Two Samoan footballers, Marko Stamenic and Michael Boxall, are at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The pair are in the New Zealand All Whites.
Marko Seufatu Nikola Stamenic, a midfielder who has family ties to Solosolo. He is the first Samoan and only the second New Zealand player to appear in a UEFA Champions League match after Oceania Player of the Century Wynton Rufer.
Stamenic made his senior debut for the All Whites in 2021. He has started 36 of his 38 international appearances and captained New Zealand for the first time in an international friendly against Ecuador last year.
He currently plays for Welsh Club Swansea City AFC in the English Championship and also played for FC Copenhagen in Denmark, Red Star Belgrade in Serbia and Olympiakos in Greece.
Born and raised in Wellington, Stamenic moved to Europe at 18 after being scouted at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
