All Whites · Silver Fern

Following the All Whites Across America

New Zealand's 3rd World Cup — first since 2010 South Africa, after winning the OFC qualification path and then the inter-confederation playoff in March 2026. Drawn into Group G with Iran, Egypt, and Belgium. The route is SoFi LA for the Iran opener, then a cross-border double at BC Place Vancouver for Egypt and Belgium — two-thirds of the group stage in Canada. Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest) at 34 captaining what's almost certainly his last World Cup. Kiwi fans are ESTA-eligible for the US and need a Canadian eTA — both online, fast, cheap. The 25,000+ Kiwi-American diaspora is concentrated in LA (Manhattan Beach), the Bay Area, and NYC; a Vancouver-based Kiwi community of 12,000+ guarantees a fierce home-from-home atmosphere at BC Place.

🇳🇿 New Zealand 🇮🇷 Iran 🇪🇬 Egypt 🇧🇪 Belgium Group G

Group Stage Schedule

One US Match, Two in Canada

All three All Whites group matches are confirmed via FIFA. The route runs LA → Vancouver → Vancouver. LAX → YVR is 3h direct on Air Canada/Alaska/WestJet; the Vancouver double-header means staying put for 5 days. Kiwi fans need an ESTA for the US and a Canadian eTA — both are online forms, both approved within minutes to hours. Two-thirds of New Zealand's group stage is on Canadian soil.

Jun 15Monday

6:00 PM PT
Tue 1:00 PM NZST

New Zealand vs Iran

SoFi Stadium · Inglewood (LA), CA · The opener · Match 17

The opening test — and the only US-soil match. Iran are AFC veterans (7th WC) with a tactically disciplined Carlos Queiroz-era squad. New Zealand's pace and Chris Wood's hold-up play are the obvious threats. SoFi has no rail station — Metro K Line + dedicated WC shuttle bus from 12 regional pickups. Standard $1.75 fare. Allow 3 hours pre-kickoff. Monday evening kickoff = 1 PM Tuesday NZST — perfect for the at-home lunchtime audience.

Los Angeles guide ↗ SoFi transit ↗ LA hotels ↗ LA fan zones ↗

Jun 21Sunday

6:00 PM PT
Mon 1:00 PM NZST

Egypt vs New Zealand

BC Place · Vancouver, BC, CANADA · Cross-border · Match 38

Cross-border — Kiwi fans need a Canadian eTA in addition to the US ESTA. Egypt's Mo Salah-led squad is the heavyweight obstacle in Group G. BC Place is in downtown Vancouver — SkyTrain Stadium-Chinatown station drops you 2 min from the gates ($3.20 fare). Allow 2 hours pre-kickoff. Sunday evening kickoff = 1 PM Monday NZST primetime back home.

Vancouver guide ↗ BC Place transit ↗ BC Place ↗ FIFA match info ↗

Jun 26Friday

8:00 PM PT
Sat 3:00 PM NZST

Belgium vs New Zealand

BC Place · Vancouver, BC, CANADA · The Group G decider · Cross-border

The Group G decider — and a chance for an upset. Belgium's golden generation is post-De Bruyne but still has Doku, Lukaku, and Tielemans. New Zealand have never beaten a top-15 European side at a World Cup. BC Place is in downtown Vancouver — the venue New Zealand will know inside-out by their second match there. Friday evening kickoff = 3 PM Saturday NZST — perfect Saturday-afternoon at-home viewing.

Vancouver guide ↗ BC Place transit ↗ BC Place ↗ FIFA match info ↗

Itinerary

The 14-Day Pacific Coast Loop

From the Iran opener at SoFi to the Belgium decider at BC Place is 12 days, with one short LAX → YVR flight (3h) in the middle. Direct flights AKL → LAX run daily on Air New Zealand (12-13h), making this one of the easier non-Australian routes to North America. Total elapsed home-to-home: ~14 days.

Jun 11
Thu

Tournament opens in Mexico City. Kiwi fans tracking ESTA + eTA approvals — both should be done by now (apply at least 72 hours before travel). Fly out from AKL or WLG via Air New Zealand or United.

