LOS ANGELES — In many World Cup host cities, competing teams often vie for influence beyond the soccer field. However, New Zealand has had a unique opportunity to dominate the diplomatic scene in Los Angeles as it prepares for its match tomorrow.
New Zealand is set to play against Iran, a country that has not maintained formal diplomatic ties with the United States since 1980. Despite President Donald Trump’s statements suggesting the end of a prolonged conflict between the two nations, Iran faces stringent travel limitations during the World Cup. The Iranian team has had to relocate from its initial training site in Tucson to Tijuana, and must travel to its U.S. matches without a complete government delegation.
With Iran restricted in its diplomatic presence, New Zealand has been able to advance its own agenda in Los Angeles. On Sunday evening, New Zealand consul-general Katja Ackerley hosted a “New Zealand on the World Stage” networking reception at her Brentwood residence. This event was supported by government agencies responsible for the country’s trade, sports, and foreign investment strategies.
“It’s all about soft power, it’s all about person-to-person,” explained Peter Miskimmin, the government’s head of sports diplomacy. “We are building relations through sport rather than bringing up arms against one another.”
Typically, the Los Angeles diplomatic office of New Zealand concentrates on promoting exports such as wine and lamb, facilitating visas for Hollywood professionals on location shoots, and dealing with the recurring issue of “Kiwis losing their passports in Las Vegas,” as one former office member described it.
A group of New Zealand officials is gearing up for the country’s first World Cup participation since 2010, unsure if any Iranian counterparts will attend and how it might impact the usual match-day festivities.
“This is our first World Cup in 16 years so we can’t tell what’s different,” remarked James Wear, a general manager of the New Zealand Football Association. “We don’t have anything to compare.”
