2024 All Whites International Fixtures

Obviously too early for any fixtures to have been announced for 2024, but a quick look at the schedule expected for next year.

Not sure whether the format has been formalised yet for the FIFA World Cup (OFC) Second Round of qualifiers, but rumours at that there will be two groups of four teams, playing each other once (3 matches) in the October and November International windows, with semi finals and the final scheduled for March 2025.

Another unknown is whether the OFC will bother with another edition of the OFC Nations Cup in June 2024, although unlikely now that the FIFA Confederations Cup has been scraped.

March 2024
- 2x International friendlies.
- Asian teams all heavily involved in World Cup qualifying during this window.
- CONCACAF Nations League semi finals and final during this window, but most other nations available.
- UEFA European Championship playoffs in this window, only involving 12 teams, so others should be available.

June 2024
- OFC Nations Cup?
- Or 2x friendly internationals. Definitely won't be against any African or Asian teams as they all have 2 World Cup qualifiers in this window, while the Copa America and UEFA European Championships starts midway through June. Maybe chance to play Europea teams that don't qualify such as Northern Ireland, Estonia, Iceland etc...

September 2024
- 2x International friendlies in this window.
- UEFA start World Cup qualifying 

October 2024
- FIFA World Cup, OFC Second Round Qualifying.
- 2 matches expected, depending on format.

November 2024
- FIFA World Cup, OFC Second Round Qualifying. 
- 2 matches expected, depending on format. 

Don't think there has been an official OFC announcement yet on the Nations Cup. I imagine in the June window next year, NZF will be preoccupied on getting the OlyWhites prepared for the Paris Olympics (26th July – 11th Aug 2024). Bazeley coaches both.

So AWs may not play in that June window. NZF may even enter basically an U23 team plus 3 overage players in the OFC Nations Cup (if it happens), as Olympics prep.

The shortened OFC World Cup qualifying to finish with one off semis & final in March 2025, may actually be really handy. Especially if those games all get held in NZ. Certainly NZF are going to bid for the games to be held in NZ.

But regardless of where they are held it would still be a huge upset for the AWs not to qualify directly to the 2026 WC. Then they would have about 5 FIFA windows (so potentially 10 quality friendlies) through the rest of 2025 & 2026 to prepare for a June 2026 WC.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/132952415/all-whites-set-for-oneoff-oceania-semifinal-final-in-2026-fifa-world-cup-qualifying

But 2024 with the Olympics focus & OFC WC qualifying, may see a dearth of quality games for the AWs, unlike this year and hopefully 2025 & 2026.

Don't see how playing 5 competitive games across four years is good prep for a world cup but sure

lthomas20

Don't see how playing 5 competitive games across four years is good prep for a world cup but sure

I'd agrue strongly that friendlies against Sweden, Australia, Greece & Ireland are far better prep heading to a 2026 WC, than beating Solomons 5-0 (2022 OFC WC qualifying final) or 6-1 (2018 OFC WC qualifying final first leg).

Obviously the Confederations Cup was always very useful for the AWs, each WC cycle. 3 tough competitive games, but sadly it's days seem over.

Infantino's cashcow 48 team WC is likely here to stay, so best NZF make use of the $15M odd the AWs should secure each cycle for qualifying - and schedule as many tough friendlies as they can. Is the only way the team will improve, whilst remaining in OFC.

And/Or they encourage the OFC to have more pacific island coaches on courses to increase the skill level of players in the pacific. Like Iceland does. 

coochiee

lthomas20

Don't see how playing 5 competitive games across four years is good prep for a world cup but sure

I'd agrue strongly that friendlies against Sweden, Australia, Greece & Ireland are far better prep heading to a 2026 WC, than beating Solomons 5-0 (2022 OFC WC qualifying final) or 6-1 (2018 OFC WC qualifying final first leg).

Obviously the Confederations Cup was always very useful for the AWs, each WC cycle. 3 tough competitive games, but sadly it's days seem over.

Infantino's cashcow 48 team WC is likely here to stay, so best NZF make use of the $15M odd the AWs should secure each cycle for qualifying - and schedule as many tough friendlies as they can. Is the only way the team will improve, whilst remaining in OFC.

Sounds like the Greece game might be behind closed doors. I wonder if that will lead to it not being broadcast too.

Marto

Sounds like the Greece game might be behind closed doors. I wonder if that will lead to it not being broadcast too.