Jun 13–14
Sat-Sun

Fly NZ → LAX. Best routes: Air New Zealand AKL → LAX direct (12-13h, $1,500-$2,500 RT in shoulder season — book Premium Economy if budget allows for the leg-stretch). United AKL → SFO, Qantas AKL → SYD → LAX. From WLG/CHC: domestic to AKL first. Crossing the dateline going east means you arrive same-calendar-day you left.

Jun 15
Mon

New Zealand vs Iran · SoFi Stadium · 6 PM PT (1 PM Tue NZST). Take the FREE Metro S11 World Cup shuttle from LAX/Metro Transit Center Bay 8, or Metro K Line + WC shuttle. Allow 3 hours pre-kickoff. Pre-match: Manhattan Beach (Kiwi-American hub) or Hermosa Beach. Post-match: depending on result, Westside or Sunset Strip.

Jun 16–20
Tue-Sat

4-5 days, LA → Vancouver. Fly Alaska/Air Canada/WestJet LAX → YVR (3h, $200-$450 RT, every 60-90 min). Or PCH road trip up through SF, Portland, Seattle, then cross at Peace Arch (20-24 hrs driving). Use the gap for some California sightseeing. Vancouver has a tight Kiwi community concentrated in Kitsilano, North Vancouver, and around the Vancouver Pacific Northwest Soccer scene.

Jun 21
Sun

Egypt vs New Zealand · BC Place · 6 PM PT (1 PM Mon NZST). SkyTrain Expo Line from any downtown station to Stadium-Chinatown. Allow 2 hours pre-kickoff. Pre-match: Gastown or Yaletown. Post-match: depending on result, Granville Street nightlife or quieter Mt. Pleasant.

Jun 22–25
Mon-Thu

4 days in Vancouver. No flying needed between matches — this is the easiest stretch of any team's itinerary. Day trips to Whistler (1.5h drive), Vancouver Island via ferry, or Capilano Suspension Bridge. Catch other group stage matches at fan zones. Vancouver Whitecaps stadium tour for football geeks.

Jun 26
Fri

Belgium vs New Zealand · BC Place · 8 PM PT (3 PM Sat NZST). Same SkyTrain route as Sunday — by now you know it cold. Allow 2 hours pre-kickoff. Pre-match: Robson Street sports venues. Post-match: depending on result, downtown Vancouver or the Drive (Commercial Drive) for the post-match crawl.

Jun 28 / Jul 1
Sun-Wed

If New Zealand advance: Bracket-dependent — likely Bay Area/Seattle/Vancouver for R32. If they go out: Most fans head home via YVR or LAX with Air New Zealand connections. NZ have never won a World Cup match (3 draws across 1982 and 2010); R32 alone would rewrite the record book.

Wood's last shot: Chris Wood turns 34 on Dec 7, 2025 — captain, all-time top scorer (44+ international goals), and the spearhead at Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. The 2010 South Africa WC was the famous "three draws and out" tournament — NZ left undefeated but didn't advance. Coach Darren Bazeley has built around Wood with Marko Stamenić (Sturm Graz), Liberato Cacace (Empoli), Sarpreet Singh, Joe Bell (Viking), Costa Barbarouses. The OFC qualification path was won; the inter-confederation playoff was won; this is a hard-earned tournament.

Supporter Culture & Watch Hubs

The Kiwi-American Network

There are an estimated 25,000-30,000 Kiwi-Americans nationwide, plus another 12,000+ in Vancouver, BC. The largest US concentrations are Los Angeles (Manhattan Beach, Hermosa, Santa Monica), San Francisco Bay Area, and NYC. Smaller but visible communities in Honolulu, Houston (oil & gas), and Salt Lake City (LDS missionary connections). The Kiwi diaspora is small but tight; expect every Kiwi-American showing up for at least one of the three matches.

