September 26, 2025 • 7 mins
New Zealand’s under-20 men’s football team is kicking off their FIFA World Cup campaign this weekend.
Tomorrow will see them face their hosts in Chile, before further pool clashes against Egypt and Japan.
NZ striker Luke Brooke-Smith told Piney the team’s spirit is super high and they’re all buzzing for the first game.
“I think it’ll be a good, almost a surprise to the world, is what we want to do, and show what New Zealand football can do at youth levels.”
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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 News Talks, EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Good Man Hadley.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Stay there, We'll make sure we got all your details
and get that bet placed for you one hundred and
fifty dollars ta B bonus bet on your behalf. We'll
keep our fingers crossed if you get a result the
winnings minus the stake all yours will do it again
next week thanks to our mates at the tab. As always,
please bet responsibly. We'll come to your life from the Kingslander.
But the New Zealand under twenty men's football side begin
(00:35):
their fee for World Cup campaign at midday tomorrow New
Zealand time. They play the host's Chili before further matches
against Egypt and Japan. Let's bring a New Zealand striker
Luke Brooks Smith out of Chili.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Look, thanks for your time, mate.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
How's your time in Chili Bean as you prepare for
your first game?
Speaker 4 (00:53):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (00:53):
Yeah, honestly it is amazing.
Speaker 4 (00:55):
It's pretty refreshing in a way to be with a
group of boys my age and around so different. Definitely
teams that dynamic for me. But yeah, I'm loving at
the teams for a super high was even for the
first game. I mean, what forty forty five thousand people
for the opening match is going to be.
Speaker 5 (01:11):
Yeah, it's gonna be unreal.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Yeah, that's a terrific start for you, isn't it will
there be a bit of extra spice, bit of extra
excitement given the fact that you are playing the host
nation in front of such a big, no doubt, you know,
loud crowd.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
I think so definitely. I think definitely the thing that's
going to really dictate it is I think being able
to almost keep our heads. I've sort of said this
about the derby matches in New Zealand and my small
football career, that you don't want to play it up
to be such a big game and your head just
got to keep focused.
Speaker 5 (01:45):
I think that's what we're going to try to do
if card's going to.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
Be I think, I know no one has been in
the sort of environment like that before, so it's going
to be such a good experience.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
The vast majority of the squad played Chile twice back
in June and warm up matches a couple of narrow losses.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
You scored a brilliant goal in the first game.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Do you feel like your match up fairly well against them,
you know from that experience.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
Yeah, definitely, We've done a lot of analysis on them
and I think we've improved the squad in terms of
the way we play. We're in had about a week
together a couple of days before the first match only,
so it's nice to be able to have some time
and not rushing.
Speaker 5 (02:21):
The processes and build up and defending.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
So I think it'll be a good almost a surprise
to the world is what we want to do is
show what New Zealand football can do at youth levels.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Love that.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
And how much have you worked on combinations and connection
given the fact that, look, there's a bunch of year
from the Phoenix, a few from Auckland FC, but the
others are drawn from far and wide. So how much
have you worked on connections during your time together?
Speaker 5 (02:44):
Yeah, a lot, a lot, definitely.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
I think, like I said, there's no rush this camp
in terms of getting to know each other and everything.
Speaker 5 (02:53):
We all know each other fairly well.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
I think it's about getting the connection on the field,
and we've had so many trainings together now we've been
here for about a week and a bit, so I
think leading into the game. We're almost like a family,
which I think is going to help us so much.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
You said before a really interesting thing about you know
about big games like the Derby's that you played in
and other big matches, and not playing the game before
the game arrives, I guess, and not letting it become
too big a thing. How do you stay relatively relaxed
ahead of what is really quite a big game.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
Yeah, I think I haven't experienced that where these World
Cup matches could potentially go down to you when you're
in the tournament, you lose your out. And I think
for me is I like to put pressure on myself.
