New Zealand's Stamenic aims to do late father proud

Marko Stamenic was eight years old when he sat alongside his father to watch New Zealand's most recent World Cup appearance. Sixteen years later, the All Whites are back at football's biggest tournament, and Stamenic, now an elegant, powerful midfielder, will be at the heart of their team.

Stamenic, of Swansea City, is set to join the small band of Kiwi footballers who have played at a World Cup when New Zealand kick off their Group B campaign against Iran in Los Angeles in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Tragically, his father will not be there to see it happen.

Nikola Stamenic, a key influence on his son's footballing career, died suddenly last October. In an emotional tribute at the time, Stamenic described his father as being "the best man I will ever know." A little over seven months on, the 24-year-old says he is always thinking of his father – and that there are "goose bumps every time."

"I don't really think he's not with us, in a way," Stamenic says. "I'm always thinking of him when I step on the field, whether that's for the national team or for Swansea. He had a huge, huge part in my life and all of our lives in my family and there is a huge hole in all of our hearts now. But I know he's watching from above and I hope we're making him proud."

All Whites return to World Cup stage

New Zealand's Group G meeting with Iran is their first World Cup tournament game since 2010. Last time round, they went home after the group stage despite not being beaten in South Africa, where they drew with Slovakia, Italy and Paraguay. Stamenic recalls waking up early in the morning to watch those games with his dad.

"I remember telling him 'I want to do that, I want to play at the World Cup for New Zealand,'" he says. "I'm over the moon that the chance has come."

Stamenic is one of the key players in a New Zealand side beaten 1-0 by England in their final pre-tournament warm-up game. That was a more encouraging result than the 4-0 friendly loss to Haiti three days earlier. New Zealand, who are making just a third World Cup appearance, are one of the tournament's rank outsiders but Stamenic says there is belief they can get out of a group which also features Egypt and Belgium.

"I don't think a New Zealand team has ever won a game in the World Cup so that's definitely a target for us," he says. "I think with the new format, possibly a win could get you through the group. I'm quite optimistic wherever I'm playing, whether it's Swansea or my national team, and I do believe we have the quality to do that."

Stamenic's journey to the World Cup

Stamenic heads into the World Cup on the back of an encouraging first season at Swansea, who he joined from Nottingham Forest last summer. He made 38 appearances for the Championship side, scoring three goals, and is likely to have a significant part to play as Vitor Matos' team target a play-off push in 2026-27.

Stamenic made a positive impression in Wales despite having to deal with the loss of his mentor, after which he missed four Swansea games while on compassionate leave. "My dad always used to tell me that no matter the problems going on outside the pitch, once you step on that pitch you forget about it all," Stamenic says. "I've had amazing support from all the staff, all the players in Swansea as well as my national team, to help me through this part of my life. I'm just grateful for all the help I've received."

Stamenic landed his chance in European football after impressing at the Under-17 World Cup in 2019, moving to FC Copenhagen the following spring. He won the Danish title in 2022-23, then the Serbian top flight with Red Star Belgrade the following year and the Greek Super League while playing for Olympiacos in 2024-25.