New Zealand walking football team in Brisbane

New Zealand's walking football team is heading to Brisbane for its first appearance at the International Walking Football Federation World Championships, with the tournament due to open on May 28. RNZ reported on May 17 that the 12-player squad is made up of competitors aged 50 and over and is preparing for matches against more established sides. (rnz.co.nz) The championships will run from May 28 to May 31 at Perry Park in Brisbane, according to Walking Football Australia. The event is being staged in the Southern Hemisphere for the first time, Brisbane Roar said in an April 30 event notice. ### Who is in the New Zealand squad heading to Brisbane? (walkingfootballaustralia.com) RNZ reported that New Zealand's team is a 12-player squad of men and women aged 50 and over, assembled for the country's first outing at the championships. Neil Haines, the team's coach and manager, told RNZ that the side had only recently begun preparing together. Haines told RNZ he had been promoting the sport through a local trust after discovering walking football a couple of years ago. He said participation had grown from an initial gala day at North Shore United Club to regular games that now attract between 20 and 30 people twice a week on summer evenings. (rnz.co.nz) ### What does walking football change from the regular game? Haines told RNZ the format is six-a-side, played on smaller fields, with rolling substitutes. He said the key rule is that players walk rather than run, and that the format is aimed at people aged 50 and over in the New Zealand setup. (rnz.co.nz) Brisbane Roar said walking football is designed for older players and is contested across men's and women's age categories at the world championships. Its event notice said the Brisbane tournament will include divisions ranging from over-40s through over-75s. (rnz.co.nz) ### How ready is New Zealand for its first world championships? Haines told RNZ the New Zealand squad began training about three weeks before the tournament and planned to increase sessions from once a week on Sundays to twice a week before departure. He said the side expected a challenge from teams in Europe that had been playing for at least 10 years. (rnz.co.nz) "We're looking forward to it," Haines told RNZ. He said New Zealand would open against England and then face Australia, adding that his players hoped to "give them a run for their money." (brisbaneroar.com.au) ### Why is the Brisbane tournament notable for the sport? Walking Football Australia said Brisbane 2026 will combine the IWFF World Championships and a walking football festival at one venue for the first time. Its event page said the four-day program is expected to draw 400 to 500 players, along with families and supporters. Brisbane Roar said Perry Park in Bowen Hills will host the championships from May 28 to May 31. (rnz.co.nz) The club said the event will run alongside the Football Queensland Walking Football Festival on warm-up fields at the venue. ### Where can readers follow the team and what comes next? RNZ's May 17 report said New Zealand's first match is against England on May 28, followed by a game against Australia. Walking Football New Zealand has posted an event page for the Brisbane championships, and RNZ said match schedules and player information are available in its coverage. (walkingfootballaustralia.com) The championships are scheduled to conclude on May 31 at Perry Park in Brisbane. Australia, competing as the host nation, will take the field alongside visiting teams from across Europe and other countries, according to Brisbane Roar and Walking Football Australia. (walkingfootballaustralia.com) (rnz.co.nz) (brisbaneroar.com.au)