2021 All Whites International Fixtures

Fitzy

Absolutely no chance the govt gets rid of MIQ before the end of the year imo.

I wonder even if NZF are looking at the possibility that, assuming they make it through an island-hosted OFC qualifying tournament, they might have to host an intercontinental playoff not in New Zealand

Fitzy

Absolutely no chance the govt gets rid of MIQ before the end of the year imo.

Yipe AWs (or FFs) will not play at home until 2022. So will be over 4 years between home games for AWs.

If NZF get to host the 1st leg of June 2022 intercontinental playoffs at home, be great to also get a quality friendly/warm up game, about 7-10 days prior in NZ. Socceroos? Useful game for those AWs players who may not have played for 2-6 weeks since the end of their Euro seasons in April/May 2022.  That way you can get a big AWs game in each of Wellington and Auckland next June.

carlind

Fitzy

Absolutely no chance the govt gets rid of MIQ before the end of the year imo.

I wonder even if NZF are looking at the possibility that, assuming they make it through an island-hosted OFC qualifying tournament, they might have to host an intercontinental playoff not in New Zealand

Is I guess sadly a possibility. But surely by then a squad of international footballers fully vaccinated, would be allowed into the country. From memory the WI, Pakistan & Bangladesh cricketers did their 2 weeks MIQ but were still allowed to train out at Lincoln every day over those 2 weeks.

And by next year you'd really hope 70% plus of the NZ popn is vaccinated. Life has got to return to near normal in 2022.

Fitzy

Absolutely no chance the govt gets rid of MIQ before the end of the year imo.

 Yip, Aussie and NZ are being left behind due to the slow jab rollout.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/football-all-whites-set-to-face-2022-fifa-world-cup-qualifying-tournament-in-middle-east-after-bid-to-stage-event-here-turned-down/S5OQKOYWUXCOHUFSIO7ELMDSNQ/

Looks like talks are in place about the previously unconfirmed OFC qualifiers to have them held in the Middle East, after attempts to hold them in New Zealand didn’t work. Quite disappointed, if unsurprised, that couldn’t hold them here given how little football we get to see, especially when watching teams like the All Blacks and Blackcaps have visitors from various countries.

Middle East did hold Australia’s AFC qualifiers last month, which from the outside seemed to have worked ok, but also made a lot more sense for AFC given it covers as far west as the Red Sea, whereas getting Tahiti to the Middle East is a lot further and more difficult. Timezone differences will also make the games hard to watch, likely being in very early hours of the morning, if Australia’s kick off times are anything to go by. It’s a shame, as the OFC qualifiers are typically the only ever AWs games that are in a evening kickoff time to watch. 

Have to hope that if it’s in Qatar/Saudi/UAE that they should get better fields than the islands, but climate will be against them, even in winter. You’d assume FIFA would enforce clubs to release players, but if the qualifiers go around three weeks I wouldn’t be surprised if clubs tap some guys on the shoulder, or Hay takes an larger than usual squad, similar to what Graham Arnold did.

An AFC country hosting a OFC event? Why? I can only imagen that the island country's voted for it. Is the OFC putting up the money for traveling cost? 

Weird... but it might come down to Covid restrictions here in NZ being too tight and the islands not having enough infrastructure??

Marto

Fitzy

Absolutely no chance the govt gets rid of MIQ before the end of the year imo.

 Yip, Aussie and NZ are being left behind due to the slow jab rollout.

We're also well behind in deaths, illnesses and ahead in economic recovery. 

carlind

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/football-all-whites-set-to-face-2022-fifa-world-cup-qualifying-tournament-in-middle-east-after-bid-to-stage-event-here-turned-down/S5OQKOYWUXCOHUFSIO7ELMDSNQ/

Looks like talks are in place about the previously unconfirmed OFC qualifiers to have them held in the Middle East, after attempts to hold them in New Zealand didn’t work. Quite disappointed, if unsurprised, that couldn’t hold them here given how little football we get to see, especially when watching teams like the All Blacks and Blackcaps have visitors from various countries.

