WASHINGTON D.C., USA – On the sunlit turf of a FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, three Māori stand tall — not just as representatives of a football club, but as carriers of whakapapa, pride, and kaupapa Māori.
Gordon Watson (Ngāuphi), last year’s Māori Sports Administrator of the Year, is the General Manager of Auckland City FC, guiding the club through one of the most ambitious campaigns in its history.
Alongside him are two rising players: Adam Bell (Ngāti Kahungunu) and Jackson Manuel (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu) — both proudly representing their heritage on the pitch.
For Watson, speaking at the New Zealand Embassy in Washington DC, the tournament is about far more than football.
“To see Māori not only playing but leading, organising, and standing in these elite global spaces is powerful,” he says. “We carry our tīpuna with us — their courage, their vision, their resilience. That’s what brought us here.”
Watson’s own journey into the upper levels of football administration hasn’t come easily. A former journalist and seasoned football executive, he’s long been a vocal advocate for Māori inclusion in governance and leadership roles across sport.
His whakapapa traces back to Ngāuphi on his mother’s side, and to Glasgow through his late father. It’s a mix he wears with mana.
“My mum instilled in me a deep love of who we are as Māori — and my dad, a Glaswegian immigrant, gave me that fighting Scottish spirit. Together, they taught me how to hold my ground and lead with heart.”
As Auckland City FC navigates matchdays against European giants like Benfica and Boca Juniors, the presence of Bell and Manuel brings visible, grounded pride to the Māori football community.
“To see Adam and Jackson out there in front of the world, that’s not just representation — that’s transformation,” says Watson. “It tells our rangatahi that they belong in these spaces, that excellence isn’t something far away, it’s in us already.”
The moment isn’t lost on the players either. Bell, a composed defender, and Manuel, a sharp midfielder with national caps to his name, know they’re playing for more than just silverware.
“Wearing this responsibility means something deeper to us as Māori,” says Watson. “There’s a wairua you carry. When you step out there, you’re not just representing a club — you’re carrying your whānau, your marae, your whakapapa.”
Watson sees this tournament as a milestone not just for Auckland City FC, but for Māori football.
“It’s taken years to get to this point — and I don’t just mean the tournament,” he reflects. “I mean getting our people seen, heard, and valued in football at every level. From the sidelines to the boardroom, from grassroots to the world stage — this is us.”
As the tournament unfolds, the impact of these three Māori — administrator, leader, and two rising athletes — will echo far beyond the final whistle.
“Where there is artistic excellence, there is human dignity,” Watson adds. “What we’re doing here is carving a space for Māori in world football. And we’re only just getting started.”
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Photo credit: Phototek via Auckland City FC Media.
