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Tim Payne's fan club grows to over 4 million ahead of World Cup

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 2, 2026, 4:31 AM

Last updated Jun 2, 2026

Tim Payne's fan club grows to over 4 million ahead of World Cup

Summary

New Zealand footballer Tim Payne has seen his online fan club surge past four million followers, following an influencer's call for support. Previously, Payne had only 4,000 Instagram followers. This dramatic increase is attributed to social media comparisons with football legends. New Zealand's coach, Darren Bazeley, noted the team's excitement around Payne’s newfound popularity. Scarsini, the influencer behind the rise, plans to attend New Zealand’s warm-up match against Haiti in Florida.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Tim Payne's fan club grew from 4,000 to over 4 million followers.
•The surge follows a social media campaign by influencer Valen Scarsini.
•Darren Bazeley says the team is enjoying the banter surrounding Payne.
•Scarsini plans to attend the warm-up match against Haiti.
•New Zealand is the lowest-ranked team at the upcoming World Cup.

Latest Updates

4:31 AMYahoo Sports — 'Messi, Maradona, Tim': NZ footballer's viral fan club hits 4 million

What they're saying

"
New Zealand footballer Tim Payne's online fan club soared past four million on Tuesday, more than the All Blacks, after an influencer picked him out as the "least known" player at the World Cup. Tongue-in-cheek online comments have been comparing Payne to the greatest players from three-time World Cup champions Argentina.
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

FIFA World Cup Soccer