Wrexham defender Liberato Cacace started at left-back for New Zealand on Tuesday morning as the All Whites drew 2-2 with Iran in their opening World Cup group match at SoFi Stadium.
It was a proud moment for Wrexham supporters. Cacace was trusted from the first whistle on football’s biggest stage, and he played 68 minutes before being replaced by Ben Old.
Elijah scored twice for New Zealand, while Iran replied through Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebi.
Cacace was trusted in a demanding role
New Zealand set up in a 4-2-3-1 shape, with Cacace operating as the left-back in a back four. That role brought clear responsibility against an Iran side with pace, experience and threat in wide areas.
For Wrexham fans, the important point was not a goal, assist or headline moment. It was that Cacace looked trusted, settled and tactically reliable on the biggest stage.
Cacace played the first 68 minutes before New Zealand made the change. That is a meaningful workload in a game that stayed intense until the final whistle.
New Zealand showed they belong
The All Whites twice went ahead through Just. Iran came back both times, first through Rezaeian and then through Mohebi in the second half.
That will frustrate New Zealand because they were close to a historic win. Al Jazeera carried Darren Bazeley’s post-match view that the result was “bittersweet”.
That matters when assessing Cacace. He was part of a New Zealand team that tried to build, compete and take the game to Iran when chances arrived.
Why this matters for Wrexham
Wrexham are now operating in a different space under Phil Parkinson. The club are competing in the Championship and have players performing on the global stage.
Cacace starting a World Cup game is a reflection of that shift. It gives supporters another example of the level of player now wearing Wrexham colours at the Racecourse.
The rise of Welcome to Wrexham, the progress around the new Kop stand and the club’s place in the Championship table all speak to that changing profile.
Two more chances to impress
New Zealand’s remaining group fixtures are Egypt on 21 June and Belgium on 26 June, both in Vancouver.
For Cacace, the challenge is clear. If he keeps his place, he has two more opportunities to show Wrexham fans that his World Cup start against Iran was only the beginning.
His opening performance was calm and encouraging. For Wrexham, it was another reminder that one of their own is now testing himself on the biggest stage in the game.
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