Next year’s FIFA World Cup is being billed as a ‘tournament of firsts’.

When 48 teams play 104 matches in front of an estimated 6.5 million spectators across three host countries - the United States, Mexico, and Canada - among them will be our All Whites, making just their third cup appearance.

More than 40 years ago in 1982, when the side made its World Cup debut, Wyton Rufer was there.

Oceania’s player of the 20th century, Rufer scored  17 goals in his 38 appearances for the All Whites. This week on Small Town Journey, we chat to him about everything from his love of, and getting his start in, the ‘beautiful game’, to players which shaped his playing style. We ask him if he was ever nervous on some of the world’s biggest footballing stages where few Kiwi players have gone before and we discuss his desire to see the next generation of up and coming Kiwi footballing talent thrive.

Check out Wynton’s football academy here: https://www.wynrs.co.nz (https://www.wynrs.co.nz/)

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