I think that's what I'm at my best is when
there's pressure to perform, pressure in the fans to do well.
Speaker 5 (03:45):
And I think we're speaking.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
On the bus with a couple of boys and some
of them are saying they don't like that, But for me,
I think that's what makes me play my very best.
So I think for myself is I'm gonna I want
to put pressure on myself to go down and play
the best and do everything I can for the country.
I think you're just not often you get to play
in front of how many people.
Speaker 5 (04:04):
Let alone for your country.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
So for me, I'm not going to play it up
in my head, but I know it is a big
game and I think that's going to help me play
my very best.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
It's been nearly three weeks since your full All Whites
debut it go media or against Australia.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
You've had a bit of time to reflect on that.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Now.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
How special a moment was that for you and for
your family?
Speaker 5 (04:23):
Yeah, it was unbelievable.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
I think what made even better was potentially not coming
on in the first game in camera. Maybe I'm more
hungry to perform in training to hopefully get me to
become an option off the bench. And you know, it
was nice to make my debut in Auckland. Definitely with
a my friends and family there. I mean, I've got
my dad coming in for this tournament and I think
having them there is just makes me play even better.
(04:47):
And yeah, it's just such a fishal experience with them.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
It's been quite the year for you.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
You signed pro for the Phoenix, hadn't they league debut
just before Christmas, scored your first goal in the derby
in February, then an All Whites debut, and now a
World Cup.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
But could you have imagined all of this twelve months ago.
Speaker 5 (05:03):
No, no, no, I was sort of looking back to
where I was about this time of year ago, and
I was about three weeks after my under sixteen qualifiers
in Tahiti, and then I was just focused on making
an Under seventeen World Cup and hopefully signing for the
Phoenix was the plan.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
And I think that's given me loads of motivations because
now I think, well, yeah, then what stopping me from
being where I want to be?
Speaker 2 (05:28):
In a yeah, sir, so good, so good.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
And even though you are one of the youngest in
the squad, you are one of the few who have
been in the full or white squad. Do you feel
a desire or a need to lead in this group?
Is that something that comes naturally to you or not
quite yet?
Speaker 5 (05:46):
Definitely? I think I haven't really. I've counted a couple
of teams when I was much younger, but I haven't
been in amongst the leadership groups and stuff.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
I think because I've been so young in the moments
i've been in recently. But I think, you know, we're
all very good players, but I think the way I play,
I want I want people if we're struggling, or we
need a goal in the last minutes. I want people
to be able to look at me and be like,
what can you give us? Can you can you give
us something off the bench? Can you give us something
starting we need a goal? Something like that. And I
(06:16):
think that's the pressure I like to take on. And
I think there's loads of boys in the squad, attackers
that are all fast and creative, and I think we've
all spoken that, you know, it could be on us
to change the game, whether we win or lose, and
we know that as a front force.
Speaker 5 (06:30):
So hopefully that opportunity does come and we can yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Come, wait to see how it goes.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
And it must be nice hanging out with guys your
own age. You know, you don't have to sort of
feel like you're hanging out with your dad or your
slightly older uncle anymore understands the terminology you're using.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
No boomers around, No, no, no.
Speaker 5 (06:53):
I think I think it's definitely helped shape me being
with the older boys.
Speaker 4 (06:57):
But like I said, it's so refreshing being with a
group of very good players who are all around my
own age and the.
Speaker 5 (07:04):
Same ambitions and pro environments.
Speaker 4 (07:06):
And I think it's something that almost makes me want
to work even harder, knowing that we have each other
and that we're all so close to get us almost
like a group of brothers from Mesa.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Another special day coming up for you all. Look thanks
for joining us. Made all the best against Chilean on
towards the second two games in the tournament as well,
we'll be watching with very keen interest.
Speaker 5 (07:26):
Thank you so much, planning. Thank you.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
That is New Zealand under twenty strikeer Luke Brooksmith joining
us from Chile. When New Zealand have their first game
at the Under twenty Men's World Cup tomorrow from midday.
