Jordan Rakei has been through the emotional ringer as a New Zealand supporter at this World Cup. And honestly, he’s just happy to be here.
The multi-instrumentalist and producer, who grew up in Auckland, spoke with OneFootball as part of a collaboration with Shoot Music about his experience watching the All Whites in Group G. And his reactions are basically what every Kiwi fan is feeling right now: hope, followed by reality check, followed by quiet pride.
The Iran game still stings
New Zealand took the lead twice against Iran in their opener and settled for a 2-2 draw. When you’re the lower-ranked team in a World Cup group, you feel every missed chance. Rakei does.
“Mixed, honestly,” he said with a laugh. “Leading twice and coming away with a draw against Iran was a bit stinging. We could see the win right there and it slipped away. It’s just frustrating we couldn’t hold on!”
Then Egypt brought New Zealand back to earth with a 3-1 loss. Rakei isn’t sugarcoating it. “That game maybe put us back into reality. We had a moment after that first game where there was a bit of hope and it’s slipped away pretty quickly.” The math is brutal now: they need to beat one of the tournament favorites, Belgium, to advance.
“It’s not looking good at the moment,” he admitted. “But that’s always the case being a NZ fan at football World Cups. I’m just proud we are in the tournament.”
The 2010 run was legendary
Ask any New Zealand fan about their favorite World Cup memory and you get the same answer: 2010. The All Whites went unbeaten in the group stage that year, drawing all three games against Slovakia, Italy, and Paraguay. Even the eventual champions Spain lost a game. New Zealand didn’t.
“It’s our claim to fame, and has been since,” Rakei said.
That run still resonates because it felt impossible. A nation of five million, often overlooked in global football, going unbeaten against a field that included the defending champion Italy. It doesn’t get old.
Chris Wood is the key for one more miracle
If New Zealand somehow finds a way past Belgium, Rakei thinks one guy will lead the charge. Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood.
“Probably Chris Wood. More experienced player and it’s possibly his last World Cup, so I guess he’ll try to go out with a bang,” Rakei said. “He played great against Iran and the passing and physicality is great too. Everything felt like it was going through him.”
The big striker has been the focal point of New Zealand’s attack for years. At 34, this could be his final shot on the biggest stage.
Who takes the whole thing?
Like most neutral fans, Rakei sees the tournament coming down to the usual suspects. “I think it has to be France or Argentina, with a potential passing of the torch moment from Messi to Mbappé. Both play exciting football.”
He also likes England and Germany as dark horses. Not a hot take, but a reasonable one.
Rakei’s new EP ‘Between Us’ is out now. You can follow him on Instagram at @jrakz.
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