All Blacks coach Ian Foster has rubbed shoulders with FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, gifting him a signed NZ rugby jersey.
Foster met with Infantino and French football legend Youri Djorkaeff at Auckland on Sunday, before posing with the jersey and the official World Cup ball.
New Zealand is co-hosting the premier women's event alongside Australia, but the connections run even deeper for Foster.
Daughter Michaela is part of the Football Ferns World Cup squad, after making her international debut in February.
New Zealand opened their group account with a shock 1-0 win over 12th-ranked Norway, their first-ever victory at a World Cup.
The All Blacks coach is delighted to see another global event showcase women's sport and, even more so, with the Football Ferns win.
"It's special for this country to have such a major event here and celebrate, first of all, sport, played at the highest level," Foster said.
"It's great to see women participate at such a high level and for me personally, I have a daughter involved in the Football Ferns.
"I'm deeply engaged with their progress and have been for the last six months. It was so exciting to be at Eden Park the other night and watch that performance.
"Then to come in with the sort of expectation of being a host nation on a big ground, a huge crowd for women's football in this country and to deliver against what was a pretty strong team.
"I think it's sort of an unbelievable start for them, but hopefully, it's just the first leg, and they grow confidence and go a bit further."
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