New Zealand may have been held to a draw against Iran earlier this week, but the All Whites still etched their names into World Cup history through defender Tyler Bindon and his mother, former international goalkeeper Jenny Bindon. The 21-year-old was introduced in second-half injury time of the 2-2 draw……
New Zealand may have been held to a draw against Iran earlier this week, but the All Whites still etched their names into World Cup history through defender Tyler Bindon and his mother, former international goalkeeper Jenny Bindon.
The 21-year-old was introduced in second-half injury time of the 2-2 draw in Los Angeles, helping to stabilise the New Zealand defence while also completing a landmark moment in football history as the pair became the first mother-son duo to feature at a FIFA World Cup.
Tyler’s mother, Jenny Bindon, represented New Zealand at the 2007 and 2011 Women’s World Cups, as well as the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. She made her international debut in 2004 and earned 77 caps over a decade-long career.
Speaking after the historic moment, Tyler wrote on Instagram, “A special day for many reasons, proud to represent New Zealand on the biggest stage and incredibly grateful to share the moment with my mum as the first mother-son duo to play at a World Cup.”
Former Football Ferns goalkeeper Jenny Bindon said she was overwhelmed with pride after watching her son step onto football’s biggest stage.
In an interview posted by RNZ on their website, Jenny described the moment as “pretty special,” recalling an emotional exchange after the match. She said, “After the game, I was lucky enough to get down to give him that handshake from the tall wall there at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, and he just said ‘we did it, Mum.’”
She added, “Just when he said that, it really dawned on me like, we did it, we’re the first, and that’s unbelievable.”
Jenny, who featured in both the 2007 World Cup—when Tyler was two years old—and the 2011 edition, said her son grew up immersed in football while she balanced motherhood and international duty.
“He’s lived every stage of my journey together because ever since he’s been three months old, he’s been at a Football Ferns function of training or travelling or doing anything with us,” she said.
Reflecting on one of her earliest memories with him, she added, “I think one of my proudest moments was walking out, and I think I have this photo somewhere, but you can see my back bending and then I just remember hearing Tyler say, ‘let’s go, Mummy’ and I think that’s special because there weren’t a lot of women who were at that time playing and had children.”
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Tyler Bindon, born in Auckland, moved to California at age 12 after his mother took up a coaching role with UCLA women’s football. He progressed through the Los Angeles FC academy before joining Reading in 2023, moving to Nottingham Forest in 2025, and spending last season on loan at Sheffield United.
His father, Grant Bindon, is a former captain of New Zealand’s men’s volleyball team.
While Tyler and Jenny are the first mother-son pairing in World Cup history, football has previously seen father-son appearances, including Claudio Reyna and his son Giovanni Reyna of the United States, as well as Norway’s Alf-Inge Haaland and his son Erling Haaland.
New Zealand will next face Egypt in Vancouver on Monday, 22nd June, in their second group-stage match.
…. Bindon Family Makes History as New Zealand Defender, Mum Become First Mother-Son Duo At World Cup ….. Primetimes.com.ng.
