{"id":488356,"date":"2026-06-21T11:31:11","date_gmt":"2026-06-21T11:31:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/488356\/"},"modified":"2026-06-21T11:31:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-21T11:31:11","slug":"all-whites-fans-trek-to-vancouver-to-get-behind-their-world-cup-heroes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/488356\/","title":{"rendered":"All Whites fans trek to Vancouver to get behind their World Cup heroes"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Shane Goldfinch<\/p>\n

New Zealand fans are turning up in Vancouver to support the All Whites in their second FIFA Men\u2019s World Cup group game, against Egypt on Monday (NZT).<\/p>\n

They\u2019ll get behind their team at the 54,500-capacity BC Place Vancouver, one of two World Cup venues in Canada, who are co-hosting the 48-team tournament with the United States and Mexico.<\/p>\n

Main photo: The venue for Monday\u2019s group match between New Zealand and Egypt. Photo credit: BC Place Vancouver.<\/p>\n

\"\"Becky, Chris and Lukas.<\/p>\n

Making the short journey from the United States, Chris, Becky and Lukas are in town for one reason \u2014 to support the All Whites in their match against Egypt.<\/p>\n

The football-loving family are passionate followers of New Zealand football and have been soaking up the fans zone ahead of the big game.<\/p>\n

Adding a personal contention to the occasion, Lukas was wearing a Charlie Beale South Island United shirt. Charlie is his cousin and Chris\u2019s nephew, making for an extra-special connection to the New Zealand football community.<\/p>\n

The family are also devoted Liverpool supporters and big admirers of Mohamed Salah, so the prospect of seeing Egypt in action was another highlight of their trip.<\/p>\n

Asked about their favourite All Whites players, the answers came quickly: Chris Wood and Finn Surman.<\/p>\n

For Chris, Becky and Lukas, this visit is about more than just football. It\u2019s a chance to support the All Whites, celebrate family connections, and create memories together around the game they love.<\/p>\n

More All Whites supporters have arrived from London including Rob and Jeff, two football tragics who clearly don\u2019t believe in doing things by halves.<\/p>\n

\"\"Jeff (left) and Rob.<\/p>\n

Jeff married a Kiwi, which meant the All Whites naturally became his second national team.<\/p>\n

They both tried their luck first in the NZ Football ticket ballot and came up empty-handed, but like seasoned away-day veterans, they managed to track down tickets through the global sales and will be cheering on the boys at both matches.<\/p>\n

These aren\u2019t fair-weather fans either. Both made the trip to South Africa in 2010 to follow the All Whites who were unbeaten during that FIFA Men\u2019s World Cup, proving that once you\u2019re hooked, there\u2019s no turning back.<\/p>\n

Back home, they\u2019re devoted supporters of Wellington Phoenix and Middlesbrough FC. Rob takes his Boro fandom to another level \u2014 he\u2019s the club fanzine editor and has missed just one Middlesbrough match, home or away, since 1999. Nobody\u2019s quite sure what happened that day, but rumours persist.<\/p>\n

Jeff has also ticked off a football fan\u2019s bucket-list achievement this year by completing the 92 Club, visiting every current English league ground. His reward? More football.<\/p>\n

Their favourite players are Chris Wood and Ben Waine, though given the number of kilometres they\u2019ve travelled following football teams around the world, they\u2019re probably entitled to nominate themselves for the squad.<\/p>\n

Squads<\/p>\n

New Zealand<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Shirt number\/player\/caps\/goals\/club<\/p>\n

Goalkeepers<\/p>\n

1. Max Crocombe (25\/0) Millwall, England
12. Alex Paulsen (6\/0) Lechia Gda\u0144sk, Poland, on loan from Bournemouth, England
22. Michael Woud (6\/0) Auckland FC, New Zealand<\/p>\n

Defenders<\/p>\n

4. Tyler Bindon (26\/1) Nottingham Forest, England
5. Michael Boxall (64\/1) Minnesota United, United States
13. Liberato Cacace (38\/1) Wrexham AFC, Wales
3. Francis de Vries (19\/1) Auckland FC, New Zealand
24. Callan Elliot (12\/0) Auckland FC, New Zealand
2. Tim Payne (53\/3) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
15. Nando Pijnaker (25\/0) Auckland FC, New Zealand
26. Tommy Smith (56\/2) Braintree Town, England
16. Finn Surman (20\/2) Portland Timbers, United States<\/p>\n

