Michael Boxall: All Whites defender on the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw

The All Whites will face Belgium, Egypt and Iran in Group G at next year's FIFA World Cup. 

Belgium are 8th in the world, Iran 20th and Egypt 34th, while the All Whites are 86th in the latest rankings. 

All White defender Michael Boxall has been a mainstay in the side since 2011, and joined Piney to share his thoughts on their prospective opponents.  

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZEDB.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
One of the most important members of the All Whites
is Michael Boxel. He's been based in the United States
for the last decade with Minnesota United in Major League
Soccer and he joins US. Now, what do you make
of it, Michael, Belgium, Egypt and Iran. How do you
feel about that as a as a group at the
World Cup next year?

Speaker 3 (00:32):
Yeah, as they were pulling out all the teams out
of Pop four, there was Yeah, some tough groups need
to be filled, so yeah, it could have been a
lot worse. Obviously, it's going to be three very very
difficult games, but no exciting. Obviously, we qualified way back
in March, which feels like a lifetime ago, and just
kind of counted down to today and yeah, glad to

(00:54):
finally get games on the books. Now.

Speaker 2 (00:56):
Indeed, we'll find out tomorrow where exactly you'll play each
of these teams, but the group is going to be
in Los Angeles, Seattle, and Vancouver. Have you played regular
in one or all of those cities?

Speaker 3 (01:09):
Yeah, As Minnesota, we're in the Western Conference, so we
plan all of those cities. Yeah, at least once every year,
so yeah, pretty familiar.

Speaker 2 (01:18):
And in terms of June and July weather wise, what
are we talking boxing? Is it going to be in
the in the high twenties early thirties as we understand it.
I know you work on fahrenheit now, but will it
be Will it be comfortable playing in June in those places?

Speaker 3 (01:36):
I think it would be. Seattle's probably a similar climate
to Akiwi summer, so yeah, it would probably in the
mid twenties. I mean, still potential for rain in those areas,
but I think I'm pretty sure La as well as
Vancouver stadiums are covered and indoors, so yeah, rain, wind,

(01:57):
sun won't be too much of a factor there. So
I'm definitely lucky to avoid the humidity of the East
Coast and Texas and Florida for sure. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (02:05):
I was going to say so. On the other side,
on the Eastern Seaboard, there will be some more uncomfortable
playing conditions for some of the teams drawn into groups
over there.

Speaker 3 (02:12):
Yeah. Absolutely those. Whenever I get my O Molestro, I
just beg we don't have a Houston or or Florida
away in June July because those are moments to play.

Speaker 2 (02:24):
So how do you evaluate where your whites are? As
you say, qualification was secured back in March, the team's
been together fairly regularly in the time since, with some
good quality matches. How do you evaluate where you are
six months, seven months out from the World Cup.

Speaker 3 (02:37):
Yeah, I think each window we've had at least one
kind of really solid performance and then the other where
we've i don't know, made a few changes or not
been able to match the level that we didn't in
the previous match. So I think we're in a good spot.
I think the most important thing for us now is
we need to get everybody healthy and planned really and

(02:59):
fully fit. I think we haven't. I don't think base
has had a fully healthy squad select from since maybe June,
which is always a tricky window for the European guys
coming off in the middle of their off season. So yeah,
I'd just like to see us fully fit. Obviously, Woodsy
keep it healthy, Libby as well. Obviously huge pieces for

(03:20):
us if we really want to want to be firing
come June twenty twenty six.

Speaker 2 (03:25):
With qualification secured. As you say back in March, no
doubt you're talking about the World Cup. Before today, you
didn't know who you were playing that sort of thing.
But how driven are you as a plying group to
make a bit a history of this World Cup, a
first ever one. Perhaps getting out of the group for
the first time at a senior means World Cup.

Speaker 3 (03:42):
Yeah, I think that's kind of what we've been talking
about behind closed doors, and I'm pretty sure I've mentioned
it to a few times before, where it's a lot
of these guys were motivated and inspired by the twenty
ten group in South Africa, and so they want to
turn around and do the same thing to all the
young kiwi's playing in New Zealand now. So I think
that's yeah, winning getting picking up our first first win,

(04:05):
and then I don't think getting out of the group
is super unrealistic with kind of the performance that we're
performances that we've put together in the last two or
three windows.

Speaker 2 (04:17):
Have you sensed an excitement in the United States about
the World Cup next year or are we too far
out for that to have happened just yet.

Speaker 3 (04:26):
I think there's always a little bit of buzz, a
little bit of mention about it. But I think today's
the hottest my phone's been since since back in March.
Probably so, Yeah, I think all the casual fans are
starting to start to look at tickets and know where
teams are going to be. And yeah, I think the
buzz is only going to, yeah, continue to get higher

(04:47):
and higher as we get closer.

Speaker 2 (04:50):
And confirmation this week that the audites will be back
home in March as you put your final preparation touches on.
We wait to see who those games are against. But
you know, how nice will it be for you and
the team to have a couple of games on home
soil or I don't know, a fair well, I wish
you well kind of a week here in New Zealand.

Speaker 3 (05:08):
I mean, yeah, that's massive. I'm yeah, super stoked, that
pregnant when the New Zealand Football Board managed to get
that across the line. Yeah, I kind of thought that
that game it mounts smart against Australia, sitting on the
bench for ninety minutes, was going to be the last
time I play an in z So the fact that yeah,
we get another one, another hit out in front of

(05:28):
our fans who've yes been huge and supporting us, So
it's going to be really cool.

Speaker 2 (05:33):
Yeah, looking forward to seeing your home. You were saying
about the hot temperatures before, but are you shoveling snow
at the moment? Why don't you get off this call
from me?

Speaker 3 (05:40):
Yeah, I've had to do it about three or four
times the last couple of days. It's got down to
a nice minus twenty degrees yesterday, so wow. Yeah, hopefully
hopefully I've been into it in a few days to
soak up some sun. Should yeah, it should be a lot,
a little bit nicer than Dinant where I'm at right now.

Speaker 2 (05:58):
Probably your stuff boxy. Thanks for taking taking the call
this after and and exciting. We know who you're playing
next year now, look forward to catching up when you're
down here with your whites.

Speaker 3 (06:06):
And much just funny, always the pleasure.

Speaker 1 (06:08):
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