Middle East did hold Australia’s AFC qualifiers last month, which from the outside seemed to have worked ok, but also made a lot more sense for AFC given it covers as far west as the Red Sea, whereas getting Tahiti to the Middle East is a lot further and more difficult. Timezone differences will also make the games hard to watch, likely being in very early hours of the morning, if Australia’s kick off times are anything to go by. It’s a shame, as the OFC qualifiers are typically the only ever AWs games that are in a evening kickoff time to watch. 

Have to hope that if it’s in Qatar/Saudi/UAE that they should get better fields than the islands, but climate will be against them, even in winter. You’d assume FIFA would enforce clubs to release players, but if the qualifiers go around three weeks I wouldn’t be surprised if clubs tap some guys on the shoulder, or Hay takes an larger than usual squad, similar to what Graham Arnold did.

If is say in the UAE, in January likely not a bad result for Hay. You are looking at average day temps in the mid 20s. Cooler at night. Might even be NZF who are pushing the idea. Especially if FIFA are paying for it all. 

Plus a much shorter flight for the Euro based guys (6-7 hours), as opposed to 20 plus hours to get down to NZ/Islands. Though you'd back even a 2nd string AWs side to win any OFC tourney, you only get one chance every 4 years to make a World Cup. You take no risks and play the best team you can. No one wants another 'Horror in Honiara' repeat.

Unless Burnley were in a real relegation dogfight, I'd say some chance Dyche would agree to release Wood for example for 2 weeks. Say from the OFC tourney's last pool game onwards. Ditto for Reid etc. Plus a lot of the other Euro leagues are in a winter break in January, so no club vs country squabble. MLS guys will be in their off season, and happy to escape the snow clad US.

Win the OFC tourney, and it's another huge intercontinental playoff (unless it's 1-5 after an away leg first up!), game in NZ. Games that get the juices flowing, and with future bloated 48 team World Cups, the last big playoff game ever. Throw in a high profile warm up game in NZ like the Socceroos or Japan, a week earlier June 2022 (when most teams won't have competitive international commitments) - and you finally get some quality live international football to watch in NZ.

Who would you pick for the next AW squad based on what we've seen this year?

I think we have a good side let down by no one playing RB at a decent level.

My team of 23

Keepers: Sail, Marinovic, Woud
Defenders: Smith, Reid, Boxall, Cacace, Payne, Tuiloma, Musa, Fenton
Midfield: Bell, Stensness, Singh, Thomas, Rojas, Lewis, McCowatt, Champness,
Attack: Wood, Wayne, Barbarouses; Just

One or two weak links above but we are still a bit weak beyond our starting XI up front and at RB.

Next AW squad (FIFA windows this year) highly likely won't have A League players, due to 2 week NZ & Aus MIQ requirements for overseas travel upon return.

Hay should definitely have a look at Niko Kirwan as RB, with an Euro/MLS AWs team.

coochiee

Next AW squad (FIFA windows this year) highly likely won't have A League players, due to 2 week NZ & Aus MIQ requirements for overseas travel upon return.

Hay should definitely have a look at Niko Kirwan as RB, with an Euro/MLS AWs team.

Yeah Kirwan and Billingsley (but Kirwan especially) are the ones to watch I reckon, really hoping that Niko can kick on and establish himself in a European first division.

Marto

Who would you pick for the next AW squad based on what we've seen this year?

I think we have a good side let down by no one playing RB at a decent level.

My team of 23

Keepers: Sail, Marinovic, Woud
Defenders: Smith, Reid, Boxall, Cacace, Payne, Tuiloma, Musa, Fenton
Midfield: Bell, Stensness, Singh, Thomas, Rojas, Lewis, McCowatt, Champness,
Attack: Wood, Wayne, Barbarouses; Just

One or two weak links above but we are still a bit weak beyond our starting XI up front and at RB.

I’d be tempted to bounce Smith and have Nando Pijnaker, given how solid he’s been at the Olympics and that their careers are at opposite ends, and Stamenic is another one who’d be a close run thing, possibly for Lewis who wasn’t as good in Tokyo.

If the mooted Middle East/Gulf OFC bubble goes ahead we might see NZF take a bigger squad though, for example Australia took 30 or so to Jordan, so could be room for a few extra guys too.

Think the rumoured Middle East OFC tourney in Jan 2022, could be a great outcome for the AWs, especially if early in Jan when most Euro leagues are on a winter break. So hopefully no problem having most of the Euro based players available. Plus is MLS/USL off season.

