Sign up to the All Whites Newsletter
Very intriguing. Wonder if Nayler and Hasset will leave NCAA for this. RT @NZ_Football Women's league shifts focus http://bit.ly/biTfH82 years ago from web
The NZ futsal team (Futsal Whites) take on the Solomons in their first match at the OFC Champs in Suva on Mon http://bit.ly/cRZj812 years ago from web
RT @windrainphoenix: All Whites v Paraguay officially confirmed for Oct 12 in NZ. RT: @NZ_Football: http://bit.ly/9bHSkH2 years ago from HootSuite
All Whites eye home fixture in October
AUCKLAND – The All Whites could be playing in front of a home crowd as early as October as New Zealand Football begins the process of luring international opposition to New Zealand within FIFA windows.
New Zealand were the surprise package in the early stages of the FIFA World Cup, ending pool play unbeaten and finishing above world champions Italy.
NZF Chief Executive Michael Glading says bringing a top international team is the ideal way to give football fans another fix.
“The team did themselves and the country proud on the biggest stage, and we think the time is right to stage host a match against high calibre opposition.”
“The support from the public has been overwhelming, but they are saying they now want to see these guys play at home more often, and the players want the chance to say thank you to the fans.”
“There are still plenty of hoops to jump through, getting top quality sides to visit this part of the world has never been easy, or cheap for that matter, but the All Whites’ stock has risen dramatically and we will continue to engage clubs to make sure our players are released.”
There are four international match windows – periods when cubs are obligated to release players for international duty – remaining in 2010 but the first of those, on August 11, is a one day ‘friendly’ window with a 48 hour release period either side of the match date.
That would rule out the prospect of the All Whites’ overseas-based stars travelling to and from New Zealand in time, and with the next four-day ‘official match window’ in September clashing with Wellington Phoenix fixtures in the A-League, NZF have targeted the October 9-13 window.
“We want to do it right, and the mid October window is the chance to do that.
“Everybody wants the strongest line-up possible and we don’t want to take players away from the Phoenix given their importance on the New Zealand scene so October is when we are working towards.”
Glading wouldn’t be drawn on which teams NZF had begun negotiations with, saying the discussions were still commercially sensitive, and also indicated that the venue for the match would be decided after a bidding process, just as for the home leg of last year’s FIFA World Cup qualifier against Bahrain.
Upcoming International Windows
2010
August 11 – Friendly Window
September 3-7 – Official Match Window
October 8-12 – Official Match Window
November 17 – Friendly Window
2011
Marc h 25-29 – Official Match Window
June 1 – Friendly Window
June 3-7 – Official Match Window
August 10 – Friendly Window
September 2-6– Official Match Window
October 7-11 – Official Match Window
November 11-15 – Official Match Window (OFC playoff for FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013)
