If we needed a reality check about the strength of the teams at this tournament, relative to New Zealand, we got it last night at North Harbour Stadium.
Ukraine took control of Group A on Wednesday with a 6-0 demolition of Myanmar in Whangarei.
There is no lack of drama in Group B at the Fifa Under-20 World Cup.
Torrential rain, thunderstorms and the odd hail shower couldn't dampen spirits as thousands of fans turned out for the Junior All Whites' second Fifa U-20 World Cup game last night on the North Shore.
New Zealand's future at the Under-20 World Cup hangs in the balance, after a resounding 4-0 defeat at the hands of the United States last night.
Ernie Merrick is understood to have pitched an offer to Thompson to make a dramatic switch to Wellington Phoenix, with Victory negotiations reaching a tense stalemate.
Ghana deservedly beat a testy Argentina 3-2 in their Fifa U-20 World Cup clash at Wellington Regional Stadium on Tuesday night.
There are playing strips in sport that strike fear - even awe - into opposition sides. The All Blacks' famous jersey. The green and gold of the Australian cricket side. And the very simple yellow Brazilian football shirt.
Here we go again.
Several fancied teams find themselves out of the 2015 ASB Chatham Cup running on Monday night
The Road to Rio 2016 became clearer following the release of the match schedule for Olympic Qualifiers.
Oceania's hopes of direct entry into the Fifa World Cup are over - at least for the next eight years.
This time last year a 'big match' for Moses Dyer might take place at Sacred Heart College. Or Mount Albert Grammar School. Or St Kentigerns College.
It was a win for USA and a win for Whangarei as fans warmly embraced the region's inaugural Group A Fifa Under-20 World Cup match between Myanmar and USA this afternoon.
Angry football fans have shown QBE Stadium the red card on the first day of the under-20 World Cup, with complaints of "chaos" inside and outside the venue.
The progression achieved by New Zealand football over the past decade can be illustrated by the make-up of Darren Bazeley's under-20s squad.
What might have been. This was an almost perfect start to the Under-20 World Cup but the 'almost' might yet come back to haunt New Zealand at this tournament.
Pre-tournament favourites Argentina have been held to a 2-2 draw by Panama during an entertaining Under-20 World Cup clash in Wellington tonight.
The Junior All Whites have held the much fancied Ukraine to a 0-0 draw in the opening game of the Fifa U-20 World Cup in Auckland on Saturday.
For the first time in 16 months, a football match in New Zealand was the hottest ticket in town.
The Junior All Whites are staring up a steep incline as they seek to get points on the board in their first Fifa u-20 World Cup match against Ukraine in Auckland on Saturday.
One of world football's leading starlets is raring to go and ready to dazzle at Hamilton's Waikato Stadium on Sunday.
The All Whites path to the World Cup may be about to get a whole lot simpler.
It plays second fiddle to baseball in Panama but football is now up there in the passion stakes.
With a right foot, 16-year-old midfielder David Mulligan captured the Kiwi public's imagination back in 1999.
Men’s U-20s coach Darren Bazeley says Saturday’s FIFA U-20 World Cup opener against the Ukraine is the culmination of lengthy build-up which has his players raring to go.
Counting down to the Fifa Under-20 World Cup, which begins today, the Herald looks at how each group stacks up. Today, Steven Holloway weighs up Group F.
After two years of battling away in New Zealand's national league, five warm-up matches against international opposition and a week filled with media appointments and Fifa disruptions, the Junior All Whites are finally ready for their moment on the world stage.
Those who decided to schedule football's Under-20 World Cup here in May-June had every reason to think they had got the timing right.
The only thing that really matters for New Zealand football over the next seven days is results.
Four football-mad mates have embarked on an ambitious 22-day road trip to watch 23 Fifa U-20 World Cup games.
Two New Zealand Football officials were "evicted" from an Under-20 World Cup pre-tournament match, as they attempted to watch a rival team in a practice game.
President Mark Aspden confirmed on Friday New Zealand Football will support Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein in the FIFA Presidential Election
As advice goes, Adam Milne's to the New Zealand U-20 team could not be any simpler. Nor could the international fast bowler be accused of failing to practice what he preaches, having been part of the Kiwi team that captivated a nation at the recent Cricket World Cup.
Clayton Lewis wears the No 10 Junior All Whites shirt with the confidence required to adorn such a jersey.