New Zealand uses haka to 'bring a little bit extra,' but not on World Cup pitch

When New Zealand plays Egypt at the World Cup, fans watching on TV won't see the team perform its famous haka on the soccer field. The haka is a traditional ceremony that comes from the Māori people, the indigenous people of New Zealand. Even though it is one of the most recognized rituals in all of international sports, FIFA's rules make it hard to fit the haka into the pre-match routine on the pitch. Still, the New Zealand soccer team finds a way to keep the tradition alive before every game.

The team, known as the All Whites, sometimes performs the haka inside the locker room before a match begins. Star player Chris Wood, who has scored more goals for New Zealand than anyone else in the country's history, says the haka means a lot to the squad. 'It is something that we do rely upon,' Wood said. 'It's something that hopefully makes us a bit different from other nations around the world, and something that we use to our advantage to try and bring a little bit extra to us.' Those words show just how much the ceremony matters, even when the world can't see it happen.

The haka has deep roots in New Zealand's sporting history. Back in 1888, a New Zealand football touring team performed a haka during an international trip, starting a long tradition. By 1905, rugby players were doing it before some of their matches, and by 1986 it became something the All Blacks rugby team did before every single game. In 2014, a video of New Zealand performing the haka before a basketball game at the FIBA World Cup against the United States went viral online and introduced the ceremony to millions of new fans around the world.

The haka is more than just a performance — it has a deep meaning for the players who take part in it. The All Blacks rugby team's website says the haka prepares players 'mentally, physically and spiritually for battle.' For the soccer team, it carries the same weight. 'It's a massive part of our heritage, and a massive part of where we come from,' Wood said. 'It's something that, as all Kiwis, we love and respect that side of our culture.' The word 'Kiwis' is a nickname for people from New Zealand.

Heading into their match against Egypt, New Zealand had strong reasons to want every edge they could find. The team is ranked 83rd in the world, while Egypt is ranked 28th, making New Zealand the underdog. Group G was tied at one point, meaning the result of this match could decide who moves on. New Zealand has never won a World Cup match and has never reached the knockout stage of the tournament. For the All Whites, the haka — whether performed in the locker room or not — is one more tool in their effort to make history.