team and to represent New Zealand at a World Cup \u2026 To have qualified and now to have the opportunity to go is super exciting and super special for us.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\n                                <iframe data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DKIw3oCCgC8?feature=oembed\" allowfullscreen title=\"From Christchurch to the MLS | Finn Surman's story so far\"><\/iframe>\n                            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><h3><strong>Kiwi secret sauce<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p>From the outside looking in, New Zealand may seem a long shot to reach the World Cup knockout stages as the 85th-ranked side in the FIFA World Rankings, especially compared to Group G opponents Belgium (No. 9), Egypt (No. 29) and Iran (No. 21).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But internally, the All Whites know what they are capable of, aided by their \u201cNo. 8 wire\u201d mentality \u2013 a Kiwi idiom originating from multi-purpose steel wire fencing that represents resourcefulness, ingenuity and hard work.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe don\u2019t look too much into the rankings of the team,\u201d asserted the 22-year-old, who is international teammates with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/clubs\/minnesota-united-fc\/\">Minnesota United FC<\/a> center back <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/players\/michael-boxall\/\">Michael Boxall<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think strengths of ours will come from being Kiwi players, so we&#8217;re super hard-working and willing to fight for each other. We have a really good culture within our group, and I think that does come out on the pitch.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s no surprise to learn what Timbers general manager Ned Grabavoy feels Surman brings to the table.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFinn\u2019s greatest attribute amongst many might be his reliability,&#8221; Grabavoy said. &#8220;He is consistent and dependable both on and off the field with his play and professionalism, regardless of the circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote><p>\u2014 Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TimbersFC\/status\/1908614596472041982?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 5, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><h3><strong>History on the horizon<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p>Surman and his compatriots will look to channel that \u201cNo. 8 wire\u201d mentality to create history this summer as the first New Zealand men\u2019s team to win a World Cup game, following three draws and a group stage exit at their second-ever appearance in 2010.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think that the team in 2010 inspired a lot of people with the results and the performances and the bravery that they played [with],\u201d shared Surman.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNow, we as a team want to show Kiwis and people worldwide that New Zealand football has been improving and growing and just becoming a bigger thing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Surman added: &#8220;We say first Kiwi team to win at the World Cup. I also think first Kiwi men&#8217;s team to get out of the group at the World Cup \u2026 It&#8217;s a challenge, but it&#8217;s something that we&#8217;re all really looking forward to and wanting to embrace and wanting to fight for.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote><p>\u2014 New Zealand Football \ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddff (@NZ_Football) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NZ_Football\/status\/2018086573548400996?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 1, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><h3>Matching up with the world&#8217;s best<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p>That test will be especially demanding for Surman and his fellow defenders, particularly against Belgium and Egypt, where New Zealand will be tasked with containing some of the world&#8217;s most explosive attackers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think they&#8217;re just really exciting challenges. Like you said, they\u2019re some of the best players in the world. Players like [Romelu] Lukaku and [J\u00e9r\u00e9my] Doku and [Kevin] De Bruyne for Belgium. And [for] Egypt, [Omar] Marmoush and [Mohamed] Salah, who are two of the best attackers in the Premier League,\u201d Surman said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think the only way you can look at it is to be excited for it and to embrace the challenge that it is because these guys are some of the best players in the world, and it&#8217;s just an awesome opportunity and awesome honor to be able to play against them and then show yourself what you can do.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Timbers head coach Phil Neville is well aware of the chances that a successful World Cup can provide a young player such as Surman.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe World Cup presents a significant challenge and opportunity for Finn to continue his incredible growth,&#8221; said Neville. &#8220;He\u2019ll be playing against the best players in the best atmospheres in the best occasions, which will really test him in his journey.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Secured by Surman \ud83d\udd12 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Uxar62d6Bo\">pic.twitter.com\/Uxar62d6Bo<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TimbersFC\/status\/1924201708923871737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 18, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><h3><strong>For club and country<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p>For now, Surman\u2019s focus remains at club level, where the Timbers sit joint-bottom in the Western Conference and have conceded 15 goals through six matches.<\/p>\n<p>However, just as he remains confident in the All White\u2019s World Cup chances, Surman believes a turnaround is only a matter of time in Portland. That could arrive as soon as Saturday&#8217;s test vs. Supporters&#8217; Shield-leading LAFC.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe team is hurting a little bit right now, but I think that we are a group that is together,&#8221; Surman posited. &#8220;With new players and us coming together, I think we all believe that we&#8217;re building something good and that we are close.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe&#8217;re getting close to being a really good team and being the team that we can be \u2026 We need to keep going, stick together, and the results will come.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Luckily, some of those same teammates Surman will work with to get Portland back on track have also had similar experiences at the international level, namely veteran Canadian defender <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/players\/kamal-miller\/\">Kamal Miller<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSpeaking to him and hearing how he spoke about [playing at the 2022 World Cup], what a massive moment in his life it was and how much it meant to him,\u201d Surman prefaced.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think that kind of puts in perspective a lot of the time of what a special opportunity and time that we&#8217;re in and making the most of these games that you get to play and this tournament that you get to be involved in.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\n                                <iframe data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0koZGfSc3iE?feature=oembed\" allowfullscreen title=\"The Pathway, presented by Allstate | Finn Surman\"><\/iframe>\n                            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/news\/portland-s-finn-surman-dreams-of-world-cup-history-with-new-zealand\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a>Leigha Antes<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Soccer Finn Surman didn\u2019t grow up playing soccer. Instead, the Portland Timbers center back began properly playing the beautiful game at the age of 10 \u2013 a few years after New Zealand\u2019s last FIFA World Cup appearance in 2010 ignited childhood dreams of representing his country on the world\u2019s biggest stage. \u201cIt did slowly become [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":898829,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[42010,2005,148810],"tags":[134199,148809],"class_list":{"0":"post-898828","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-portlands","8":"category-soccer","9":"category-surman","10":"tag-portlands","11":"tag-surman"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/898828","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=898828"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/898828\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/898829"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=898828"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=898828"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=898828"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}