FIFA are also having an extra international window 24th January to 1st February 2022, to allow confederations to catch on WC qualifying delayed by Covid. But neither UEFA or I understand the A League are going to observe that later Jan window. 

But again as long as NZ/Aus require returning travellers to do 2 weeks MIQ, impossible for A League based guys to travel for any AWs games, during the A League season. Maybe by January, there might be some exemptions in place for vaccinated international sportspeople. I know FFA are pushing Aus Govt for help with some exemptions, so they can host Socceroos games later this year.

What you want is the March 2022 FIFA window (yes provided AWs win OFC tourney) available for some high quality friendly(ies), so go into June 2022 intercontinental playoffs well prepared. So you definitely want that OFC WC qualifying tourney no later than January.

Marto

Who would you pick for the next AW squad based on what we've seen this year?

I think we have a good side let down by no one playing RB at a decent level.

My team of 23

Keepers: Sail, Marinovic, Woud
Defenders: Smith, Reid, Boxall, Cacace, Payne, Tuiloma, Musa, Fenton
Midfield: Bell, Stensness, Singh, Thomas, Rojas, Lewis, McCowatt, Champness,
Attack: Wood, Wayne, Barbarouses; Just

One or two weak links above but we are still a bit weak beyond our starting XI up front and at RB.

I reckon Kirwan for Fenton and Pijnaker for Smith; Tzanev and Stamenic unlucky to miss out. Like the Musa pick, also think Nikko Boxall is edging closer to selection

mrsmiis

Marto

Who would you pick for the next AW squad based on what we've seen this year?

I think we have a good side let down by no one playing RB at a decent level.

My team of 23

Keepers: Sail, Marinovic, Woud
Defenders: Smith, Reid, Boxall, Cacace, Payne, Tuiloma, Musa, Fenton
Midfield: Bell, Stensness, Singh, Thomas, Rojas, Lewis, McCowatt, Champness,
Attack: Wood, Wayne, Barbarouses; Just

One or two weak links above but we are still a bit weak beyond our starting XI up front and at RB.

I reckon Kirwan for Fenton and Pijnaker for Smith; Tzanev and Stamenic unlucky to miss out. Like the Musa pick, also think Nikko Boxall is edging closer to selection

If Stamenic gets some decent game time for Copenhagen this season I'd put him in for Lewis.

A Euro/USA based selection for hopefully some games later this year, sans A League players.

Keepers: Tzanev, Marinovic, Woud
Defenders: Reid, Boxall, Tuiloma, Pijnaker, Cacace, Kirwan, Billingsley, Dalton Wilkins
Midfield: Bell, Singh, Thomas, Stamenic, McCowatt, Musa, Owen Parker-Price (OPP more who I think Hay may pick based on some media talk, plus was an Olympics reserve)
Attack: Wood, Collier, Garbett, Just, Mata

Hopefully CCM sell Stensness to a Euro club. Could push Tuiloma forward to a DM role, and pick Tommy Smith - but think his days are over unless Reid is injured and you want a squad old head.

Andre De Jong over Mata if he can somehow enter Europe from South Africa. Or even Joel Stevens worth consideration.


Pity the TT bubble is sunk, as there may have even been a chance of a AWs-Socceroos A League selection game in August/September. Arnold is gonna have the same problem as Hay for awhile yet, re taking A League guys out of Australia for the Socceroos.

Friar Tuck

mrsmiis

Marto

Who would you pick for the next AW squad based on what we've seen this year?

I think we have a good side let down by no one playing RB at a decent level.

My team of 23

Keepers: Sail, Marinovic, Woud
Defenders: Smith, Reid, Boxall, Cacace, Payne, Tuiloma, Musa, Fenton
Midfield: Bell, Stensness, Singh, Thomas, Rojas, Lewis, McCowatt, Champness,
Attack: Wood, Wayne, Barbarouses; Just

One or two weak links above but we are still a bit weak beyond our starting XI up front and at RB.

I reckon Kirwan for Fenton and Pijnaker for Smith; Tzanev and Stamenic unlucky to miss out. Like the Musa pick, also think Nikko Boxall is edging closer to selection

If Stamenic gets some decent game time for Copenhagen this season I'd put him in for Lewis.

