New Zealand's football World Cup destiny will be decided on home soil after the draw for intercontinental playoffs was made today at the Fifa Congress in the Bahamas.
The All Whites will play the fifth best Asian qualifier away on October 10, then return home for the decisive second leg on November 14.
New Zealand Football chief executive Michael Glading was present at the draw and was delighted the All Whites would now have support behind them in their most important match in almost 30 years.
"It's a real positive for us," Glading said.
"Knowing what you have to do going into the final match is always a preference. Certainly when you hear interviews from managers in the UEFA Champions League, they always hope they get the home game second and there's a reason for that." With the playoff date locked in, Glading said New Zealand Football would make a final decision on the host venue by June 26, and was confident tickets would be snapped up when they go on sale in mid July.
"It's without a doubt the biggest game New Zealand's played since 1981. It won't get any bigger than this. I'm sure we'll get a sell-out crowd." Football fans will also be marking September 5 and 9 in their calendars, as the two third-placed teams in each of Asia's two final qualifying groups square off over two legs to decide who will meet the All Whites in the Asia-Oceania playoff.
The All Whites are currently in Tanzania preparing for the Confederations Cup in South Africa. They meet Tanzania early on Thursday morning (NZT) in the first of three pre-tournament warm-ups.
