There are few tougher opening matches at any global tournament than playing against the host nation, but that was the hurdle New Zealand had to overcome at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025™. Placed in Group A, they faced a 45,000-strong crowd who whipped up a hothouse atmosphere in Santiago.
The Junior All Whites handled the occasion well, and recovered from a goal down to silence the home crowd when Nathan Walker stroked in an 85th-minute penalty. While the South Americans eventually secured victory with a buzzer-beater winner, the New Zealanders could find solace in a small section of Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos where there loved ones were based, drenched in pride at their efforts.
“My family are in the stands, so I am very pleased for them to see the goal,” Nathan Walker told FIFA. “I have my father, my mother, my uncle, my auntie, two cousins and another uncle. A big supporting crew. Lots of them managed to get over here. Obviously the result didn’t go our way, but it’s a dream come true to get on the score sheet at a World Cup.
“I’ve played in front of crowds, but not crowds like that. That was something new, surreal. Definitely something to take in and and remember for the rest of my life. I think for me it’s the mindset and excitement. I think it’s exciting playing in front of that many people rather than intimidating. We’re all footballers, everyone at the stadium loves football.”
“I have played in front of 25,000 before, but nothing like that,” agreed Luke Brooke-Smith. “The fans here in Chile… big credit to them because they were amazing. They made it super hard for us, and I think it’s a game I won’t never forget even though we lost. Having that many fans there to be able to do our country proud like that it was amazing.”
They went one better in their next match. After falling behind to Egypt, two goals in three first-half minutes turned the game on its head. Brooke-Smith levelled that contest, and believes making an impact on the global stage in front of their own travelling support makes it all worth it.
“It’s incredible. First of all, I’m so grateful to be here and to have been able to score a goal,” he said. “It means the world to me. We have a small group of fans here, but they’re here for us, and that’s very special. My dad is here, and that’s super special.
“The flight is quite long and, being honest, it took us quite a while to adapt to it when we came here. But I think I think the boys have done really well and hopefully we get better and better each game and we can get a good result against Japan. There’s still a chance.”
New Zealand know a victory over Japan guarantees their passage to the last 16 and would make it five straight knockout stages reached at these finals – a record no team at Chile 2025 can match. But, for Walker, that simply isn’t enough.
“We want these results,” he stated. “We didn’t come here just to make up the numbers.”