Sauce on the news the Greek game will be closed doors?

coochiee

Marto

Sounds like the Greece game might be behind closed doors. I wonder if that will lead to it not being broadcast too.

Sauce on the news the Greek game will be closed doors?

.

We should in 1 of these games run a shadow u23 squad + likely overage players only as a starting 11.

Maybe we can organise a game vs Gibraltar...we might find where the net is again...:)

Sidi 1

Maybe we can organise a game vs Gibraltar...we might find where the net is again...:)

0-0 draw.

Sidi 1

Maybe we can organise a game vs Gibraltar...we might find where the net is again...:)

I'd rather go back to Valetta or San Marino.

So it is confirmed, All Whites will be heading to Vanuatu in June for the Nations Cup

Edit: and NZ will host Oceania qualifiers in October & November 

imanixsupporter

So it is confirmed, All Whites will be heading to Vanuatu in June for the Nations Cup

Edit: and NZ will host Oceania qualifiers in October & November 

Nothing really riding on Nations Cup is there? So it'd be unlikely we'd get the big guns back. 

Reckon a lot of Nix/A-League lads (whose seasons will finish between late April & late May) will get the nod. I would also like to think a lot of the fringe AW's would get a shot too. That + a few of the USL/CPL guys (Adams, Randall, Dyer, Bevan for example) - Let's see what the depth is really like in these guys, who we don't see a hell of a lot of back here in NZ, but are doing well for their respective club sides.

Interesting year ahead. Bring it on!

NZF might field an U23 side in the Nations Cup, as useful pre Paris Olympics prep.

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc-competitions-calendar-confirmed-for-2024/

OFC Men’s Nations Cup – Vanuatu | 15-30 June
FIFA World Cup 2026™ – Oceania Qualifiers MD 1 & 2 – Samoa | 2-10 September
FIFA World Cup 2026™ – Oceania Qualifiers MD  3 – New Zealand & Vanuatu 7-15 October
FIFA World Cup 2026™ – Oceania Qualifiers MD 4 & 5 – New Zealand & Papua New Guinea | 11-19 November

https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/135990?newsfeedId=1275622

Looks like the All Whites will be wearing Puma next year. I've not been a fan of Nike's recent kits but at least they'd been trying to do something unique/interesting. Puma always does cool stuff but not always so unique, quite cooker cuttery stuff a lot of the time. Hope they're able to come up with something special just for us. 

Good effort Mr Ngata :)

We're part of bigger and better strategy?

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/12/puma-to-end-sponsorship-of-israels-national-football-team-in-2024

Interesting article on stuff this morning, could be four home games around September and October next year. Three being World Cup qualifiers and the fourth being a friendly.

Hopefully the friendly will be a slightly higher calibre than the Pacific teams. And fingers crossed the South Island gets a game.

Happy NZF not bothering with the OFC Nations Cup. Hopefully 2 tough friendlies in that June window instead. Need to play as many high quality games as possible before 2026. Sounds like AWs will play in all 5 FIFA windows next year, plus we have the Paris Olympics

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/133489939/all-whites-eye-bumper-home-slate-in-2024-wont-defend-nations-cup-title

As well as seeking two friendlies for the All Whites in June, NZ Football is eyeing two in March and two in September, with all of those matches expected to be played overseas.


All Whites/Oly Whites in 2024

March 18–26: Two-match international window
June 3–11: Two-match international window
July 24–August 9: Paris Olympics men’s football tournament
September 2–10: Two-match international window
October 7–15: Two-match international window (one Oceania World Cup qualifier)
November 11–19: Two-match international window (two Oceania World Cup qualifiers)

Maybe NZF will run a large 40 man combined type squad (AWs & Olywhites) for June window in Europe. AWs & U23s to both play friendlies in Europe together. Similar to having China senior team & U22 in NZ this March. 

Santa coming early for the NZF fan with this news. What a year to look forward to. Hope Darren proves worthy of it 

All Whites taking part in the W Cup from 22-26 March. This is great competition to be playing against. We’ll be lucky to get any results but this is what we need to improve. Great work NZF.

—

“The All Whites will kick-off a big 2024 by taking part in a four-team tournament alongside Croatia (FIFA rank 10), Egypt (FIFA rank 33) and Tunisia (FIFA rank 28) this March.

The tournament, the W Cup, will take place in UAE from 22 March 2024 (local time) with each team set to play two games, an opening match and then either the Final on 26 March 2024 or Third-Place Play-Off on 25 March 2024.

