The Email She’d Been Waiting For
O’Brien earned chance to represent New Zealand on world stage
Audrey Neale
Scrolling through her email, Poppy O’Brien searched through a list of names, finally finding the
one she had been waiting to see.
Poppy O’Brien.
The Colorado State freshman had spent years working her way through New Zealand’s youth national system, hoping for an opportunity to represent her country on the world stage. Now, just weeks into her first preseason with the Rams, the opportunity was in front of her.
While typically a call, O’Brien received an email of New Zealand's roster for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.
“Usually we'll get an email saying, “hey, you'll get called in a week,” but we just got the straight email. I was scrolling, scrolling, scrolling. I was like, “Oh my gosh,” when I saw my name,” O’Brien said. “My best friend, who's at Xavier, she also made it and we've known each other since we were 10. It was amazing.”
Although not her typical way of being selected for a roster, it became even more special when she found her best friend of more than a decade, Penny Brill, would be joining her on the squad.
O’Brien made a quick call home followed by a message to Colorado State coach Keeley Hagen.
“I called my mom and my dad first and then I messaged Keeley, which was so exciting because she knew that I was nervous and didn't know fully, 100% if I was going,” O’Brien said. “So that was a really special moment.”
One of the highest honors awarded to a young female soccer player, this was an opportunity she built throughout her childhood. Her selection was the culmination of years spent developing with New Zealand's youth system.
O’Brien represented New Zealand at the U-17 and U-19 levels. However, after attending a camp in the U-17s, O’Brien tore a ligament in her ankle, making her unavailable just before the 2024 World Cup.
This setback did not end her World Cup ambitions as O'Brien later made New Zealand’s U-20 squad, joining them for the competition qualifier in Tahiti in 2025.
New Zealand won the Oceania tournament, securing its place in the 2026 World Cup and giving O’Brien the opportunity she had been working toward.
“That gave us qualification for the World Cup winning that, and then we were drawn in a pool, a very hard pool,” O’Brien said. “We had America, Italy, and Japan, which is basically the pool of death. But we were super excited; such a cool opportunity to play such high-class teams.”
Following the qualifier, O’Brien and the Kiwis faced off twice against Australia in a preparatory series in late May, building momentum ahead of the World Cup. Both games came up a draw, using the time for coaches to look at the quad and players to get a feel of what they might encounter in Poland. For O’Brien, it gave her more than the opportunity to wear her country’s kit, it gave her the confidence she needed to compete at a higher level and test herself.
The timing of the selection came at an unusual juncture for O’Brien. She had just begun to settle in at CSU when she learned she would soon have to leave for Poland.
As a true freshman living in the dorms, O’Brien was navigating life in a new country, a new idea of school, and the demands of a collegiate soccer player. Her new roommate and teammate, Fabienne Bos, became one of the people sharing the experience with her.
Bos remembered O’Brien discussing the possibility of making the New Zealand roster, knowing how much the opportunity meant.
“She was telling me about the World Cup coming up and she was pretty confident about making the team,” Bos said. “But of course it's always a scary, scary moment because she really wants to make it. When she made it, she was just very happy.”
Not only did O’Brien receive lots of support from her new roommate, but also from CSU’s coaching staff. They helped O’Brien prepare for the differences between an American college game and New Zealand's national system.
New Zealand’s play looks a little different than out in the West, focusing mostly on defense, something that the Rams were going to have to prepare O’Brien to face.
“Keeley and the whole team were obviously so excited for me and wanted to prepare me in the best way possible and have such a high standard of training,” O’Brien said. “I played fullback for a bit, which was helping me prepare because we play a 3-5-2 for our country, it's a little bit more defensive. Getting some experience there was really helpful before I went. Keeley did that for me, which was amazing.”
O’Brien’s journey to the World Cup was not one she made alone. CSU’s coaching staff worked to help her meet the demands of a new game.
Through on and off field training, CSU staff helped to shape O’Brien’s natural skills into something she could use anywhere.