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LA — Manhattan Beach

Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Santa Monica — the LA South Bay is where Kiwi-Americans cluster. Ye Olde King's Head (Santa Monica), The Cock 'n Bull (Santa Monica), The Oak Room (Hermosa) are British/Kiwi venues that show All Whites matches. Manhattan Beach Brewing hosts unofficial Kiwi expat meetups. The NZ-American Association organizes match-day watches.

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Bay Area, NYC, Vancouver

Bay Area: ~5,000 Kiwis, mostly tech (Marin/Palo Alto). Mad Dog in the Fog (SF Lower Haight) is the long-standing British/Kiwi football venue. NYC: ~4,000 Kiwis, scattered. Vancouver: 12,000+ Kiwis, largest Pacific Northwest hub — The Pint Public House (Yaletown), Bimini Public House (Kitsilano), and The Cambie all show All Whites matches.

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All Whites & supporter culture

"All Whites" — the official nickname, the men's senior team's all-white kit (women are the Football Ferns). The Silver Fern is the heraldic motif on the badge. Pre-match haka is iconic but reserved for major occasions; expect it before the Belgium decider. The supporter group "NZ Football Famous Five" coordinates fan trips. Kiwi fans are reliably good-humored and self-deprecating.

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NZ broadcast in the US

For non-attended matches: Sky Sport NZ holds NZ domestic World Cup rights — accessible in the US via VPN. TVNZ+ FreeView simulcasts free-to-air for selected matches. Telemundo for Spanish, Fox/FS1 for English in the US. LA Kiwi watch venues run Sky Sport NZ via satellite or streaming.

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NZ Football & Auckland trips

NZ Football operates official tournament-ticket allocation through nzfootball.co.nz. The "White Noise" is the unofficial supporter movement at All Whites matches. Expect organized Auckland-Christchurch supporter trips with Silver Fern flags and the all-white tifo. Allow extra time for travel — the Kiwi fan base is small but loyal.

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Time-zone analysis

NZ time is NZST (UTC+12) in the southern winter — 19 hours ahead of LA, 19 hours ahead of Vancouver. Iran match: 1 PM Tuesday NZST (lunchtime). Egypt match: 1 PM Monday NZST (lunchtime). Belgium match: 3 PM Saturday NZST (Saturday afternoon — the dream slot). All three matches in NZ daytime — among the cleanest schedules of any team.

For Kiwi Fans Specifically

The Practical Stuff

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ESTA + Canadian eTA

NZ is in the US Visa Waiver Program — apply for an ESTA online ($21 USD, valid 2 years, approved within 72 hours). For the two Vancouver matches, you also need a Canadian eTA ($7 CAD, valid 5 years, approved within minutes). Both can be done from your laptop — no embassy visits. Full visa guide.

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Phone & data

NZ carriers (Spark, One NZ, 2degrees) charge NZ$10-15/day for US/Canada roaming. An eSIM is much cheaper — Airalo US/Canada combined plans start at $9 USD. eSIM setup guide.

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Currency

NZD/USD rates: NZ$1 ≈ $0.59-0.62 USD. Use Wise, Revolut, or any Visa/Mastercard. Tipping: 18-22% mandatory in US, 10-15% in Canada — different from NZ's near-zero tipping culture. Budget for it.

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Weather

LA in mid-June: 18-26°C, June gloom. Vancouver: 14-22°C, occasional rain. Both warmer than NZ's southern winter (5-15°C). Pack a light layer for evening matches.

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Routing from NZ

Direct: Air New Zealand AKL → LAX daily (12-13h). Other routes: United AKL → SFO/IAH, Qantas AKL → SYD → LAX, Fiji Airways AKL → NAN → LAX. From WLG/CHC: domestic to AKL first. Air NZ Skycouch is the cheapest way to lie flat on the long leg.

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Plugs

NZ uses Type I (3-pin angled) plugs; the US/Canada use Type A/B (2-pin flat). Bring an adapter. Voltage: US/Canada 120V, NZ 230V — most modern devices (laptops, phones) handle both, but check hair tools and shavers.