I'd put him in for Lewis regardless. I thought he was quality when he played and showed more attacking intent then most.

Lewis didn't do anything to enhance his reputation, and probably went back a bit in my eyes.

Maybe it was playing in a slightly different role. Just did not look on song with his passing which is normally an asset.

I love how we can actually debate dropping decent pros. A pipe dream 10 years ago.

MetalLegNZ

Lewis didn't do anything to enhance his reputation, and probably went back a bit in my eyes.

Maybe it was playing in a slightly different role. Just did not look on song with his passing which is normally an asset.

He did play the key pass through ball out wide when Wood nearly scored early doors. 
He looked better when he had McCowatt in front of him. 
I think to say he was the third best CM behind Stensness and Bell is what we expected going in. Stamenic is still something of an uncertain quantity, though did well in his second dig. 
He’s done really well in Uffie’s system knowing the positioning and abilities of those around him, but his shooting, athleticism and set piece delivery needs to go a tick up. At which point he’d be too good for the Nix and back off to Europe!
Also because he was scapegoat he didn’t get credit for the good turns and touches he did make too.

this is all dependent on NZF actually being able to secure any games for the AW's. I wouldnt actually be surprised if we dont see the lads play for another year or more. Certainly wont be at home any time soon.

Yeah, you'd have to think Smith is done, someone who's in his 30s and playing for a league two side should be behind someone who's younger and playing at a higher level like the A-League.

theprof

this is all dependent on NZF actually being able to secure any games for the AW's. I wouldnt actually be surprised if we dont see the lads play for another year or more. Certainly wont be at home any time soon.

Looking like AWs games Jan next year at the latest (mooted OFC tourney), and hopefully earlier than that in Oct and/or Nov FIFA windows later this year. Sept window looking too soon. Hopefully Pragnell & co can find a European team or two looking for a friendly.

But highly likely AWs won't play in NZ until June next year - home leg intercontinental playoffs. That would be coming up 5 years since they last played at home!! Nov 2017 against Peru. 

All the more reason for NZF to realise the huge importance of the Phoenix in the NZ football landscape, giving the sport a vital shop window. 

Its a shame we wont see any game time from the AW's for the next year. 

Poco

Its a shame we wont see any game time from the AW's for the next year. 

Provided the OFC Qualifiers go ahead as planned they’ll play again in 7 months max. 

GK: Tzanev, Woud, Sail
DF: Roux, Ingham, Cacace, Morgan, Iredale, N. Boxall, Pijnaker, Stanger, Tuiloma
MF: Bell, Stenseness, Thomas, Singh, Just, Garbett
FW: Wood, Waine, Bevan, McCowatt, Champness

Rusty Dunks

GK: Tzanev, Woud, Sail
DF: Roux, Ingham, Cacace, Morgan, Iredale, N. Boxall, Pijnaker, Stanger, Tuiloma
MF: Bell, Stenseness, Thomas, Singh, Just, Garbett
FW: Wood, Waine, Bevan, McCowatt, Champness

Few interesting names in there. If this is a squad for some Euro based friendlies later this year, you can remove all the A League guys.

If is a squad for mooted OFC January tourney, maybe is a chance vaccinated A League guys by then can get exemptions to re enter NZ/Aus without 2 weeks MIQ.

I'd still put Niko Kirwan in there regardless. Roux was poor at Victory. And Mikey Boxall ahead of his younger brother. MLS will be in their off season come January, and he is likely champing at bit to play for AWs again. Yipe Jack Iredale maybe worth a look, if is a squad sans A League players.

Doubt Hay is looking at 31 yr old Morgan. If he can't pick likes of Sutton or Mcgarry as a backup LB, can see him going for his old ES player Dalton Wilkins.

Hay has also said he see's Stensness more as a CB. He will pick Stamenic for sure in the midfield. The kid appears to have large potential upside. Pity was suspended for the Japan game.

Myer Bevan also shouldn't be anywhere near AWs. If he can travel out of South Africa, Andre De Jong could be in the frame. Another ex ES player from Hay's time there.

MetalLegNZ

Lewis didn't do anything to enhance his reputation, and probably went back a bit in my eyes.

