The All Whites will have rare football internationals against India late this year, with matches scheduled for Auckland and Christchurch.
The matches will be at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium on Thursday, 12 November, and at Christchurch's Te Kaha Stadium on Sunday, 15 November.
The games were announced by Sport Minister Mark Mitchell as part of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to New Zealand.
New Zealand Football CEO Andrew Pragnell joined Piney to discuss further.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Following their FIFA World Cup campaign, the All Whites return
to New Zealand in November. They'll play India in a
two match series in Auckland and christ Church the Auckland
Game Go Media Stadium Thursday the twelfth of November. The
christ Church clash at One New Zealand Stadium at Takaha.
The first ever a football match announced at that new venue.
That's going to be on Sunday, November fifteen. New Zealand
(00:33):
Football CEO Andrew Pragnell's with us. Andrew. First of all,
this is a pretty significant announcement. How pleased are you
to finally confirm not only two home games for the
All Whites but the first ever football match for the
All Whites at One New Zealand Stadium in christ Church.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Obviously it's been a long steted goal to keep bringing
the team home. We've bought them home in March for
the DEFEATA series, but to bring them back again in
a World Cup is amazing. Obviously, Auckland has said it's
share home games, but christ Church is a very very
long and successful football. Three lots of great football heroes
come out of that region. So to be able to
bring the all Whites to the new stadium one indeed,
(01:13):
we're looking forward forward to a packed house.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Yeah absolutely, it's hosted rugby, it's hosted rugby league. Now
football gets its chance. It's a terrific venue. And as
you've just said, you've been wanting to take international football
or whites football to christ Church for a while. What
sort of opportunities does a venue like this create for
football in our country?
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Well, a lot. I think it's great to have a
purpose built rectangular stadium. I think christ It's just going
to benefit for a long time to come from one
indeed stadium, but you know, like being in the city
and you can see it. People are going for the
experience regardless, regardless of the content to a certain extent,
(01:53):
so that's brilliant. But for football, we've got a lot
of lot of aims and goals. But one of those
that we've talked about a lot is to bring a
third A league team to the South Island. You know.
So what I hope is that Church in south Land
fans will pack out the stadium. We'll show what we
can do in the city and then I'll help bring
momentum to that as well.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
And Go Media has quickly become a football venue thanks
to walk on the FC success over their first two seasons.
Was it a pretty obvious choice to take the other
game to Go Media?
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Yeah, I think it is. I think we've obviously alternated
in Auckland between Go Media and Eden Park. Both both
can work, both both have been great hosts for football.
In this instance, though, You're right, Aukand FC's momentum is
shown that Go Media is a really popular venue and
continues to be.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
India might surprise a few people as your opposition. How
did this all come together?
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Yeah, Look, we're we're partnering a bit with the government here.
It's one hundred years of sporting relations with India. You'll
see in the paper of it that the Indian Prime
Minister is in town this weekend. It's a great opportunity.
I think we've got obviously a huge Kiwi Indian Yespara
living living here. They're a big part of our football community,
(03:09):
a big part of a lot of our clubs. So
we're kind of looking, you know, to engage that fan base,
continue to engage all of New Zealand and make sure
that the All Whites as well come home and play
a wide range of teams.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
So these games are in November. You've also mentioned in
the release that September and October fixtures are still to
be announced. Can you give us some sort of sense
of the caliber of opposition you're looking for for those
two windows.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Yeah, yeah, there's a few options on the table there.
It's a new window in that it's a four game window.
Historically the calendar operated a little differently, so we're sort
of working out logistically how much and how many games
we might pick up. We'll definitely minimum we'll be doing
too and will definitely be We've definitely got some top fifty,
(03:58):
potentially top thirty opponents in mind to those.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
So with the All Whites at the recent World Cup,
has that sort of increased interest from others who who
see the All Whites as a as a legitimate worthy opponent.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Now, I think we've definitely got football credibility. We've seen
that over the last few years. Obviously the World Cup performances,
so we can put it with top thirty countries and
so yes, I think it's added it to us to
a certain extent, but actually we've shown that over the
last couple of years with our performance against Ivory Coast Ireland,
(04:31):
Ukraine at the game against Columbia, where you know we're
we're credible opponents against anyone.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
I guess one of the challenges after reaching a World
Cup and having all this exposure for the team over
the last month or so and the game of football
as well as maintaining momentum. So how important did you
feel it was to get the team back home to
keep fans engaged.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Yeah, really important. I think for me it's one of
the most important connections in the game that you know,
the fan on the sideline connecting to the national team
player who quite possibly came from their home club or
came from a club you know New Zealand's. That's more
three degrees of separation where everyone knows someone who knows
someone who's on the team. So I think it's it's
(05:13):
acknowledging and rewarding the fans and also just a quick
shout out to the fans and you would have sent
them over there, but the fans, the Kiwi fans who
represent us at the World Cup, we're sending out of
ten incredible volume we're getting you know, I think we've
moved and matured a lot in terms of our football
(05:33):
fandom in Phoenix about it for a long time, but
we're seeing it through aalkald FC. But the active football
fan based, proper football fans who make noise, who are
fun and engaged. It's one of actually one of the
delights to see in zmers of our maturity as a
football nation. So part of the part of that is
rewarding them as well.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Yeah, and I guess what you'd also say is people
would have watched that on TV, the ones who weren't
fortunate enough to travel, and seen how, you know, how
those traveling fans supported the team and probably thought, look,
give me a bit of that. I'll get along to
these games. So expecting quite big interest in these two
home games in November absolutely.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
Look, we're optimistic whether it will sell them both out
and we're in that active kind of fan base will continue.
