Khaberni - Michael Wood, the Auckland goalkeeper, was forced to postpone his wedding after being included in the New Zealand national team for the World Cup, pointing out that participating in the largest tournament in the world is a valid reason for such a sacrifice.
Wood announced his engagement a year ago, at a time when he did not expect to be called up by coach Darren Bazeley for the 2026 World Cup squad.
He had planned to marry his fiancée Zana Renton next month, but this date coincides with the tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, from June 11 to July 19 next year.
New Zealand’s coach confirmed this month that Wood, who has played six international matches, will be the third goalkeeper in the 26-player squad, behind Max Crocombe and Alex Paulsen.
Despite Wood’s slim chances of playing, his fiancée Renton agreed to postpone the wedding.
The goalkeeper (27 years old) told New Zealand media, "My fiancée was very supportive of this decision. It’s not bad to cancel a wedding for such a big tournament, as this only happens once every four years."
He added, "We will just postpone it until next year."
New Zealand, the lowest-ranked team among the 48 participating countries at the World Cup, will play against Iran, Egypt, and Belgium in the group stages of the 2026 World Cup.
