Leighton and the NZ U-20 men’s team have returned from the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile. In front of 45,000 passionate home fans in Santiago, NZ took on Chile in the opening game of the tournament. After falling behind in the second half, New Zealand showed great character to draw level in the 85th minute through a well-taken penalty by Nathan Walker. However, heartbreak struck deep into stoppage time, as Chile snatched a 97th-minute winner to take all three points.
The team bounced back in the second game, securing a crucial win over Egypt. Goals from Luke Brooke-Smith and Xuan Loke within five minutes of each other gave NZ a deserved 2–1 lead by halftime. Egypt applied pressure in the second half but the team held firm to earn a memorable victory.
With a spot in the Round of 16 at stake, NZ faced a technically strong Japan side in their final group match. Japan opened the scoring with a great strike in the 21st minute. Despite showing fight, NZ couldn’t break through the Japanese defense, and two further goals sealed the result.
New Zealand finished with 3 points, narrowly missing out on advancing as one of the best third-placed teams. The tournament showcased a promising generation of players with the potential to make a mark in future senior national teams. Congratulations to the players, staff and everyone involved in the campaign. The future of New Zealand football is in good hands.