For Tyler Bindon, New Zealand’s World Cup opener against Iran was more than just another international appearance. When the 21-year-old defender stepped onto the field as a late substitute in the 2-2 draw at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, he became part of a unique piece of World Cup history alongside his mother, Jenny Bindon.
The Bindons are now the first mother-son pair to have appeared in FIFA World Cups. Jenny represented New Zealand at the Women’s World Cups in 2007 and 2011, while Tyler made his debut on football’s biggest stage in the men’s tournament on Monday.
The moment was especially meaningful for the family, with both of Tyler’s parents watching from the stands. Jenny enjoyed a distinguished international career as a goalkeeper, earning 77 caps for New Zealand between 2004 and 2014. She also represented her country at the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012.
Athletic success runs deep in the family. Tyler’s father, Grant Bindon, captained New Zealand’s national volleyball team, making international sport a familiar part of family life.
Tyler’s journey to the World Cup took an interesting path. At the age of 12, he moved from New Zealand to California after Jenny accepted a coaching role with UCLA’s women’s football programme. Growing up in the United States, Tyler developed through the Los Angeles FC academy system before beginning his professional career. Today, he is a defender for Premier League club Nottingham Forest and arrived at the World Cup with 25 international appearances already to his name.
While Tyler’s cameo added a historic touch to the evening, the match itself was an entertaining contest. Elijah Just gave New Zealand an early lead before Iran responded through Ramin Rezaeian. Just restored the advantage after halftime with his second goal of the game, only for Mohammad Mohebbi to level the score once again as the points were shared.
For the Bindon family, however, the final score was only part of the story. Monday night marked a milestone that may stand unmatched for years, a mother and son, separated by generations, united by the same dream on football’s grandest stage.
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