New Zealand time up against the hosts, the Chileans, with
further group games to follow against Egypt and Japan midday
tomorrow for the first game for the New Zealand under
twenty men's football team.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk zed B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks, EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Good Man Hadley.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Stay there, We'll make sure we got all your details
and get that bet placed for you one hundred and
fifty dollars ta B bonus bet on your behalf. We'll
keep our fingers crossed if you get a result the
winnings minus the stake all yours will do it again
next week thanks to our mates at the tab. As always,
please bet responsibly. We'll come to your life from the Kingslander.
But the New Zealand under twenty men's football side begin
(00:35):
their fee for World Cup campaign at midday tomorrow New
Zealand time. They play the host's Chili before further matches
against Egypt and Japan. Let's bring a New Zealand striker
Luke Brooks Smith out of Chili.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Look, thanks for your time, mate.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
How's your time in Chili Bean as you prepare for
your first game?
Speaker 4 (00:53):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (00:53):
Yeah, honestly it is amazing.
Speaker 4 (00:55):
It's pretty refreshing in a way to be with a
group of boys my age and around so different. Definitely
teams that dynamic for me. But yeah, I'm loving at
the teams for a super high was even for the
first game. I mean, what forty forty five thousand people
for the opening match is going to be.
Speaker 5 (01:11):
Yeah, it's gonna be unreal.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Yeah, that's a terrific start for you, isn't it will
there be a bit of extra spice, bit of extra
excitement given the fact that you are playing the host
nation in front of such a big, no doubt, you know,
loud crowd.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
I think so definitely. I think definitely the thing that's
going to really dictate it is I think being able
to almost keep our heads. I've sort of said this
about the derby matches in New Zealand and my small
football career, that you don't want to play it up
to be such a big game and your head just
got to keep focused.
Speaker 5 (01:45):
I think that's what we're going to try to do
if card's going to.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
Be I think, I know no one has been in
the sort of environment like that before, so it's going
to be such a good experience.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
The vast majority of the squad played Chile twice back
in June and warm up matches a couple of narrow losses.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
You scored a brilliant goal in the first game.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Do you feel like your match up fairly well against them,
you know from that experience.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
Yeah, definitely, We've done a lot of analysis on them
and I think we've improved the squad in terms of
the way we play. We're in had about a week
together a couple of days before the first match only,
so it's nice to be able to have some time
and not rushing.
Speaker 5 (02:21):
The processes and build up and defending.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
So I think it'll be a good almost a surprise
to the world is what we want to do is
show what New Zealand football can do at youth levels.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Love that.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
And how much have you worked on combinations and connection
given the fact that, look, there's a bunch of year
from the Phoenix, a few from Auckland FC, but the
others are drawn from far and wide. So how much
have you worked on connections during your time together?
Speaker 5 (02:44):
Yeah, a lot, a lot, definitely.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
I think, like I said, there's no rush this camp
in terms of getting to know each other and everything.
Speaker 5 (02:53):
We all know each other fairly well.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
I think it's about getting the connection on the field,
and we've had so many trainings together now we've been
here for about a week and a bit, so I
think leading into the game. We're almost like a family,
which I think is going to help us so much.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
You said before a really interesting thing about you know
about big games like the Derby's that you played in
and other big matches, and not playing the game before
the game arrives, I guess, and not letting it become
too big a thing. How do you stay relatively relaxed
ahead of what is really quite a big game.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
Yeah, I think I haven't experienced that where these World
Cup matches could potentially go down to you when you're
in the tournament, you lose your out. And I think
for me is I like to put pressure on myself.
I think that's what I'm at my best is when
there's pressure to perform, pressure in the fans to do well.
Speaker 5 (03:45):
And I think we're speaking.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
On the bus with a couple of boys and some
of them are saying they don't like that, But for me,
I think that's what makes me play my very best.
