All Whites navigate new challenges ahead of Fifa World Cup opener against Iran

Ben Old could play forward or back for the All Whites as they chase their first Football World Cup win.

Photo: www.photosport.nz

History, world rankings and the pundits are not in the All Whites' favour for their Football World Cup opener against Iran but the playing group believe they can cause an upset.

In 2010 the All Whites drew their three World Cup group games and in 1982 they lost all three group games but the 2026 squad are confident of starting their campaign on a positive note.

"Of course, everyone would love to start with a win," Ben Old said.

"We know this is a very big match for us, but we know that all we can do is just bring the best version of ourselves.

"I think if we prepare how we're preparing and we execute it; we've got a very good chance of winning this game."

A win on Tuesday would go a long way to helping the All Whites achieve their goal of getting into the new round of 32 at the expanded 48 team tournament.

"We know that there's three games and this first game isn't the be-all and end-all of the tournament, but that's ultimately all we can focus on."

However, amongst all the serious preparations the players are also allowed to soak up the tournament from a fan's perspective temporarily too.

With more than 100 games to played over the five weeks of the World Cup, football fans - including the All Whites players - are spoilt for choice.

Old has been watching World Cups for as long as he can remember and said it was "even crazier now that I'm going to be a part of it".

The 23-year-old had been watching Brazil and Morocco draw in New York on television when he spoke to RNZ.

"I think we've actually watched every single match so far at the World Cup and plan on watching quite a few more."

The 'away' team

The crowd in Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood for the 2026 World Cup Group D football match between USA and Paraguay.

Photo: FREDERIC J. BROWN

Like many football fans Old had seen the atmosphere in the stadiums for this tournament in North America, including where New Zealand will kick off their World Cup.

SoFi Stadium - known as Los Angeles Stadium for the duration of the tournament - in Inglewood, California is the most expensive sports stadium in world when it was built for US$5 billion (NZ$8.5b) in 2020.

It was host to the United States' opening ceremony and the US team's first game of the World Cup.

The 70,000 seat stadium has an 8 percent ticket allocation for All Whites fans who bought their tickets via New Zealand Football's link.

With Los Angeles being home to the largest population of Iranians outside of Iran, Old was aware that most of the people at the 16th game of the tournament would not be barracking for the lowest ranked team at the World Cup.

"It's a difficult thing to prepare for because it's going to be some of the highest pressure matches that we've all been a part of.

"But we've had a lot of international tours leading up to this and we've seemed to be the away team no matter where we've been.

"We played Colombia [in Florida last year] that was full of Colombian fans and I think that's the best way we've been able to prepare for it.

"Obviously, you love to be the home team but we are aware that we're probably not going to have the size of the crowd, but we all love playing in front of heaps of fans."

The build up

The All Whites are facing unprecedented levels of security at their hotel, training venue and especially around the stadium.

The current political climate is part of the reason, but Fifa events are always at a different level of security and procedures than in a normal international window.

Old is among the 24 players in the All Whites squad who had never been to a senior World Cup before and for whom the process is all new.

Only captain Chris Wood and Tommy Smith were there when New Zealand was last at the World Cup in 2010 in South Africa and Old said the playing had been leaning on the elder statesmen for tips on what to expect on game day when it runs differently to an international friendly.

"I think being able to prepare for those 1 percenters is going to be important and could be the difference in matches.

"We're preparing for the unexpected, these are going to be the biggest games that we've ever been a part of and I think it's just something we have to be excited about."

Ben Old playing in the March international against Finland.

Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Photosport.nz

Old has had some bad luck when it comes to experiencing pinnacle tournaments.

He missed the 2024 Paris Olympic Games with an ankle injury and was a travelling reserve for the Tokyo Olympics.

He missed out on the Under-20 World Cup in 2021 which was cancelled due to Covid.

"There's quite a few of us players that haven't been a part of a World Cup at age level for a long time, so we've got faint memories of it, but I think this standard and level is just going to be unlike any of that."

Despite being a part of the biggest Football World Cup ever, Old said the team had "made a point not change our preparation".

"I think that provides a level of stability for us players and staff.

"So although we know it's a big occasion, we're keeping the preparation the same with the videos, with the trainings and we know what works for us and we're just maintaining that."

Old could play forward or back for the All Whites during the World Cup which could make him a difficult scout for opposition teams doing their own preparation.

"I feel like for All Whites I've always been a forward player.

"But, of course, recently at club level I've thrived a lot as a left-back. So I had these conversations with [coach] Darren Bazey very early on because I was worried about how that would impact my World Cup selection.

"But he gave me a lot of good advice with it and he feels like it's just going to help the team.

"If I'm on the pitch or coming off the bench, I'm just providing another role for the team and I feel like in moments like this, players that can be versatile and play different positions, know how to play them, can have a real advantage.

"So who knows where I'm going to end up playing in these games, but I'm ready for multiple positions and I hope I can just help the team wherever I can play."

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