Tyler Bindon has a little secret he wants to share. One that lay concealed inside his socks while on duty with the United States U-19 side in early 2023.
Eligible for both the United States and New Zealand, that little secret, as he donned the American red, white and blue, held more than a small hint towards a future in white, as he tossed up his international allegiance.
“Honestly, there was never really much difficulty in making that decision. It was a privilege to be there with the US side because not many people get to do that but I was always going to choose New Zealand. Even in those games with the US, I had New Zealand shinpads on!”
Main photo: Tyler Bindon in action for the All Whites at the 2024 OFC Men’s Nations Cup. Photo credit: OFC / Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
While the New Zealand-born defender’s twin eligibility stems from his mother’s side, his sporting bloodlines are absolutely drawn from both parents.
Mother Jenny was born in the American state of Illinois but went on to become a Football Ferns icon, while father Grant was a former captain of the New Zealand volleyball team.
A two-time Olympian, at Beijing 2008 and London 2012, Jenny Bindon earned 77 international caps in goal for New Zealand and was the oldest athlete in the women’s tournament at the latter of those two Games.
As Tyler tells FIFA, the experience he gained growing up watching his mother compete on the global stage was invaluable, as was the simple, yet straightforward, advice she gave him as he’s set to become one of a rare breed of second generation Olympians.
“She said just to enjoy it, have a good experience, be connected with the boys and the team.
“As a young child, it was mind-blowing and pretty cool, if I’m honest, watching her play. I got to go on the pitch with her and she took me places that not many people could go. I loved being able to see her perform on the big stage and see her do what she loves.”
That’s an experience the 19-year-old is about to taste first-hand and he’s thrilled to be a part of what he terms a “special generation” of New Zealand talent. One that, Bindon believes, has the quality to translate what is hopefully Olympic success onto the senior stage.
“There is a feeling that we’re set up to do something special, we have good players and also a really good bond so hopefully that feeling comes to fruition.
“I think it’s crucial [that we grow as a group], there’s a lot of potential in this group and the goal we’ve been working towards for the past couple of years is not just to qualify for a World Cup, but also to do well when we’re there. I think this generation will be crucial to that.”
The first step on that long journey starts in the southeastern coastal city of Nice when the OlyWhites meet Guinea, before a clash with a nation close to home in the form of United States and then a marquee fixture against the hosts to round things out.
As daunting as the group appears on paper, the young central defender, on the books of English club Reading, is far from overawed as he matter-of-factly outlines the team’s goals.
“No one plays to lose, right? The goal is always to win every game, and that means that the goal is to win a medal.”
In what is just New Zealand’s fourth Olympics outing, that would surpass the quarter-final showing at Tokyo 2020 and prove that the nation, barely a month on from claiming the OFC Nations Cup crown, is firmly on the right footing.
READ MORE: Men’s squad named to represent New Zealand at Olympic Games in Paris >>>>
It might though mean less time for Bindon, who has modelled his game on Ruben Dias and Virgil van Dijk, to take in other events in Paris at the start of what he hopes will be a long and successful Olympics campaign.
“Growing up, like pretty much everyone, I was into the 100 metres and, if we’re allowed to, I’d go watch everything here! The Olympics is such a great event, and being here now in France, it’s quite surreal.
“I feel that I’ve learnt a lot at club level over the past year in terms of dealing with players and managing games and the whole experience of that, so hopefully I can bring a little bit of that to this group.”
READ MORE: Teenager Tyler Bindon lands deal with English League One club Reading >>>>
Acknowledgement
We are grateful for the help of FIFA in providing this story.
A sign of things to come
Bindon played his junior and youth football for Auckland’s East Coast Bays before joining the Los Angeles FC youth academy.
When he was 11, Bindon scored a direct free kick from 35 metres, when playing for East Coast Bays.
Olympic fixtures
Group A
Games to be played on Thursday July 25, 2024 (NZT)
France v United States
Stade de Marseille, Marseille, 7am (NZT)
Guinea v New Zealand
Stade de Nice, Nice, 3am (NZT)
Games to be played on Sunday July 28, 2024 (NZT)
New Zealand v United States
Stade de Marseille, Marseille, 5am (NZT)
France v Guinea
Stade de Nice, Nice, 7am (NZT)
Games to be played on Wednesday July 31, 2024 (NZT)
New Zealand v France
Stade de Marseille, Marseille, 5am (NZT)
United States v Guinea
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, 5am (NZT)
The men’s football tournament at the Olympics
Men’s football at the Olympics is restricted to under-23 players (born on or after January 1, 2000), though each team can select up to three overage players.
Match venues for the tournament are Paris, Bordeaux, Décines-Charpieu (near Lyon), Marseille, Nantes, Nice and Saint-Étienne.
This story was first published on July 23, 2024.
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