Maybe it was playing in a slightly different role. Just did not look on song with his passing which is normally an asset.

Best player we had at passing the ball to the opposition. 

coochiee

Rusty Dunks

GK: Tzanev, Woud, Sail
DF: Roux, Ingham, Cacace, Morgan, Iredale, N. Boxall, Pijnaker, Stanger, Tuiloma
MF: Bell, Stenseness, Thomas, Singh, Just, Garbett
FW: Wood, Waine, Bevan, McCowatt, Champness

Few interesting names in there. If this is a squad for some Euro based friendlies later this year, you can remove all the A League guys.

If is a squad for mooted OFC January tourney, maybe is a chance vaccinated A League guys by then can get exemptions to re enter NZ/Aus without 2 weeks MIQ.

I'd still put Niko Kirwan in there regardless. Roux was poor at Victory. And Mikey Boxall ahead of his younger brother. MLS will be in their off season come January, and he is likely champing at bit to play for AWs again. Yipe Jack Iredale maybe worth a look, if is a squad sans A League players.

Doubt Hay is looking at 31 yr old Morgan. If he can't pick likes of Sutton or Mcgarry as a backup LB, can see him going for his old ES player Dalton Wilkins.

Hay has also said he see's Stensness more as a CB. He will pick Stamenic for sure in the midfield. The kid appears to have large potential upside. Pity was suspended for the Japan game.

Myer Bevan also shouldn't be anywhere near AWs. If he can travel out of South Africa, Andre De Jong could be in the frame. Another ex ES player from Hay's time there.

To be fair, it's who I would pick rather than who I think Hay will pick. 

Where is the Jan OFC tournament going to be? Assume it would have to be here, Samoa, or Tonga? 

Neutral venue in Middle East, apparently with OFC currently working through options. Due to Covid travel restrictions making it otherwise impossible to gather all the teams together. There is some articles above in this thread talking about it. Suspect FIFA would need to bankroll it.

Could actually work out well for AWs, especially if is in early January. Much greater chance of having a near full strength side, than having tourney down this way.

Most of the European leagues being on winter breaks come early Jan. MLS/USL plus other leagues like Sweden, Norway & Finland being in their off seasons. Having the UK contingent available could be the problem - but maybe they can come in late just for semis onwards. Certainly you would want Wood for the knock out games, disaster if AWs failed to win the tourney.

Also by January there maybe travel exemptions allowing the A League guys to re enter NZ/Aus without 2 weeks MIQ. Maybe.

Wouldn't be a surprise if the Island nations with mostly domestic based squads, were making things tricky for NZF. They would have less incentive to play up in the Middle East, than NZF - and they have a history of playing around with venues, going for 1 legged OFC Champions League ties verus 2 legs etc etc, if they think it gives their teams a chance of making a FIFA world event.

Might be some FIFA 'compensation money' having to be put on the table to make a ME tourney happen. FIFA won't want any further delays with OFC WC qualifying, with a tight schedule into the June 2022 intercontinental playoffs.

Link below to Michael Burgess chatting to  D'Arcy Waldegrave, about a month ago.

Interesting that if OFC can't make dates or venues work for the planned Jan 2022 qualifying tourney, All Whites will likely just go straight through to June 2022 interconinental playoffs as OFC's representative. Purely by virtue of being the top ranked team in OFC.

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/65467510/episode/84478602/?keyid%5B0%5D=Sportstalk%20with%20D%27Arcy%20Waldegrave&keyid%5B1%5D=Michael%20Burgess%3A%20All%20Whites%20to%20face%20World%20Cup%20qualifying%20tournament%20in%20Middle%20East&sc=podcast_widget

https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/sportstalk/audio/michael-burgess-all-whites-to-face-world-cup-qualifying-tournament-in-middle-east/

coochiee

Link below to Michael Burgess chatting to  D'Arcy Waldegrave, about a month ago.

Interesting that if OFC can't make dates or venues work for the planned Jan 2022 qualifying tourney, All Whites will likely just go straight through to June 2022 interconinental playoffs as OFC's representative. Purely by virtue of being the top ranked team in OFC.

