Any news on when we're playing next?
I see there is an article locked away behind the NZH paywall that we're looking at up to four matches in October/November windows in Europe or the Middle East.
Anyone that pays for it wanna give us a rundown? Also, how likely is it that we will hear anything concrete out of this?
I see there is an article locked away behind the NZH paywall that we're looking at up to four matches in October/November windows in Europe or the Middle East.
Anyone that pays for it wanna give us a rundown? Also, how likely is it that we will hear anything concrete out of this?
It's essentially the same information that has been around since early August.
They're working on securing matches in the Middle East and Europe in the October (4th-12th) and November (8th-16th) windows.
Every European team is fully booked with World Cup qualifying, Nations League semifinals/finals, or friendlies v Qatar in October. That means Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and maybe Uzbekistan (not really Middle East) are likely to be the options on the table there. Bahrain and Jordan have the Fifa Arab Cup on the cards in December so will be keen for matches – they are both playing Haiti in this week's window as well as each other.
Five European nations are available in November. Czech Republic (Euro 2020 quarterfinalists) and Kosovo in the first half of the window; Georgia, Kazakhstan and Lithuania in the second half. Fairly slim pickings – but it means those countries also have few options and New Zealand would appeal as something different. The same Middle East/Asian nations are available here too – Jordan is playing in Belarus in the second half of the window.
Hopefully not far away from details on World Cup qualifying in January being firmed up either. Imagine it would line up with the already-scheduled window in place from January 24 to February 1, so there would be a significant period of time between the end of the November window and any departure for WCQ in which staff could return for Christmas (MIQ pending).