Francis de Vries can't stop smiling. 

 

Last month, he received a phone call that only a few years ago would have seemed unimaginable. The Saint Francis soccer great learned he earned a roster spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup with New Zealand. 

 

"It's truly special. It makes me feel like I'm capable of doing things that I'd never thought possible," de Vries said. 

Now he is back in the United States as the New Zealand All Whites prepare to face Iran in a Group G match Monday night in Los Angeles. 

De Vries' road to stardom did not follow a predictable path. 

The left-footed defender arrived in Loretto in the fall of 2013. Mark Casper, then head coach of the Red Flash, remembers getting a call from his mentor, Bobby Clark, who won a national championship at Notre Dame. Clark urged Casper to take a look at the New Zealander. 

"He was a leader right away," Casper said. "I thought I knew what we were getting, but his professionalism and determination to be great were unlike anyone I had ever coached." 

Casper called de Vries' soccer IQ was "next level." He went on to start every match as a freshman, including an upset victory over Penn State. It didn't take long for de Vries to earn the respect of his teammates and establish himself in a leadership role. 

"He was and still is so humble," Casper said. "Francis never wanted to be the focal point. He believed in being part of the team. Whenever people gave him credit, he deflected it to the rest of the group." 

"I was fortunate to learn from talented players," de Vries recalled. "Both on the pitch and off the pitch, it's about how you treat others and show up for your teammates." 

After a disappointing playoff exit in 2013, Saint Francis won the NEC regular-season title in 2014. De Vries scored six goals and was named NEC Defensive Player of the Year. Although the Red Flash fell short of a conference championship, Casper has fond memories of a match against LIU. Saint Francis trailed 2-0 at halftime. 

"We had to win that match," Casper said. "Francis played center back. LIU's game plan was to put a player on him everywhere he went." 

"I remember his halftime talk underneath the stadium bleachers and how it galvanized the team for the second half," de Vries said. 

Casper moved de Vries from centerback to midfield and then to an attacking position. Those adjustments opened up the offense and helped Saint Francis rally for a 3-2 victory. 

"He was willing to play several positions and go all over the field to do whatever we asked him to do," Casper said. "Pretty remarkable." 

The following season, de Vries won his second NEC Defensive Player of the Year award. He scored three goals as a senior and was part of a defensive unit that recorded 10 clean sheets in 18 matches. While a conference championship eluded those Red Flash teams, Casper believes de Vries will one day earn a place in the Saint Francis Hall of Fame. 
 

"The transfer portal was not the same back then," Casper said. "There were times Francis could have left SFU, but he wanted to stay with his teammates and be part of what we were building." 

Education was also important to de Vries. 
 

"I wanted to stay all four years at SFU to repay the people who had faith in me when I didn't have many other options on the table," he said. 
 

De Vries graduated in 2017 with a degree in psychology. A few months earlier, he became the first Saint Francis men's soccer player selected in the MLS SuperDraft. The Vancouver Whitecaps picked de Vries in the second round.  He put in a lot of hard work to reach the professional ranks, but de Vries also credits his parents who always reminded him that he was more than just a soccer player. 
 

The son of European immigrants, de Vries was introduced to the game at an early age. His father, Abraham "Bram" de Vries, volunteered as a youth coach for his teams in Christchurch, New Zealand. 

"There was no pressure. We'd just go to the dairy and get ice cream after games," de Vries said with a laugh. 
 

While there was no pressure, there were dreams of one day playing professionally. One of de Vries' favorite players growing up was Paolo Maldini, one of the most decorated defenders in soccer history. Maldini starred for AC Milan and represented Italy in four World Cup tournaments. 
 

"I remember my parents buying me a fake AC Milan jersey," de Vries said. "I wrote Maldini's No. 3 on the back, and the other kids made fun of me." 

Unlike the NFL and NBA, being drafted into MLS does not guarantee a professional contract. After being unable to catch on in Vancouver, de Vries returned to New Zealand and played for Canterbury United. He later moved to Sweden, where he played for several clubs before suffering an ACL injury. 
 

While he had doubts about his future, de Vries said he focused on rediscovering his love for the game and leaned on the perspective his parents had helped him develop at a young age. 
 

Several years ago, coach Casper had the opportunity to watch his former star play professionally. He was struck by how de Vries took time to sign autographs and talk with fans after the match. 

"That's something I learned from my dad," de Vries said. "When we watched our local team, he always pointed out the fans and the importance of appreciating them. They're a big reason why I play." 

In 2024, de Vries returned to New Zealand and signed with Auckland FC. His approach to the game, both on and off the field, quickly made him a fan favorite and an asset in the community. Nine days after earning a spot on New Zealand's World Cup roster, de Vries helped Auckland FC capture its first-ever Australian A-League championship. 
 

"I definitely think the last two seasons have been my best as a professional," de Vries said. "That's due to continually improving, being willing to self-reflect, adapt, and persevere when things don't go your way." 

The past year has been memorable off the field as well. In February, de Vries became engaged to his longtime girlfriend. 
 

She will be in the stadium Monday night, as will coach Casper. 

"There are not many of us in this game who are fortunate enough to watch their player play in the World Cup," he said.
 

Win or lose, de Vries will likely still be smiling as he greets fans after the match. Years ago, he wrote Maldini's No. 3 on the back of a replica jersey. On Monday night, maybe you will see kids in the crowd wearing one with his name instead.