Grassroots, Growth and the Game: Football in New Zealand ft. CJ Price

In this episode of FootPol, Francesco Belcastro and Guy Burton are joined by CJ Price, Director of Football at Palmerston North Marist FC, for a deep dive into how football is evolving in New Zealand and across Oceania. Using Palmerston North Marist as a window onto the wider system, CJ unpacks life inside community-rooted clubs: how they are run, how leagues and youth pathways are structured and how the women’s game, futsal and volunteer-led governance fit together. With a restructured National League on the way, a men’s World Cup approaching and women’s football continuing to build after the 2023 World Cup, the conversation explores a game on the rise — becoming more organised and professional, while still negotiating the pull of local identity, accessibility, and community culture.