New Zealand enters walking football world championships

New Zealand’s walking football team will make its world championship debut in Brisbane on May 28, entering the International Walking Football Federation tournament for the first time. RNZ reported on May 17 that the New Zealand side has begun final preparations for the event, which runs from May 28 to May 31 at Perry Park. Coach and manager Neil Haines told RNZ the team expects to “punch above our weight” despite the sport’s shorter history in New Zealand. Organizers in Australia say the Brisbane edition is also the first time the championships have been staged in the Southern Hemisphere. ### Who is in New Zealand’s first squad? Neil Haines told RNZ that New Zealand’s squad has 12 players and that the players are aged 50 and over. He said the side had been training for about three weeks on Sundays and would move to twice-weekly sessions before its opening match. Haines, who RNZ said formerly represented New Zealand, is also chairing a local trust that has promoted the sport domestically. (rnz.co.nz) RNZ reported that walking football in New Zealand has grown from an initial gala day at North Shore United Club to regular games drawing about 20 to 30 people twice a week on summer evenings. Haines told the broadcaster that the format has helped older players stay involved in football while reducing physical strain. (rnz.co.nz) ### What game will New Zealand play in Brisbane? RNZ reported that New Zealand opens against England on May 28 and then plays Australia. Haines told RNZ that European teams in the field had been playing for at least 10 years, describing the tournament as a challenge for a New Zealand side that is newer to the format. (rnz.co.nz) Walking Football New Zealand lists the IWFF World Championships in Brisbane, Queensland, from May 28 to May 31, 2026. Walking Football Australia and Brisbane Roar also list Perry Park in Brisbane as the venue for the four-day event. ### What is walking football, and how is it played? RNZ reported that Haines described walking football as a six-a-side game played on smaller fields with rolling substitutes. (rnz.co.nz) The same RNZ report said the New Zealand players selected for this event are 50 and over. Brisbane Roar said walking football is designed for players aged 40 and above and that the defining rule is that players walk rather than run. (walkingfootballnewzealand.org.nz) The club said the world championships in Brisbane will include men’s and women’s age categories ranging from over-40s to over-75s. ### Why is the Brisbane tournament a notable one for organizers? (rnz.co.nz) Walking Football Australia says Brisbane 2026 will bring together the IWFF World Championships and a Walking Football Festival at one venue for the first time. The organizer says the event is expected to draw 400 to 500 players, along with families and supporters. (brisbaneroar.com.au) Brisbane Roar said the championships from May 28 to May 31 will be the first held in the Southern Hemisphere. The club also said the world event will run alongside the Football Queensland Walking Football Festival on warm-up fields at Perry Park. ### What has New Zealand said about its chances? (walkingfootballaustralia.com) Neil Haines told RNZ that New Zealand hoped to “cause some surprises” and do more than “making the numbers up.” He said the side would “give them a run for their money” when it faces Australia. Those comments came with the acknowledgment that some overseas teams have had a much longer run-up in the sport. (brisbaneroar.com.au) RNZ also quoted Haines saying he hoped the world championships would encourage more people in New Zealand to take up the game. He said the sport offered older players a chance to return to a football pitch and enjoy the social side of the game. ### What happens next in Brisbane? The IWFF World Championships are scheduled for May 28 through May 31 at Perry Park in Brisbane, according to Walking Football New Zealand, Walking Football Australia and Brisbane Roar. (rnz.co.nz) RNZ reported that New Zealand’s first match is against England on May 28, with Australia also on its early schedule as the country begins its first appearance at the tournament.