INGLEWOOD, Calif. \u2013 World, meet the new New Zealand.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Making their first FIFA World Cup<\/a> appearance in 16 long years, the Kiwis showed both guts and skill in their opening match of the tournament Monday evening, swapping haymakers with Iran in a pulsating 2-2 draw<\/a> that wowed a feverishly emotional crowd of 70,108 and turned heads around the globe.<\/p>\n With Minnesota United<\/a> veteran Michael Boxall<\/a> and Portland Timbers<\/a> starlet Finn Surman<\/a> anchoring the \u2018All Whites\u2019 defense, the Oceania representatives surprised everyone with their slick passing and comfort on the ball, making light of the 65 places between them and Team Melli in the latest FIFA World Ranking.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a team, we’ve spoken about how we wanted to change how we play a little bit the last three, four years, and I think that was an expansive display of that tonight,\u201d Boxall told MLSsoccer.com in the mixed zone postgame.<\/p>\n \u201cAlthough looking back at it, probably a few things we could do to tighten things up. I think we were probably a little bit more vulnerable than we would have liked, but around that, they\u2019re a quality team.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Our kiwi duo in sync. \ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddff pic.twitter.com\/SKhYq61zz3<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 16, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n The disappointment at allowing Iran to equalize twice was understandable: On their third trip to this tournament, the Kiwis remain in pursuit of their first-ever World Cup victory. Yet it also speaks volumes about the evolution of a program known for years as organized and spirited, yet fundamentally limited against top opposition.<\/p>\n \u201cWe showed the world who we are and who our players are,\u201d said manager Darren Bazeley, a former Colorado Rapids<\/a> assistant coach who has spent much of the past two decades at various levels of the New Zealand national teams system. \u201cI think that may be our best performance ever, or since I’ve been involved with the All Whites, which is a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n Southern California is home to the world\u2019s largest population of Iranians outside of Tehran, fueling a markedly pro-Team Melli crowd buzzing with particular intensity in light of recent geopolitical events. Yet the Kiwis won the possession battle and controlled long periods of the match, knitting together two pretty goals laid on by Nottingham Forest star Chris Wood and finished by Scotland-based winger Elijah Just.<\/p>\n Despite their uniquely difficult buildup to the tournament \u2013 Iran had to relocate their base camp from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico due to visa issues, and were only permitted to spend the night before this match on US soil, with many of their support staff not allowed to enter the United States \u2013 Team Melli were dogged, digging out two big chances in fleeting moments and converting both.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you’re leading twice in a game, you come away with that \u2018what if?\u2019\u201d said Bazeley, \u201cand we’re probably as close as we’ll ever be to winning a game at a World Cup. We couldn’t quite do that today, but we’re in the World Cup. We didn’t lose. Stayed in the game, scored goals and created chances. So, for us, it was a really strong performance I’m really proud of.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought the two center backs were outstanding throughout the game. And they’re in the dressing room there hurting that one moment, five seconds of football, has hurt them.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Finn Surman. \ud83d\udd12 pic.twitter.com\/aE8ySsgO54<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 16, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n One of his side’s top performers, Surman tabbed 76 touches, completed 94 percent of his 54 passes, including one chance created, and made a whopping 16 defensive contributions, winning all of his duels and committing not a single foul.<\/p>\n \u201cThe funny thing about that is we still think we can be better. We know we can be better,\u201d Surman said afterwards. \u201cThere’s a lot of positives from today’s performance, and I think that it’s potentially changed people’s view on us, and what they expect from us.<\/p>\n \u201cI still think that there’s things we need to improve, and of course we’re going to look at that sort of stuff, and take those into the next game, but I do think that overall we can be positive about this performance, and come away knowing that we’ve got a point from a World Cup game.\u201d<\/p>\n It was a dream performance for a dreamed-of occasion.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you’re in the game, you can’t really think too much about what’s going on, on the occasion, and then you’ve got to stay focused,\u201d Surman said afterwards. \u201cThough when we’re singing the national anthem out there, I think that was a moment where I was able to kind of take it all in, and take the moment and realize what an awesome occasion, what a culmination of my life events has brought me to here.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was pretty special.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Michael Boxall becomes the 5th all-time cap holder for New Zealand (equal with Vaughan Coveny) with 64 caps \ud83c\udf93 pic.twitter.com\/Rq55hIr3vm<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 New Zealand Football \ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddff (@NZ_Football) June 16, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Timbers fans watched on from the Rose City in pride, some even lamenting on social media that Surman\u2019s display was so excellent that big clubs overseas will surely come knocking, and eventually spirit away their side\u2019s rock in defense.<\/p>\n Informed of those posts, Surman shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI love being in Portland, mate. Portland showed me so much love, and it’s something that I truly appreciate,\u201d he said. \u201cThey support me so well, and I really feel valued at that club. The fans really make me feel valued, so I love playing for them, representing them at things like this, and yeah, they make me super proud.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s awesome; you know, I got a few photos sent to me of people in Portland supporting, and it means so much to me.\u201d<\/p>\n The All Whites\u2019 Mundial road now takes them to British Columbia, where they’ll face Egypt on Sunday, then Belgium on June 26 at the home of Vancouver Whitecaps FC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \n \n
Rousing performance<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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Surman stands out<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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Road ahead<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n