The respite only went so far because Japan and Egypt are the third and fourth seeded teams that were dished up in Group A.
Previous wins at this event for Aotearoa have come against Myanmar (5-1 in 2015), Honduras (3-1 in 2017), Honduras (5-0 in 2019), Norway (2-0 in 2019), and Guatemala (1-0 in 2023).
None of the nations we’ll face at this event feel as beatable as any of those... although you never know with these youth events. You can’t judge an U20s team by the strength of their senior squad.
Josey Casa-Grande (aka Big House) has been selected. He’s a brand new addition to NZ Football who was previously around the Wales U17 set-up. He’s on the books with Bristol City and recently tagged along with the League One squad for preseason camp in Portugal. Casa-Grande has already had short senior loan spells in English non-league footy with Bath City, Chippenham Town, and Dorchester Town.
As to his NZF connections... it seems like quite a convenient coincidence that Casa-Grande has pledged to New Zealand two months after trialling with Yeovil Town, appearing in a preseason game for them where he would have worked very closely with Yeovil’s reserve goalkeeper/goalkeeping coach… Matthew Gould. Having said that, Yeovil Town didn’t end up signing him so perhaps it was a coincidence after all.
Niche Cache article. Based on what we saw in Chile, this seems like a fair expectation for how things will shake out in terms of a positional depth chart for this squad...
His analysis for football, cricket and league is great.
Two people – Scott Miller (cricket/league) and Nick Robinson (basketball/football)
The in depth coverage these guys do is second to none in NZ. They really know their stuff...I didn't know their names until now...🤷♂️
I find some of their reviews frustrating as they don't add much to the scoreline. When you have been at the game and there was controversy around a goal, it doesn't get a mention. JR's reviews have more detail as it appears as if he has a network of spies at various clubs or perhaps he might have hudl/veo etc that allows him to give more colour.
His analysis for football, cricket and league is great.
Two people – Scott Miller (cricket/league) and Nick Robinson (basketball/football)
The in depth coverage these guys do is second to none in NZ. They really know their stuff...I didn't know their names until now...🤷♂️
I find some of their reviews frustrating as they don't add much to the scoreline. When you have been at the game and there was controversy around a goal, it doesn't get a mention. JR's reviews have more detail as it appears as if he has a network of spies at various clubs or perhaps he might have hudl/veo etc that allows him to give more colour.
His analysis for football, cricket and league is great.
Two people – Scott Miller (cricket/league) and Nick Robinson (basketball/football)
The in depth coverage these guys do is second to none in NZ. They really know their stuff...I didn't know their names until now...🤷♂️
I find some of their reviews frustrating as they don't add much to the scoreline. When you have been at the game and there was controversy around a goal, it doesn't get a mention. JR's reviews have more detail as it appears as if he has a network of spies at various clubs or perhaps he might have hudl/veo etc that allows him to give more colour.
Out of curosity who is JR?
The guy behind Ultimate Soccer https://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/, example review for last round of womens NRFL https://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/Scoreboard/rd_21.htm. Chatham Cup final https://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/Classics/2025_chatham_cup_final.htm, KS Cup final https://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/AucklandUnited/2025_kate_sheppard_cup_final.htm
Not wanting to sidetrack the WC thread but does anyone recall the game in the late 70s/early 80s, Brasil Under 20/23 vs someone in Auckland? I’m thinking Western Springs for some reason. I went with the view that I would be seeing future Brazilian stars in the making, kept the programme but lost it at some stage. I can’t remember any players from the game. Anyone know or have a link to share please?
His analysis for football, cricket and league is great.
Two people – Scott Miller (cricket/league) and Nick Robinson (basketball/football)
The in depth coverage these guys do is second to none in NZ. They really know their stuff...I didn't know their names until now...🤷♂️
I find some of their reviews frustrating as they don't add much to the scoreline. When you have been at the game and there was controversy around a goal, it doesn't get a mention. JR's reviews have more detail as it appears as if he has a network of spies at various clubs or perhaps he might have hudl/veo etc that allows him to give more colour.
Out of curosity who is JR?
The guy behind Ultimate Soccer https://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/, example review for last round of womens NRFL https://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/Scoreboard/rd_21.htm. Chatham Cup final https://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/Classics/2025_chatham_cup_final.htm, KS Cup final https://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/AucklandUnited/2025_kate_sheppard_cup_final.htm
jeremy ruane, diehard bin dippers fan, long time promoter of womens football and a football train spotter minus the trains. Very good website for football anoraks, sadly let down by his obsession for the bin dippers
For some reference I think Des's 2019 team also played Sth Korea in a warmup getting a draw. They then beat Mexico, in another warmup.