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/65467510/episode/84478602/?keyid%5B0%5D=Sportstalk%20with%20D%27Arcy%20Waldegrave&keyid%5B1%5D=Michael%20Burgess%3A%20All%20Whites%20to%20face%20World%20Cup%20qualifying%20tournament%20in%20Middle%20East&sc=podcast_widget

https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/sportstalk/audio/michael-burgess-all-whites-to-face-world-cup-qualifying-tournament-in-middle-east/

That would be classic for the one team more than ever NZF want to play OFC teams, we can’t get any. Getting a bye into an intercontinental playoff (still yet to be drawn) would be far from ideal, given whoever the opposition is would have come off potentially 18 competitive games for COMNEBOL, 20 for AFC, or 12 for CONCACAF, whereas we would be lucky to have one or two friendlies. 

You’d have to think Danny Hay will want to stay on regardless of what happens, given he’ll have an argument of having been set up to fail with the lack of games, but if he doesn’t he could genuinely have been coach for only 5 AWs games. Even old mate Fritz Schmidt got 4 games as coach, and he was only in charge for the first year of a WC cycle, typically the deadest year for fixtures.

With hopefully 1-3 Euro based friendlies in Oct-Nov windows later year, 1-2 friendlies in the March 2022 window, plus maybe even a warmup game May/June 2022 (Socceroos anyone) just prior the intercontinental playoffs - Hay could have a reasonable lead in. Could. Read an AV article where Pragnell was bullish on prospects of some friendlies.

Still even that wouldn't be ideal, as likely the A League guys (due to MIQ requirements) wouldn't be available until March 2022 window at earliest.

With the Women's World Cup coming up i doubt NZF would want to waste any money on the AW, I think all the funding will go towards getting the Ferns up to standard. I could be wrong but NZF do have a history of neglect. 

Poco

With the Women's World Cup coming up i doubt NZF would want to waste any money on the AW, I think all the funding will go towards getting the Ferns up to standard. I could be wrong but NZF do have a history of neglect. 

I think this is actually a good call. The AWs have been completely put out to pasture and I really can't see any meaningful games happening in enough abundance for any kind of result in the playoff. Our women were poor in Japan and I'd prefer to see them do well in a WWC on home soil.

Qatar is also a nasty country in the way it abuses young Asian men and women. Been there and seen how they are treated first hand. I never want to go back, but if the AWs made it to the WC would be hard to stay away so personally, failing to qualify would remove the need to visit such a horrible place which should never have won hosting rights in the first place.

Poco

With the Women's World Cup coming up i doubt NZF would want to waste any money on the AW, I think all the funding will go towards getting the Ferns up to standard. I could be wrong but NZF do have a history of neglect. 

You are off the mark.

NZF have an International Teams Fund. This fund is used to fund all the programs for mens/womens international teams, incl age group. Including the Football Ferns.

I undersand cash reserves in this fund are almost entirely made up of the $10M ($USD?) NZF got from FIFA when AWs made the 2010 WC, plus another large windfall NZF received when they sold 2013 AWs v Mexico TV rights to Mexico TV station(s). ie it's been windfalls related to the AWs that have largely funded international football male & female, last 10 odd years.

Read somewhere that NZF are nervous that if AWs don't make Qatar and/or there is no large TV rights deal again for next years intercontinental playoffs, that fund could run to empty until AWs get virtual automatic entry to a bloated 48 team WC in 2026.

So imagine NZF will be very keen to give AWs every chance to make Qatar. Plus they hopefully know this exciting group of male footballers, stand a real shot if they draw an AFC or CONCACAF opponent. Less so if the 5th team from South America. When is the intercontinental playoff draw being made out of interest?

Lastly between early Nov 2017 (2nd Peru playoff game) and June 2019 (last Womens World Cup),  the AWs played a grand total of 4 games. In the same time period, in qualifying & lead up to that WWC the Ferns played 18 games (admittedly incl 5 OFC walkovers). Yet with that pretty good program by NZ standards (minus the Heraf saga), they still lost all 3 games at the 2019 WWC. They can have no qualms, if they are a sideline act now to the AWs leading into 2022.

I'd be surprised and very disappointed if there are no AWs friendlies in Oct and/or Nov FIFA windows. NZF did show some intent with the confirmed games against England and Belgium late last year. Covid sadly ruined that plan.

coochiee

Poco

With the Women's World Cup coming up i doubt NZF would want to waste any money on the AW, I think all the funding will go towards getting the Ferns up to standard. I could be wrong but NZF do have a history of neglect. 

