No one knew his name a month ago. Today, Tim Payne has more than 5 million followers on Instagram and rallies organized in Miami and Los Angeles in his honor, and he still hasn’t set foot on a World Cup pitch. 🤯
The 32-year-old Wellington Phoenix defender became the unexpected phenomenon of the 2026 World Cup thanks to a viral campaign driven by Argentine influencer Valentín Scarsini, known as ‘Elscarso’.
In a matter of days, Payne went from total anonymity to becoming a worldwide trending topic. His national team, New Zealand, has never won a match at a World Cup, and that detail makes everything even more epic. 🇳🇿
He makes his debut on June 15 against Iran in Los Angeles, then faces Egypt on June 21 and Belgium on the 27th, both in Vancouver. Will he be able to live up to all that fame on the pitch? That’s the question millions are already asking themselves. ⚡