You know, going along to a football game is something
that it's not just something you watch, it's something you're
a part of. It's something you engage in. And I
think you know the emergence of that with awkn FC,
and we're seeing it more and more with the all
(06:30):
Whites and white noise and flying Kiwi's is absolutely brilliant
and that's why the kids and families want to get.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Along a little bit of our time. To reflect on
the All Whites World Cup campaign. I know that it
was the stated aim to win games and to get
out of the group. That didn't happen. How do you
reflect on the All Whites twenty twenty six World Cup campaign?
Speaker 3 (06:49):
Yeah, look, it's definitely still on a I'm probably still
going through a bit of grieving there, real mixed emotions,
to be honest. Yeah, we look, we didn't Ultimately we're disappointed,
we didn't achieve Our goals came very very close, and
there'll be a lot of reflections on how close that
could you know, that could have been. But you know,
(07:10):
amongst all of that, there's some immense bride. Obviously, the
playing style that the team delivered, that the staff supported
was incredible. The way in which the players conduct themselves
in the world stage again incredible. The way which we
scored goals. You know, one of the concerns was we
weren't going to score and you know we're ahead in
(07:31):
two of our three group games. You know, arguably we
should have finished those out. I'll close those out. But
and you know, and the emergence of Elijah just who
looked who had looked at home in any team at
this World Cup. You know, that story alone is pretty
incredible and part of this will be where those players
go on to in their club journeys. The other exciting
(07:53):
thing that all key we should be really excited about
is that the majority of that team is young enough
to be there in twenty thirty. So they'll take a
lot from you know, adversity is ultimately what we all need,
and they'll take a lot from some of the university
that they're going through and went through there, and we'll
see them bounce back and do even more in twenty thirty.
One hundred percent certain of that.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Well, look forward to seeing them back on home soil
in November. Two games against India November twelve. Go Media
Auckland November fifteen at the brand new one New Zealand
Stadium in christ Church. Oh, it's good to chat Andrew.
Thanks for taking the time. Thank you very much, Fanny,
Thank you now you take care to Andrew. Thanks indeed, Andrew,
Andrew Pagnell, New Zealand Football CEO there India the Opposition
November twelve and in Auckland November fifteen. In christ Church.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk said B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Following their FIFA World Cup campaign, the All Whites return
to New Zealand in November. They'll play India in a
two match series in Auckland and christ Church the Auckland
Game Go Media Stadium Thursday the twelfth of November. The
christ Church clash at One New Zealand Stadium at Takaha.
The first ever a football match announced at that new venue.
That's going to be on Sunday, November fifteen. New Zealand
(00:33):
Football CEO Andrew Pragnell's with us. Andrew. First of all,
this is a pretty significant announcement. How pleased are you
to finally confirm not only two home games for the
All Whites but the first ever football match for the
All Whites at One New Zealand Stadium in christ Church.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Obviously it's been a long steted goal to keep bringing
the team home. We've bought them home in March for
the DEFEATA series, but to bring them back again in
a World Cup is amazing. Obviously, Auckland has said it's
share home games, but christ Church is a very very
long and successful football. Three lots of great football heroes
come out of that region. So to be able to
bring the all Whites to the new stadium one indeed,
(01:13):
we're looking forward forward to a packed house.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Yeah absolutely, it's hosted rugby, it's hosted rugby league. Now
football gets its chance. It's a terrific venue. And as
you've just said, you've been wanting to take international football
or whites football to christ Church for a while. What
sort of opportunities does a venue like this create for
football in our country?
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Well, a lot. I think it's great to have a
purpose built rectangular stadium. I think christ It's just going
to benefit for a long time to come from one
indeed stadium, but you know, like being in the city
and you can see it. People are going for the
experience regardless, regardless of the content to a certain extent,
(01:53):
so that's brilliant. But for football, we've got a lot
of lot of aims and goals. But one of those
that we've talked about a lot is to bring a
third A league team to the South Island. You know.
So what I hope is that Church in south Land
fans will pack out the stadium. We'll show what we
can do in the city and then I'll help bring
momentum to that as well.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
And Go Media has quickly become a football venue thanks
to walk on the FC success over their first two seasons.
Was it a pretty obvious choice to take the other
game to Go Media?
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Yeah, I think it is. I think we've obviously alternated
in Auckland between Go Media and Eden Park. Both both
can work, both both have been great hosts for football.
In this instance, though, You're right, Aukand FC's momentum is
shown that Go Media is a really popular venue and
continues to be.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
India might surprise a few people as your opposition. How
did this all come together?
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Yeah, Look, we're we're partnering a bit with the government here.