So I think for myself is I'm gonna I want
to put pressure on myself to go down and play
the best and do everything I can for the country.
I think you're just not often you get to play
in front of how many people.
Speaker 5 (04:04):
Let alone for your country.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
So for me, I'm not going to play it up
in my head, but I know it is a big
game and I think that's going to help me play
my very best.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
It's been nearly three weeks since your full All Whites
debut it go media or against Australia.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
You've had a bit of time to reflect on that.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Now.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
How special a moment was that for you and for
your family?
Speaker 5 (04:23):
Yeah, it was unbelievable.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
I think what made even better was potentially not coming
on in the first game in camera. Maybe I'm more
hungry to perform in training to hopefully get me to
become an option off the bench. And you know, it
was nice to make my debut in Auckland. Definitely with
a my friends and family there. I mean, I've got
my dad coming in for this tournament and I think
having them there is just makes me play even better.
(04:47):
And yeah, it's just such a fishal experience with them.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
It's been quite the year for you.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
You signed pro for the Phoenix, hadn't they league debut
just before Christmas, scored your first goal in the derby
in February, then an All Whites debut, and now a
World Cup.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
But could you have imagined all of this twelve months ago.
Speaker 5 (05:03):
No, no, no, I was sort of looking back to
where I was about this time of year ago, and
I was about three weeks after my under sixteen qualifiers
in Tahiti, and then I was just focused on making
an Under seventeen World Cup and hopefully signing for the
Phoenix was the plan.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
And I think that's given me loads of motivations because
now I think, well, yeah, then what stopping me from
being where I want to be?
Speaker 2 (05:28):
In a yeah, sir, so good, so good.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
And even though you are one of the youngest in
the squad, you are one of the few who have
been in the full or white squad. Do you feel
a desire or a need to lead in this group?
Is that something that comes naturally to you or not
quite yet?
Speaker 5 (05:46):
Definitely? I think I haven't really. I've counted a couple
of teams when I was much younger, but I haven't
been in amongst the leadership groups and stuff.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
I think because I've been so young in the moments
i've been in recently. But I think, you know, we're
all very good players, but I think the way I play,
I want I want people if we're struggling, or we
need a goal in the last minutes. I want people
to be able to look at me and be like,
what can you give us? Can you can you give
us something off the bench? Can you give us something
starting we need a goal? Something like that. And I
(06:16):
think that's the pressure I like to take on. And
I think there's loads of boys in the squad, attackers
that are all fast and creative, and I think we've
all spoken that, you know, it could be on us
to change the game, whether we win or lose, and
we know that as a front force.
Speaker 5 (06:30):
So hopefully that opportunity does come and we can yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Come, wait to see how it goes.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
And it must be nice hanging out with guys your
own age. You know, you don't have to sort of
feel like you're hanging out with your dad or your
slightly older uncle anymore understands the terminology you're using.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
No boomers around, No, no, no.
Speaker 5 (06:53):
I think I think it's definitely helped shape me being
with the older boys.
Speaker 4 (06:57):
But like I said, it's so refreshing being with a
group of very good players who are all around my
own age and the.
Speaker 5 (07:04):
Same ambitions and pro environments.
Speaker 4 (07:06):
And I think it's something that almost makes me want
to work even harder, knowing that we have each other
and that we're all so close to get us almost
like a group of brothers from Mesa.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Another special day coming up for you all. Look thanks
for joining us. Made all the best against Chilean on
towards the second two games in the tournament as well,
we'll be watching with very keen interest.
Speaker 5 (07:26):
Thank you so much, planning. Thank you.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
That is New Zealand under twenty strikeer Luke Brooksmith joining
us from Chile. When New Zealand have their first game
at the Under twenty Men's World Cup tomorrow from midday.
New Zealand time up against the hosts, the Chileans, with
further group games to follow against Egypt and Japan midday
tomorrow for the first game for the New Zealand under
twenty men's football team.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk zed B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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