New Zealand Is in the World Cup. Montreal's One Kiwi Counter Changed Hands. Now What?
One country, one team, and one Kiwi-Aussie counter in Montreal that recently changed hands. The All Whites are back at a World Cup for the first time since 2010. Where to eat, what changed at TA Pies, and the honest version of both.
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The Oceania confederation gets one direct ticket to the World Cup, and in 2026 it goes to New Zealand. One country. One team. The smallest regional bid at the tournament. The All Whites are back at a World Cup for the first time since 2010, and their qualification is both unsurprising and quietly earned. They beat New Caledonia in the OFC final, they were ranked top of the region throughout, and they did the job the way New Zealand teams tend to do it. With more substance than flash.
Kiwi football culture is real but small. Rugby still owns the national imagination, and the All Blacks brand dwarfs every other team's. The All Whites get attention in cycles, mostly during World Cup runs, and the domestic league is modest. The country produces good players who move to England or Australia early. Wellington Phoenix sits in the Australian A-League. The fan base is loyal, traveled, and used to being the underdog at any tournament they reach. That posture suits them.
New Zealand. Coach Darren Bazeley brought the team through Oceania qualifying with the same calm that defines the national setup. Captain Chris Wood, the Nottingham Forest striker, scored prolifically in qualifying and arrives in form. The All Whites' last World Cup appearance was 2010 in South Africa, where they did something improbable. They drew all three group games. Against Slovakia. Against Italy, the defending champions. Against Paraguay. Three draws, no wins, no losses, and an exit from the group stage as the only undefeated team in the tournament. That run is the proudest moment in New Zealand football history and the high bar the 2026 squad will be measured against. Realistic outlook is a group stage exit, but this is a team that can steal a draw against anyone if the day breaks right. For Montreal, the eating story comes down to one address. TA Pies on Avenue du Parc, founded in 2010 by Kiwi chef Don Hudson and his wife Melanie Des Lauriers, has been the city's southern-hemisphere pie counter for fifteen years. The room changed hands in 2025. Some long-time regulars say it's leaner and the UK/OZ/NZ imports are gone. Newer customers still rate it highly. Overall ★4.8 on hundreds of reviews. Mince and cheese, steak and kidney, lamb roganjosh, butter chicken, anzacs in the case. Go early on match days. The room is small.
The wager is the flat white plus meat pie combo. Specialty coffee bars across Mile End and the Plateau pour a flat white that would pass in Auckland. Olimpico, Pikolo, Tunnel Espresso Bar. TA Pies on Avenue du Parc still runs a long pie list and remains the only southern-hemisphere counter in town. The ownership change is real and the import shelves are thinner than they were, but the pies still come out of the oven and the rating holds. The All Whites land in Group G with Belgium, Egypt, and Iran, with two of three games at BC Place in Vancouver, so Canadian fans can travel west or watch on the same time zone. Kickoff times for New Zealand matches will sit in the Montreal afternoon or early evening, a generous shift after decades of Kiwi fans setting alarms for the small hours. Pour the flat white before. Grab the pie at TA Pies. Cheer for the All Whites the way you would cheer for anyone who showed up to a tournament with one kitchen on their side.
Frequently asked questions
Is there any Kiwi food in Montreal?
One place that's been doing it for years. TA Pies on Avenue du Parc, founded in 2010 by Don Hudson and Melanie Des Lauriers, is the city's southern-hemisphere pie counter. New owners took over in 2025. Some long-time regulars say the stock is leaner and the UK/OZ/NZ imports are gone. Newer customers still rate it highly, and the overall Google score sits at ★4.8 on hundreds of reviews. It's still the address. Go with reasonable expectations and you'll likely have a good pie. Flat whites at specialty coffee bars in Mile End and the Plateau still pour to spec. For a proper hāngī you still need a back yard.
What is the difference between Australian and New Zealand cuisine?
Both share British colonial roots and the Pacific. Both claim the flat white and the meat pie. New Zealand leans more on lamb, seafood, and Māori traditions like hāngī, the earth-oven cook. Pavlova is contested. Both countries call it theirs. For most North American eaters the two cuisines feel close enough that the same café or pub serves both communities. Locals tell them apart instantly.
What is a flat white, exactly?
A double shot of espresso with steamed milk poured at low texture. Less foam than a cappuccino, smaller than a latte, smoother than either. The Kiwi and Aussie origin story is contested but both countries built the cafe culture that exported the drink globally. Montreal's third-wave coffee scene has carried it for years. Most specialty bars in Mile End and the Plateau will pour one to spec.
What time will New Zealand matches play in Montreal?
The tournament runs in Canada, the USA, and Mexico, so kickoff times sit in the North American afternoon and evening. For the first time in living memory, watching the All Whites does not mean a five in the morning alarm. New Zealand opens in Group G against Iran on June 15 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, then plays Egypt and Belgium at BC Place in Vancouver on June 21 and 26. Two of three games on Canadian soil. Pleasant viewing hours, finally.