No matter what, I feel like representing your country is such an honor and such a pride.Poppy O'Brien
“I sat down and went over some film with her because they were obviously really focused on the defensive side. I tell all our players, we're a resource here to help you,” Hagen said. “That was obviously unique and awesome for Poppy, and we try to help her in every way, training being one of them, film being another thing. So that's what we did.”
With much preparation from staff, O’Brien left with support which gave an opportunity to enter the World Cup more familiar with her national team’s demands.
Before the tournament began, the team faced off in a friendly against South Korea in a scoreless draw and eventually winning the penalty shootout 5-4. Additionally, the Kiwis played a professional club in Poland, using the games to prepare for the speed and physicality of World Cup competition.
“We had that time together to prepare and get back as a team after not being together for a while,” O’Brien said. “So that was really beneficial, and then straight into it, basically”
New Zealand started tournament play against Japan on Sept. 5 in Lódz, Poland. Japan dominated a scoreless first half and opened the second with a quick goal off a header from close range. New Zealand’s Lily Brazendale equalized the game only 10 minutes later with an easy tap.
The Kiwis ultimately fell 2-1 after Japan capitalized on a late penalty, breaking the stubborn New Zealand defense. The loss set the tone for a difficult group stage against three powerful opponents. New Zealand faced Italy on Sept. 9, losing 3-0, before meeting the United States on Sept.12 in a 9-0 defeat.
Although not scoring herself, O’Brien played in all three games providing New Zealand with depth and pace.
The result left New Zealand tied for 22nd place with New Caledonia and Costa Rica. Despite the losses, the Kiwis and O’Brien were grateful for the opportunity to show up on such a large stage. With 54 teams and some of the best players in the world, O’Brien still looked to the bright side.
“No matter what, I feel like representing your country is such an honor and such a pride. Compared to that U-20 level, it's just that one step up of excitement,” O’Brien said. “Playing against mostly pro players is super cool. The game's that much more physical and that much more technical, just learning so much was awesome as well.”
This experience on an international stage gave O’Brien a chance to measure herself against elite competition and take lessons back to CSU.
After the results in Poland, O’Brien still had something left unfinished and people who waited for her return. Her selection allowed her to play in Colorado State’s first two matches of the season, but it was a month before she would be a Ram again, reemerging in the lineup against Wyoming on Sept. 17. She has since started the past three matches.
Her time away from CSU had not separated her from the Rams, as her team continued to support her throughout the tournament, even catching her game against the US. Through check-ins and encouragement, the Rams showed that no matter the outcome, she still had family back in the States.
“I’m super honored for her to have that. It's the highest privilege that you can have to represent your home team; just so happy that she got that experience,” Hagen said. “We let her go and gave her what she needed. The team supported her, texted her, just tried to encourage her every step of the way.”
One of these teammates waiting to support her was her roommate.
For Bos, O’Brien means more to her than just a teammate supporting on the pitch. It means sharing everyday moments, adjusting to being a student-athlete and creating a close friendship.
“She’s just a blast to be around. I'm not a very excited person sometimes but she's very happy -- she's like my light,” Bos said. “She hypes everyone up and makes everyone happy. She brings a lot of good positive energy. We almost fight like sisters now and it's just great to have her every day.”
While competing overseas helped her grow as a player, returning to Fort Collins meant continuing to build a home away from home.
An amazing player and person, there was a reason CSU wanted her in the first place.
“I think for us when we take internationals, you definitely look at film and hope that the athleticism is there and she certainly has that foundation, which is really important for the American game,” Hagen said. “She’s also just a lovely person, lovely family, and great character. That's what we need to fit into our program.”
O’Brien’s selection for the New Zealand roster reflects the ability that first brought her to CSU.
For O’Brien, representing New Zealand was an opportunity to honor the people who helped her reach the international stage, both in her hometown and in her newfound home in the US. The World Cup gave her the confidence she needed to find her place both where she grew up and where she now belongs.
As a new Ram, she can carry the experiences she learned from New Zealand while also adopting the new skills she has learned at CSU.
Her journey to the World Cup began as a name on a roster but has turned into an adventure she can carry into the rest of her soccer career.
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