Midfielders<\/p>\n

25. Lachlan Bayliss (4\/0) Newcastle Jets, Australia
6. Joe Bell (33\/1) Viking FK, Norway
19. Ben Old (24\/2) Saint-\u00c9tienne, France
14. Alex Rufer (26\/0) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
10. Sarpreet Singh (29\/3) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
8. Marko Stameni\u0107 (40\/3) Swansea City, Wales
23. Ryan Thomas (26\/3) PEC Zwolle, The Netherlands<\/p>\n

Forwards<\/p>\n

17. Kosta Barbarouses (76\/10) Western Sydney Wanderers, Australia
11. Eli Just (45\/11) Motherwell FC, Scotland
20. Callum McCowatt (33\/4) Silkeborg, Denmark
21. Jesse Randall (12\/2) Auckland FC, New Zealand
7. Logan Rogerson (18\/1) Auckland FC, New Zealand
18. Ben Waine (31\/9) Port Vale, England
9. Chris Wood (captain) (91\/45) Nottingham Forest, England<\/p>\n

Head coach
Darren Bazeley<\/p>\n

Withdrawn<\/p>\n

Matt Garbett (38\/5) Peterborough United, England (hamstring injury)<\/p>\n

Egypt<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Goalkeepers
Mohamed El Shenawy \u2014 Al Ahly (Egypt)
Mostafa Shobeir \u2014 Al Ahly (Egypt)
Mohamed Awad \u2014 Zamalek (Egypt)<\/p>\n

Defenders
Mohamed Hany \u2014 Al Ahly (Egypt)
Omar Kamal Abdelwahed \u2014 Al Ahly (Egypt)
Ahmed Ramadan \u2014 Ceramica Cleopatra (Egypt)
Rami Rabia \u2014 Al Ahly (Egypt)
Mohamed Abdelmonem \u2014 OGC Nice (France)
Yasser Ibrahim \u2014 Al Ahly (Egypt)
Ahmed Eid \u2014 Al Masry (Egypt)
Mohamed Hamdy \u2014 Zamalek (Egypt)
Ahmed Nabil Koka \u2014 Al Ahly (Egypt)<\/p>\n

Midfielders
Hamdy Fathy \u2014 Al Wakrah (Qatar)
Marwan Attia \u2014 Al Ahly (Egypt)
Emam Ashour \u2014 Al Ahly (Egypt)
Mohamed Shehata \u2014 Zamalek (Egypt)
Nasser Maher \u2014 Zamalek (Egypt)
Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane \u2014 Ferencv\u00e1ros (Hungary)
Mostafa Fathi \u2014 Pyramids (Egypt)
Mahmoud Hassan \u201cTrezeguet\u201d \u2014 Al Rayyan (Qatar)<\/p>\n

Forwards
Mohamed Salah \u2014 departing Liverpool (England), new club TBC
Omar Marmoush \u2014 Manchester City (England)
Mostafa Mohamed \u2014 Nantes (France)
Ibrahim Adel \u2014 Pyramids (Egypt)
Osama Faisal \u2014 National Bank of Egypt (Egypt)
Ahmed Sayed \u201cZizo\u201d \u2014 Al Ahly (Egypt)<\/p>\n

Head coach
Hossam Hassan (Egypt)<\/p>\n

Fixtures \u2013 FIFA Men\u2019s World Cup<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Game to be played on Monday June 22, 2026 (NZT)<\/p>\n

Egypt v New Zealand
BC Place, Vancouver, 1pm (NZT)<\/p>\n

FIFA Men\u2019s World Cup Group G<\/p>\n

Team
\nP
\nW
\nD
\nL
\nGF
\nGA
\nGD
\nPts<\/p>\n

New Zealand
\n1
\n0
\n1
\n0
\n2
\n2
\n0
\n1<\/p>\n

Iran
\n1
\n0
\n1
\n0
\n2
\n2
\n0
\n1<\/p>\n

Belgium
\n1
\n0
\n1
\n0
\n1
\n1
\n0
\n1<\/p>\n

Egypt
\n1
\n0
\n1
\n0
\n1
\n1
\n0
\n1<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Game to be played on Saturday June 27, 2026 (NZT)<\/p>\n

Belgium v New Zealand
BC Place, Vancouver, 3pm (NZT)<\/p>\n

Shane Goldfinch<\/p>\n

Shane Goldfinch is an avid All Whites fan and is the secretary and a board member of the Canterbury-based supporter group, The Centre Circle.<\/p>\n

This story was published on June 21, 2026<\/p>\n

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