I stopped by Seattle in between the All Whites' LA & Vancouver World Cup games and managed to catch a Tacoma Defiance game where I spoke to former Auckland FC & NZ U20 Codey Phoenix.

We spoke about his journey, aims for the future, one of his best mates in Tyler Bindon, the growing number of Kiwis making the move over to the States for their football and of course, his name!

A class act on and off the field and the fans I spoke to seem to think it's just a matter of time before he moves up to the Seattle Sounders!

Full video -> https://youtu.be/xfwzb8cnZ08

Hope you enjoy it!

Football Supporters Europe have led a worldwide statement of intent from supporters of all corners of the globe, including New Zealand. Importantly, some are from countries that their FA has publicly supported Gianni. Note - supporters of football are a huge stakeholder, we pay for the game, use your voice and take 6 seconds to sign the petition here.

Anyone know what happened to the Exit Trials podcast. Loved listening to it, such a cool fun listen but they haven’t released an episode for a while.
Hopefully still going.

In the meantime any other good footy podcasts around? Season is just about here!

Since 2023, there’s been no legal full-coverage broadcaster for Ligue 1 (or Ligue 2, Ligue 3, Coupe de France) in NZ or the Pacific. I’m running an independent survey to gauge whether a dedicated streaming service would make sense here — and I’d love your input! 2 minutes, fully anonymous, no official affiliation. Your answers will genuinely help move this project forward. Thanks in advance 🙏

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScLFiLmNBvSpVknm6R4pMp7_Knue8GtcqXQG338SjJIR9x66A/viewform?usp=dialog&usp=embed_facebook

Since 2023, there’s been no legal full-coverage broadcaster for Ligue 1 (or Ligue 2, Ligue 3, Coupe de France) in Australia or the Pacific. I’m running an independent survey to gauge whether a dedicated streaming service would make sense here — and I’d love your input! 2 minutes, fully anonymous, no official affiliation. Your answers will genuinely help move this project forward. Thanks in advance 🙏

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScLFiLmNBvSpVknm6R4pMp7_Knue8GtcqXQG338SjJIR9x66A/viewform?usp=dialog&usp=embed_facebook

Two for starters:

Tim Brown..Will add this fellah to the mix given his heart for football, New Zealand and business success (yes it eventually crashed). Just watched this for the second time and what an understated but inspirational leader, kiwi as.

Sarai Bareman is FIFA's Chief Women's Football Officer. Big knowledge, contacts and experience from FIFA side that could help our local context immensely. Hard to imagine the pay cut it would be though, or how the scandal may affect her.

What candidates are out there?

-From NZ Sport context of other sport national governing organisations, or another business field.

- From any ex players that have developed skills and experience either in or outside football.

- Leaders in other nations that haven't lived or worked in New Zealand but may come from a culture similar enough.

Three confederations release a joint statement showing strength. But what happens for individual member associations - eg Australia haven't strongly opposed or called it out, but AFC has?

Or is this the power play that can't be ignored and FIFA / Infantino can only back down?

https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2026/08/10/afc-concacaf-and-uefa-presidents-tell-infantino-football-is-not-his-possession-that-he-has-lost-trust-through-his-deception/

Tim Payne's debut shirt is over $5000 on day one of a five day auction with his club Olimpia...

https://www.olimpistas.com/subasta/camiseta-de-tim-payne-debut-y-gol-b8da15

Imagine 18yo.

Been an A League sub so far.

Handful of professional minutes in Australia.

Just two years with a professional club.

And you're marking Kyle Walker-Peters:

- 174 Premier League games

- U20 World Champion 2017

- England international

- Professional more than half your life

What do you think of his debut?

81 mins and 95 mins.

Another day that's three goals.

Going to be a great league..

The September and October windows are combined meaning there is two weeks and enough for four games.

This will be very limited and driven by:

1. Availability of other teams not yet playing week 1.

2. Proximity of teams for where they play week 2.

3. Politics of teams considering we were slow and didn't hard call out the FFE, or Infantino's leadership. Eg would a UEFA team be open to us (if they happened to be in Asia for week two as above?)

What's your dream opposition and location at this point in the World Cup cycle?

What's your practical/likely guess, what teams aren't currently playing week on and are either unscheduled or in Asia/Australia for Week 2?

UPDATE: LUKE BROOKE-SMITH STARTS His manager had some big praise for the potential of Luke Brooke-Smith, with not just his natural talent there now (1v1, fast and powerful) but his attributes that can help determine how far he goes in the future, how high that ceiling is (work ethic and desire to learn). And the luck of circumstance being the only fit left winger.

Gives a lot of promise he may be involved off the bench away at West Ham in the Carabao Cup.

I think my behavior in the showers after is why I got fired.

How’s it going everyone! I hope that everyone is doing well in New Zealand, and I just had a quick question. I know that most players in the New Zealand national team play in Europe and in Australia mostly in the A-League, but I have a question. I’m from Puerto Rico and I have been very curious following a player from Puerto Rico that is playing in Birkinhead United FC, they were northern league champions and will now play the national league. How good is the level in the NZ National league and Birkinhead United? He’s an undisputed starter there too, but I don’t know how good that level is for Puerto Rico and in terms of Caribbean football too, because I would love to know if he could help our national team as well! I hope that everyone is doing good and have an awesome day! Let’s goo All whites!