All Whites secure FIFA World Cup base in San Diego, the scene of Team New Zealand’s first America’s Cup win
Tuesday, 3 March 2026
The All Whites will be able to draw on memories of Black Magic as they chase their first FIFA World Cup win and a place in the knockout stages in North America in June.
New Zealand Football announced on Tuesday that the national men’s team will be based in San Diego for the tournament, training at the University of San Diego and staying at a four-star hotel in the affluent La Jolla area.
The Southern California city hosted the America’s Cup in 1995, when Team New Zealand, with their boat dubbed Black Magic, defeated Young America, skippered by Dennis Conner, to bring the Auld Mug back to Aotearoa for the first time.
Russell Coutts led Team NZ to a 5-0 whitewash, immortalised in history by Kiwi commentator Peter Montgomery’s famous line: “The America’s Cup is now New Zealand’s cup”.
It is very unlikely any football commentator will find themselves at the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey in mid-July saying: “The FIFA World Cup is now New Zealand’s cup”.
But hopes are high the All Whites will be able to register their first World Cup win at the third time of trying later this year, after three losses in Spain in 1982 and three draws in South Africa in 2010.
They are scheduled to play Iran in Los Angeles – a two-hour drive north of San Diego – on June 16 and Egypt and Belgium in Vancouver, Canada – a three-hour flight away – on June 22 and 27 (all NZ time).
The US-Israel attack on Iran at the weekend has thrown the Middle Eastern nation’s participation into serious doubt. If they do not ultimately take part, Iraq or the United Arab Emirates loom as potential replacements in group G.
All Whites coach Darren Bazeley was in his footballing prime, playing for Watford in England in 1995, and a yacht race an ocean and a continent away wasn’t on his radar at the time.
But he is now up to speed with San Diego’s significance in New Zealand sporting history.
Beyond the result, Team New Zealand’s successful campaign 31 years ago was famous for the lucky red socks worn by Sir Peter Blake, which were adopted as a good luck charm by fans up and down the country.
Don’t be surprised if you see Chris Wood and co posing for photos in red socks upon arrival in California in June.
Speaking to Stuff last week, Bazeley quipped: “You might see me on the sideline wearing them”.
San Diego was one of several west coast cities the coach and campaign manager Ken Lynch visited in December after attending the World Cup draw in Washington, DC.
Once back home, they submitted a list of five preferences earlier this year.
“The way it worked was, if two countries wanted the same venue, the team that was higher ranked got precedence, and obviously we’re the lowest-ranked team in the tournament”.
Bazeley would not confirm exactly where San Diego sat on the All Whites’ list, but appeared satisfied with the outcome.
“We’re really comfortable with where we’ve ended up.
“This was one we actually wanted, and we ended up getting it, so we’re pretty lucky that we’ve got that.”
The strongest existing football link between New Zealand and San Diego runs through Football Ferns defender Michaela Foster, who played college soccer, as it is known in the US, at the University of San Diego while graduating with a sociology and business administration degree.
Before going on to play professionally for the Wellington Phoenix and Durham FC in England, as well as earning 31 caps for the Ferns, Foster played three seasons for the Toreros (bullfighters), as San Diego’s sports teams are known, from 2018 to 2021.
Speaking from the Solomon Islands, where she is in camp with the Ferns, who are in the process of qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Foster told Stuff it was “really exciting” to know the All Whites would be training at her alma mater
“I only have good things to say about San Diego and my time there. I really enjoyed it. I think they're really lucky to be based there, in a beautiful city.
“They're up in La Jolla in their hotel, which is stunning. There's not many better places in America.”
Foster’s move to the US came about with help from former Ferns goalkeeper and current assistant coach Jenny Bindon, who was based in Los Angeles at the time, with husband Grant and son Tyler, who was 13 then, but has since gone on to become an All White, and is a lock to be selected for the World Cup.
“They came down to visit me in San Diego years ago and we’ve got a photo of us standing outside the [university] and it’s me and Tyler there, so it will be quite cool for him to go back and hopefully get the same photo.”
The All Whites won’t be the only World Cup team based in San Diego, which is home to 1.5 million people, making it the eighth-largest city in the US.
Switzerland, who have been drawn in group B with co-hosts Canada, Qatar and a European qualifier still to be determined, will also be based in the city, training at the San Diego Jewish Academy.
The All Whites will begin assembling for the World Cup starting in the last week of May.
They have already secured a pre-tournament friendly against England in Tampa, Florida on June 7 (NZ time).
Bazeley said they were seeking another match four or five days prior.
Playing in Florida would be the preferred option, followed by any other east coast city, though it was possible they would end up criss-crossing the US from west to east and back again.
The All Whites’ next matches are friendlies against Finland and Chile at the end of this month at Eden Park.
Wood and attacking midfielder Sarpreet Singh are set to miss those fixtures with injuries.
Left back Liberato Cacace and midfielders Matt Garbett and Ryan Thomas are other key figures under injury clouds at present.
Bazeley is set to name his squad the week beforehand.