The pair’s achievement meant that while the All Whites didn’t secure a victory against Iran, they still made history.
Jenny Bindon and Tyler Bindon have made history – both playing in Fifa World Cups.
“We hoped New Zealand would win; we wanted Tyler to do his best, which he did. But it didn’t really hit me until after the match.
“I leaned over the stands and hugged him. He looked at me and said, ‘We did it, Mum.’ That was a pretty cool moment.
“I wasn’t thinking of his achievements. I was just being a mum who wanted her child to do well on the world stage.
“I hope there will be many more mothers and sons representing New Zealand in the years to come”, she told the Herald.
Bindon is best known as a former Football Ferns goalkeeper, earning 77 caps for New Zealand and representing the country at the 2007 and 2011 Women’s World Cups, as well as the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
She has since built an extensive coaching career in New Zealand, the United States, and England, and in 2025 was appointed the assistant coach for the Football Ferns.
The sporty Bindon family: Grant is a former captain of the New Zealand Volleyball team while Tyler and Jenny have now both played in football World Cups.
Bindon’s husband, Grant Bindon – Tyler’s father – is also an elite sportsperson and a former captain of the New Zealand men’s national volleyball team.
Tyler is a centre-back who spent the season playing for Sheffield United on loan from English Premier League side Nottingham Forest.
He came on for the All Whites as a substitute in the last few minutes in Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with Iran.
Tyler Bindon was raised in Auckland and moved to Los Angeles when he was 11 years old.
Former Football Ferns captain Ali Riley took to social media to congratulate the pair. “What makes this so special to me is I played on the national team with Jenny, and I got to watch Tyler grow up,” she said.
“Congrats, Jenny and Tyler, we are so proud of you.”
Tyler was raised in Auckland, playing for East Coast Bays. In 2017, when he was 11, the family moved to Los Angeles.
Bindon worked as the assistant coach for the UCLA women’s soccer team while Tyler played for Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC).
She says the advice she gave her son before his Fifa World Cup appearance was simple.
“We’ve always said whether you play for one minute or 90 minutes, make the most of it. Take on the role and responsibility of whatever your job is on the day, and be a good teammate.
“My husband said to him, ‘Take a moment, breathe and enjoy it because these moments don’t come often. Work hard, do your best and believe.’
“It worked.”
Bindon says her son has been “in training” since he was 3 months old, watching her training when she played football for New Zealand.
She says her son is humble and kind and has a lot of time for people.
According to his mum, Tyler Bindon is a good Kiwi bloke who wants the best for his teammates and himself.
“He’s also a very consistent athlete and a true professional; a good Kiwi bloke who wants the best for his teammates and himself.
“You know, like most boys in football on the global stage, chasing the ball around the world, there are a lot of ups and downs – but this is one of the highs for them, and especially for our family, that Tyler is there. We are very proud of him.”
Tyler currently lives in England, and when he isn’t training, he studies nutrition and finance and is learning Japanese.
“Tyler would like to play for as long as he can, but … football decides when that ends. We are enjoying the moment and don’t take anything for granted.”
Carolyne Meng-Yee is an Auckland-based investigative journalist who won Best Documentary at the Voyager Media Awards. She worked for the Herald on Sunday from 2007 to 2011 and rejoined the Herald in 2016 after working as an award-winning current affairs producer at TVNZ’s 60 Minutes, 20/20 and Sunday.