Marko Stamenic was eight when he watched New Zealand's 2010 World Cup campaign with his father, dreaming of representing the All Whites himself. Sixteen years later, the Swansea City midfielder prepares for his World Cup debut against Iran in Los Angeles, carrying deep emotional motivation after his father's sudden death last October.

New Zealand returns to football's biggest stage for just their third appearance, having failed to progress beyond the group stage in 2010 despite remaining unbeaten with draws against Slovakia, Italy and Paraguay. Their recent form shows promise after a narrow 1-0 defeat to England, though a heavy 4-0 loss to Haiti raises concerns about their tournament prospects.

Stamenic admits feeling 'goose bumps' whenever he steps onto the pitch, believing his father watches from above. The 24-year-old recalls promising his dad he would play at the World Cup, and now aims to deliver New Zealand's first-ever victory in the competition. He sees potential in the new format potentially allowing a single win to advance from Group B.

With matches against Belgium and Egypt also looming, Stamenic represents hope for a nation seeking to break their winless World Cup drought. His personal story adds emotional weight to what many expect will be another difficult campaign for the tournament underdogs.