Football in this country is on the crest of the wave – and the sport in the South Island could be a long-term beneficiary.
The game has had great moments before, notably the epic qualification journey for the 1982 FIFA World Cup, along with the 2010 adventure in South Africa, when the All Whites returned home unbeaten. There was also the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which saw unprecedented crowds, some Football Ferns heroics and a genuine buzz.
There have been other special chapters over the years – with individuals and teams – but nothing that threatened to move the needle permanently – until now.
The introduction of Auckland FC has changed everything, with reverberations that will be felt for years. Football has become cool – in the eyes of kids, fans, and corporates – and it should be sustained, rather than a sugar high.
Crowds have flocked to the new franchise, who will host another sold out derby with the Wellington Phoenix this month – and big sponsors, such as ANZ, Anchor and 2 Degrees have followed. That kind of interest is unheard of for football in this country but it is justified. Auckland FC were always going to make an impression but their record breaking start – with five successive wins and no goals conceded – lifted things to another level. They have been slick and solid on the field and savvy off it, backed by not one but two billionaire owners in American investor Bill Foley and Kiwi toy tycoon Anna Mowbray. That has meant plenty of media attention, the kind that established teams like rugby’s Blues and netball’s Northern Mystics and Northern Stars would envy, with an Auckland FC academy and women’s team launching next season.
The Black Knights have tapped into an engaged, youthful fan base – which will ensure their future – and have moved a mountain of merchandise. They have opened pathways for domestic talent, pipelines that are only going to grow.
The arrival of Auckland FC has also reintroduced tribalism to the local sporting landscape. It used to exist, particularly in rugby in the 1970s and 1980s, between Canterbury and Otago, Wellington and Canterbury along with Auckland and just about anyone but has dissipated since.
In that context, the rivalry between Auckland FC and the Wellington Phoenix has been brilliant. Sometimes spicy – with genuine enmity between the franchises – but also fun, providing magnificent theatre during their matches, from the battles on the pitch to the jousting in the grandstands.
So what does this mean for football in Christchurch and the South Island? So much. The success and impact of Auckland FC has turned heads, both here and in Australia. It has put the proposed third New Zealand A League team – to be based in Christchurch – in the frame in a big way. New Zealand Football are proactively pushing the case behind the scenes, while I’ve heard there has already been discussions between local investors in the Garden City and the A League’s top brass. The presence of the brand new Te Kaha stadium from 2026 is another big plus. The licence fee (around $15 million) is the biggest stumbling block but far from insurmountable, given the global appeal of football and wealth washing around the sport. If it all goes to plan, a new team could be in action from 2030, though 2032 is a more realistic timeframe.
By that stage the All Whites could have competed in two more FIFA World Cups (2026 and 2030), given the new direct entry from Oceania, which will only increase the fever and buzz around the sport. Enjoy the ride.
Michael Burgess – Sports Writer