TALENTED footballer and King's Worcester student Noah DuPont has been in action at the FIFA U17 World Cup out in Indonesia.

The King's Worcester pupil is representing New Zealand in the competition and has already played in both group games against Venezuela and Germany. Their final game of the competition will see them face Mexico. 

Whilst they lost both matches, DuPont has relished the experience and opportunity to test himself on the biggest stage.

"To be selected as one of the 18 players for the warm-up tournament was fantastic and the competition in September was an incredible experience," said the 16-year-old.

"But then learning that I had been selected to play for New Zealand in the World Cup itself really took my breath away.

"Playing football in a different country with a national team on the international stage is something I’ll remember for the rest of my life, and it’s really spurred me on with every ambition to develop my skills as far as I can."

Back home, DuPont plays centre-half for West Bromwich Albion and has represented the club since he was six years old.

He was called up to West Brom’s U18 team over the summer and has played a number of times for them, most recently in their 2-0 win against West Ham just before leaving for the World Cup.

The sign-up for New Zealand came after DuPont acquired dual nationality for New Zealand as his mother was born there. Word spread about his talents, and the New Zealand coaches were keen to see more of him in action.

He was selected for the warm-up tournament in Japan in September and impressed during his time with the squad, and was then picked to represent the 'All Whites' out in Indonesia.
 
King’s Worcester’s Foundation Director of Sport, Jonny Mason, praised DuPont's "incredible achievement".

"Noah’s extraordinary dedication to his sport over the last decade has been truly inspiring and we have all enjoyed watching him develop into the outstanding, all-round talented sportsman he is today," he added.

"He has joined a number of our other pupils who have represented their nation in their chosen sport; it’s an incredible achievement to be selected to play internationally and we continue to wish him all the very best in his sporting career. We’ll certainly be cheering him on to greater and greater success."