From memory they had a longer buildup and more time together, but that was a late May-early June U20 WC. Easier to get early access to players than a September tourney.
Not wanting to sidetrack the WC thread but does anyone recall the game in the late 70s/early 80s, Brasil Under 20/23 vs someone in Auckland? I’m thinking Western Springs for some reason. I went with the view that I would be seeing future Brazilian stars in the making, kept the programme but lost it at some stage. I can’t remember any players from the game. Anyone know or have a link to share please?
Didn't they play the All Whites in Hastings? Would have been mid 80s I was very young maybe 4 or 5. https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nz-intres-det80.html
You champion, I see the Western Springs game there on that list. Gee I went to so many of those games listed. The great world cup run, the thrashing of Mexico, great to see how we often beat Aussie during that time, and some famous names in the Newcastle and Glasgow Rangers teams of the day. Thanks WFR, I was living in Auckland at the time so didn’t go the Hastings game, funny enough, never played on Nelson Park, it was purely a rugby ground in my day.watching_from_far
Napier Phoenix
Not wanting to sidetrack the WC thread but does anyone recall the game in the late 70s/early 80s, Brasil Under 20/23 vs someone in Auckland? I’m thinking Western Springs for some reason. I went with the view that I would be seeing future Brazilian stars in the making, kept the programme but lost it at some stage. I can’t remember any players from the game. Anyone know or have a link to share please?
Didn't they play the All Whites in Hastings? Would have been mid 80s I was very young maybe 4 or 5. https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nz-intres-det80.html
A capacity crowd of more than 48,000 will watch New Zealand’s opening game against hosts Chile at the FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup.
Organisers say tickets have sold out for the group game at Chile’s national stadium in Santiago that starts at 12-noon on Sunday September 28, 2025 (NZT).
The Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos will host a double header, with Egypt and Japan, who are in the same group as New Zealand and Chile, playing the opening game at the 24-nation tournament (9am NZT).
Between that game and New Zealand’s match, tournament organisers will stage an eight-minute entertainment show that pays homage to the history of football in Chile, and projects a spectacle for the global television audience.
Jazz/rock band Los Ramblers, who have been performing since 1959, will perform the official song that was used at the 1962 FIFA World Cup when Brazil lifted the Jules Rimet trophy at the same stadium.
You champion, I see the Western Springs game there on that list. Gee I went to so many of those games listed. The great world cup run, the thrashing of Mexico, great to see how we often beat Aussie during that time, and some famous names in the Newcastle and Glasgow Rangers teams of the day. Thanks WFR, I was living in Auckland at the time so didn’t go the Hastings game, funny enough, never played on Nelson Park, it was purely a rugby ground in my day.watching_from_far
Napier Phoenix
Not wanting to sidetrack the WC thread but does anyone recall the game in the late 70s/early 80s, Brasil Under 20/23 vs someone in Auckland? I’m thinking Western Springs for some reason. I went with the view that I would be seeing future Brazilian stars in the making, kept the programme but lost it at some stage. I can’t remember any players from the game. Anyone know or have a link to share please?
Didn't they play the All Whites in Hastings? Would have been mid 80s I was very young maybe 4 or 5. https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nz-intres-det80.html
1988. i saw the game at the hutt rec. initially the full brazilian team was meant to come, but the 'young' team came instead.
they had a number of future internationals and ronaldinho's older brother (gaucho) was in the team.
You champion, I see the Western Springs game there on that list. Gee I went to so many of those games listed. The great world cup run, the thrashing of Mexico, great to see how we often beat Aussie during that time, and some famous names in the Newcastle and Glasgow Rangers teams of the day. Thanks WFR, I was living in Auckland at the time so didn’t go the Hastings game, funny enough, never played on Nelson Park, it was purely a rugby ground in my day.watching_from_far
Napier Phoenix
Not wanting to sidetrack the WC thread but does anyone recall the game in the late 70s/early 80s, Brasil Under 20/23 vs someone in Auckland? I’m thinking Western Springs for some reason. I went with the view that I would be seeing future Brazilian stars in the making, kept the programme but lost it at some stage. I can’t remember any players from the game. Anyone know or have a link to share please?
Didn't they play the All Whites in Hastings? Would have been mid 80s I was very young maybe 4 or 5. https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nz-intres-det80.html
1988. i saw the game at the hutt rec. initially the full brazilian team was meant to come, but the 'young' team came instead.
they had a number of future internationals and ronaldinho's older brother (gaucho) was in the team.
Me too. I remember their warm-up was a good watch. They kept hitting banana balls to each other.
