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FIFA World Cup guideAll Whites out to end 16 years of hurt at World Cup
Anna Harrington, AAP •  June 15th, 2026 5:51 pm
Chris Wood | Photo: Photosport
New Zealand may not be the story everyone is talking about when they face Iran in their World Cup opener.
But make no mistake, the Kiwis are ready to vanquish 16 years of hurt.
Bar Tim Payne's bizarre rise to social media fame, the Kiwis have flown well under the radar compared to Iran, who have dealt with setback after setback on their way to the World Cup.
New Zealand haven't made it to football's biggest stage since 2010, when they famously went unbeaten in the group stage but fell desperately short of reaching the knockouts.
"It's excitement, it's a joy to be back here and we're looking forward to the challenge we have ahead," striker Chris Wood said on Monday (NZ time) ahead of the game in Los Angeles.
Michael Boxall wants the Kiwis to prove a point | Photo: AP
"The biggest thing for us will be the occasion and how the players deal with it.
"Until you play on a proper big stage or a World Cup game, you don't really know what it's like.
"That'll be the big thing - how the boys can overcome that and still apply their football ability and show the world what we can actually do as individuals and as a team.
"So I think we'll be focusing on just calming the boys, keeping them ready and keeping them positive to play their own game."
New Zealand fell desperately short of qualification in 2022, losing to Costa Rica in the intercontinental playoff.
Veteran defender Michael Boxall, 37, is ready for New Zealand's return.
"Personally, I think it's an opportunity to show how far this group has come," Boxall said in a FIFA interview.
"The younger guys in this team who narrowly missed out on the 2022 World Cup were pretty heartbroken about that.
"So now we're on the stage and (can) allow them to have the stage to prove how good they are."
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A-League Men stalwart Kosta Barbarouses, 36, was among those to miss out in 2010 but has made the cut this time around and is motivated to show his young kids what he can do on the big stage.
"I feel like the past six years, they've reinvigorated me and helped me on," Barbarouses said.
Barbarouses expected Iran to be fast out of the blocks and urged his teammates to match that intensity.
Coach Darren Bazeley and Wood were understandably peppered with questions about Iran in their pre-match press conference.
Bazeley insisted the All Whites had treated it as a big game, but because it was a World Cup game, not because of the Iran factor.
Nottingham Forest star Wood added: "I'm the same - all we can focus on is the football.
"Once you go through the white lines, nothing else matters and that's what we concentrate on and we focus on and what we will be doing."
Matthew Garbett (hamstring) is in doubt for the opening game.
Sport Nation is an official radio broadcaster of FIFA World Cup 2026 this June/July - download the app today on Google Play and the App Store.
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