You are off the mark.

NZF have an International Teams Fund. This fund is used to fund all the programs for mens/womens international teams, incl age group. Including the Football Ferns.

I undersand cash reserves in this fund are almost entirely made up of the $10M ($USD?) NZF got from FIFA when AWs made the 2010 WC, plus another large windfall NZF received when they sold 2013 AWs v Mexico TV rights to Mexico TV station(s). ie it's been windfalls related to the AWs that have largely funded international football male & female, last 10 odd years.

Read somewhere that NZF are nervous that if AWs don't make Qatar and/or there is no large TV rights deal again for next years intercontinental playoffs, that fund could run to empty until AWs get virtual automatic entry to a bloated 48 team WC in 2026.

So imagine NZF will be very keen to give AWs every chance to make Qatar. Plus they hopefully know this exciting group of male footballers, stand a real shot if they draw an AFC or CONCACAF opponent. Less so if the 5th team from South America. When is the intercontinental playoff draw being made out of interest?

Lastly between early Nov 2017 (2nd Peru playoff game) and June 2019 (last Womens World Cup),  the AWs played a grand total of 4 games. In the same time period, in qualifying & lead up to that WWC the Ferns played 18 games (admittedly incl 5 OFC walkovers). Yet with that pretty good program by NZ standards (minus the Heraf saga), they still lost all 3 games at the 2019 WWC. They can have no qualms, if they are a sideline act now to the AWs leading into 2022.

I'd be surprised and very disappointed if there are no AWs friendlies in Oct and/or Nov FIFA windows. NZF did show some intent with the confirmed games against England and Belgium late last year. Covid sadly ruined that plan.

If NZF are worried about the bank account running low, what are they doing to remedy the situation? 

Sitting on their hands and hoping we qualify for the World Cup seems an exercise in pointlessness if there are no/minimal matches leading into it.

Completely agree with you though on the generation of excellent young players coming through the ranks too. Just an absolute shame that if this trend continues, we'll end up wasting the potential golden years of these young footballers by sitting in the international wilderness.

I also despise the idea of us sitting around in OFC waiting for automatic qualification in a bloated World Cup in 2026. If anything I hope this brings up talks of moving to the AFC (if they even want us...) Would rather go through qualification there and have meaningful matches scheduled almost every available window, rather than continue to hang out in Oceania playing only a few games every couple of years to get a shot at being unprepared to face AFC/CONMEBOL/CONCACAF teams in a playoff. The current setup is unsustainable and will work to the detriment of our National team in the long run if we continue to pike out by keeping the status quo. If we want to take football forward in this country we need to look to Asia - I know I'm not alone when I say that too. Although I suspect we'll continue to sit on our hands and take the easy road in terms of playing in the OFC...

There was some a throw comment recently from someone at OFC, that they were working on some 'exciting ideas' for international football in the region, once international travel is easier. Something like that. Might have even been about ideas post Qatar.

Infantino was pushing the Nations League concept for each confederation hard, pre Covid. Complete with a 8 team final tourney basically replacing the Confederations Cup. Europe, CONCACAF & Africa all do now have a Nations League setup, giving previous friendlies some meaning.

IF OFC could join up with AFC, or just East Asia eg, China, Japan, Sth Korea, Australia, Thailand & say NZ starting in pool A with pro/rel to Pools B, C, D etc having other East Asia & OFC nations - that would be cool. But imagine there is a number of hurdles to overcome to make it happen.

Basketball (FIBA) has basically done that with NZ & Australia now playing Asian teams to qualify for World Cups & Olympics. Basketball NZ actually signed a pretty good sponsorship deal with some Asian company off the back of that, with new Asian playing pathway.

Edit - found OFC article.
https://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc-confirms-schedule-changes/
OFC is proactively adapting its competitions strategy to tackle the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic with a strong focus on its long-term goals.

In a bid to provide our Member Associations with more meaningful matches, various short and long-term solutions are currently being worked on, including the possibility of adding new competitions in 2023 and 2024 for both senior male and female national teams.