New Zealanders become first World Cup mother-son duo

Wed 17 Jun 2026 at 3:51pm

In short:

Tyler and Jenny Bindon are the first mother and son to play in the World Cup.

Tyler Bindon came off the bench for New Zealand in its men's World Cup opener against Iran.

Jenny Bindon played in the 2007 and 2011 women's World Cups.

When Tyler Bindon came off the bench for New Zealand in its men's World Cup opener against Iran, he made a bit of history with his mother.

Jenny Bindon and Tyler are the first mother and son to play in the World Cup.

Jenny, a goalkeeper for New Zealand from 2004-14, played in the women's World Cup in 2007 and 2011, as well as the Olympic Games in 2008 and 2012.

Tyler, 21, is a centre-back who plays in the English Premier League for Nottingham Forest.

He was a late substitute on Tuesday AEST when New Zealand played out a 2-2 draw with Iran.

His parents cheered him from the stands in Inglewood, California.

Both of Tyler's parents are athletes. His father, Grant, was a captain of New Zealand's men's volleyball team.

When Tyler was 12, the Bindon family moved to California because Jenny was named an assistant coach of UCLA's women's team.

Tyler was a product of the Los Angeles FC academy system.

"I find watching him play even more challenging than playing myself," Jenny Bindon posted on social media last year.

"I get more nervous, but he is an absolute joy, an amazing human being."

The All Whites face Egypt on Monday AEST in Vancouver.

More than two dozen fathers and sons have played in the World Cup.

Among them are Claudio Reyna and his son, Gio, who scored for the United States in its 4-1 win over Paraguay on Saturday AEST.

Norway's Erling Haaland is the son of Alf-Inge Haaland, who played in the 1994 World Cup.

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