It's one hundred years of sporting relations with India. You'll
see in the paper of it that the Indian Prime
Minister is in town this weekend. It's a great opportunity.
I think we've got obviously a huge Kiwi Indian Yespara
living living here. They're a big part of our football community,
(03:09):
a big part of a lot of our clubs. So
we're kind of looking, you know, to engage that fan base,
continue to engage all of New Zealand and make sure
that the All Whites as well come home and play
a wide range of teams.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
So these games are in November. You've also mentioned in
the release that September and October fixtures are still to
be announced. Can you give us some sort of sense
of the caliber of opposition you're looking for for those
two windows.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Yeah, yeah, there's a few options on the table there.
It's a new window in that it's a four game window.
Historically the calendar operated a little differently, so we're sort
of working out logistically how much and how many games
we might pick up. We'll definitely minimum we'll be doing
too and will definitely be We've definitely got some top fifty,
(03:58):
potentially top thirty opponents in mind to those.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
So with the All Whites at the recent World Cup,
has that sort of increased interest from others who who
see the All Whites as a as a legitimate worthy opponent.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Now, I think we've definitely got football credibility. We've seen
that over the last few years. Obviously the World Cup performances,
so we can put it with top thirty countries and
so yes, I think it's added it to us to
a certain extent, but actually we've shown that over the
last couple of years with our performance against Ivory Coast Ireland,
(04:31):
Ukraine at the game against Columbia, where you know we're
we're credible opponents against anyone.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
I guess one of the challenges after reaching a World
Cup and having all this exposure for the team over
the last month or so and the game of football
as well as maintaining momentum. So how important did you
feel it was to get the team back home to
keep fans engaged.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Yeah, really important. I think for me it's one of
the most important connections in the game that you know,
the fan on the sideline connecting to the national team
player who quite possibly came from their home club or
came from a club you know New Zealand's. That's more
three degrees of separation where everyone knows someone who knows
someone who's on the team. So I think it's it's
(05:13):
acknowledging and rewarding the fans and also just a quick
shout out to the fans and you would have sent
them over there, but the fans, the Kiwi fans who
represent us at the World Cup, we're sending out of
ten incredible volume we're getting you know, I think we've
moved and matured a lot in terms of our football
(05:33):
fandom in Phoenix about it for a long time, but
we're seeing it through aalkald FC. But the active football
fan based, proper football fans who make noise, who are
fun and engaged. It's one of actually one of the
delights to see in zmers of our maturity as a
football nation. So part of the part of that is
rewarding them as well.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Yeah, and I guess what you'd also say is people
would have watched that on TV, the ones who weren't
fortunate enough to travel, and seen how, you know, how
those traveling fans supported the team and probably thought, look,
give me a bit of that. I'll get along to
these games. So expecting quite big interest in these two
home games in November absolutely.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
Look, we're optimistic whether it will sell them both out
and we're in that active kind of fan base will continue.
You know, going along to a football game is something
that it's not just something you watch, it's something you're
a part of. It's something you engage in. And I
think you know the emergence of that with awkn FC,
and we're seeing it more and more with the all
(06:30):
Whites and white noise and flying Kiwi's is absolutely brilliant
and that's why the kids and families want to get.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Along a little bit of our time. To reflect on
the All Whites World Cup campaign. I know that it
was the stated aim to win games and to get
out of the group. That didn't happen. How do you
reflect on the All Whites twenty twenty six World Cup campaign?
Speaker 3 (06:49):
Yeah, look, it's definitely still on a I'm probably still
going through a bit of grieving there, real mixed emotions,
to be honest. Yeah, we look, we didn't Ultimately we're disappointed,
we didn't achieve Our goals came very very close, and
there'll be a lot of reflections on how close that
could you know, that could have been. But you know,
(07:10):
amongst all of that, there's some immense bride. Obviously, the
playing style that the team delivered, that the staff supported
was incredible. The way in which the players conduct themselves
in the world stage again incredible. The way which we
scored goals. You know, one of the concerns was we
weren't going to score and you know we're ahead in
(07:31):
two of our three group games. You know, arguably we
should have finished those out. I'll close those out. But
and you know, and the emergence of Elijah just who
looked who had looked at home in any team at
this World Cup. You know, that story alone is pretty
incredible and part of this will be where those players
go on to in their club journeys. The other exciting
(07:53):
thing that all key we should be really excited about
is that the majority of that team is young enough
to be there in twenty thirty. So they'll take a
lot from you know, adversity is ultimately what we all need,
and they'll take a lot from some of the university
that they're going through and went through there, and we'll
see them bounce back and do even more in twenty thirty.
One hundred percent certain of that.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Well, look forward to seeing them back on home soil
in November. Two games against India November twelve. Go Media
Auckland November fifteen at the brand new one New Zealand
Stadium in christ Church. Oh, it's good to chat Andrew.
Thanks for taking the time. Thank you very much, Fanny,
Thank you now you take care to Andrew. Thanks indeed, Andrew,
Andrew Pagnell, New Zealand Football CEO there India the Opposition
November twelve and in Auckland November fifteen. In christ Church.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk said B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
Popular Podcasts
Betrayal Weekly
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com