Tyler Bindon becomes part of first mother-son duo to play at World Cup

New Zealand defender Tyler Bindon wrote his name into football history during his team's 2-2 draw against Iran in their World Cup group stage match. The 21-year-old came off the bench in stoppage time, marking the first time in history that a mother-son duo has both played in a World Cup tournament.

His mother, Jenny Bindon, is a legend of New Zealand women's football. A goalkeeper who made 77 appearances for the national team, she represented her country at the 2007 and 2011 Women's World Cups, as well as the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. Tyler expressed his pride in sharing this unique sporting milestone with her.

Tyler's development began in the United States, where he trained at the LAFC academy. He later moved to Europe, joining Nottingham Forest in 2025 following a stint at Reading. Last season, he gained valuable experience on loan at Sheffield United, helping him prepare for his current World Cup campaign.

Special day for many reasons. Proud to represent New Zealand on the biggest stage and incredibly grateful to share this moment with my mom as the first mother-son duo to play in a World Cup. Tyler Bindon

While the history of the World Cup is filled with father-son legacies, such as Claudio and Giovanni Reyna or Alf-Inge and Erling Haaland, the Bindon family has set a unique precedent as the first mother-son pair to reach the tournament stage.

New Zealand's next challenge is against Egypt. The match is scheduled to take place in Vancouver on June 22 at 04:00 Kyiv time.