Young football fan heads to the World Cup2 min read
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A young football fan from Royal Oak has been given the opportunity of a lifetime – travelling overseas to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Nine-year-old Archie Frost, a student at Royal Oak Primary School, and his mother, Alex Howieson, embarked on a three-and-a-half week journey through Canada, Mexico and the United States. They departed shortly after the tournament began in mid-June and cheered on the All Whites at their matches against Iran and Egypt.
A passionate footballer, Archie has been kicking a ball since he was two years old. He now trains three times a week and dreams of one day playing professional football in Europe. His goals include juggling a football 100 times and representing New Zealand on the international stage.
Before leaving, Archie received a special surprise from LEGO New Zealand. The young football and LEGO enthusiast was visited by former All White and football legend, Ivan Vicelich, who helped him create the ultimate FIFA World Cup fan zone at home using LEGO World Cup sets.
Although many of the sets arrived pre-built due to time constraints, the fan zone was completed in just three hours.
During the build, Archie and Ivan spent time chatting about football and sharing stories from the game.
“Ivan told me all about his career playing in the Netherlands, so I’d like to go there one day. He also gave me tips about being a midfielder, how to stay fit, and how to prepare for matches if you want to be a tough football player.”
Ivan, who played 88 matches for the All Whites, shared memories of competing at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa – the last time New Zealand qualified for football’s biggest tournament. It remains one of the greatest moments in New Zealand football history, with the All Whites finishing the tournament unbeaten. Today, Ivan serves as assistant coach of Auckland City FC.
Alex organised the trip so Archie could experience the World Cup firsthand. As an added bonus, they visited family in San Diego and Mexico – two locations where the All Whites were based during the tournament.