The draw for the cup will be made shortly as well as an announcement on further competition details including match locations, kick-off times and tournament sponsors.

All Whites head coach Darren Bazeley sees the tournament as a perfect start to a big year of football for his side:

“The focus for the team this year is FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers, but should we get there, tournament experience against higher ranked teams will be critical.

“To start 2024 with games against some of the top sides in the world, in a tournament environment, is a great opportunity to continue to test and learn about ourselves playing against opposition of this level. 

“We ended 2023 with a great performance and I know the whole squad can’t wait to get going in 2024.”

Games from the tournament will be broadcast live and free in Aotearoa New Zealand on FIFA Plus.”

This is better than any of us fans could have hoped for in regards to the All whites kicking off 2024. God knows how on earth this came about but what a fantastic thing that it did. This might not mean much to the other nations involved but we all know how starved of competitive and tournament environment football the All Whites have been historically. Absolutely thrilled with the intent here. It was a phenomenal showing that second half against Ireland back in November. Hopefully we can build upon that and show off the goods in a knock out environment against even tougher opposition!

Cannot wait for this!

Wood & Salah both scored in a 1-1 draw at the 2012 Olympics. Hope we see them play each other again 

Edit: for their respective national sides

Bell vs Modric, Garbett vs Hannibal, Wood vs Gvardiol, Cacace vs Salah

The possibilities are endless!

NZF delivering presents two weeks after old Santa Claus.

What is this new world we're living in?! I kinda like it.

Big congrats NZF. Pragnell made some large promises at the end of 2022. Credit where credit is due, NZF has delivered a high quality run of AWs games through 2023 & now into 2024.

New Year, new All Whites fixtures 🥳

We kick-off 2024 as part of the W Cup this March in the UAE alongside Croatia 🇭🇷, Egypt 🇪🇬 and Tunisia 🇹🇳

📖 Read in full at https://t.co/dCJ7sFZoqd

— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) January 8, 2024

Someone made sure the fax machine was working and the bach had internet over the Xmas break.

Top work NZF.

shocked, surprised, stoked.

Rock Hopper

This is better than any of us fans could have hoped for in regards to the All whites kicking off 2024. God knows how on earth this came about but what a fantastic thing that it did. This might not mean much to the other nations involved but we all know how starved of competitive and tournament environment football the All Whites have been historically. Absolutely thrilled with the intent here. It was a phenomenal showing that second half against Ireland back in November. Hopefully we can build upon that and show off the goods in a knock out environment against even tougher opposition!

Cannot wait for this!

Agree that it will be cool, just find it funny the point about how starved we are of competitive/tournament football when NZF, in almost globally unprecedented fashion, pulled themselves out of a competitive tournament that is just a couple months away.

The June OFC Nations Cup?  Not really the same thing though as a 4 team tourney involving the teams ranked 10th, 28th & 33rd in the world, is it.

It's not that long ago that the AWs went through a high stakes OFC tourney (March 2022), winning the final 5-0. Nearly all of the current squad (was an enlarged 33 man squad from memory), played in that tourney. That's all the OFC game experience they need for now.

I'd rather the AWs get a couple of high quality friendlies in June. And back NZF now to pull that off. Maybe they are eyeing up another mini tourney in June, or sometime next year after the 2026 WC qualifiers are completed (March 2025?). And of course Bazeley & about 6 plus of the AWs will be involved in the Paris Olympics, another tourney experience.

Hard to see this as anything but a direct consequence of FIFA binning the Confeds Cup.

Worth keeping half an eye now on the AFCON which starts this weekend.
 
Egypt in Pool B with Mozambique, Ghana & Cape Verde
Tunisia in Pool E with Namibia, Mali & South Africa

Is Salah missing any Liverpool games because of the AFCON? If so it wouldn't surprise to see him sit out this 4 game tourney in March, regardless of it being in a FIFA window. March is always a pretty crucial month in the EPL, and he may favour a little rest.

The Egyptians & Tunisians may even send squads of mostly domestic players, to keep Euro clubs happy, quad tourney being not that long after the AFCON.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/133536527/chris-wood-and-mohamed-salah-could-clash-again-if-all-whites-face-egypt-in-march

coochiee

Is Salah missing any Liverpool games because of the AFCON? If so it wouldn't surprise to see him sit out this 4 game tourney in March, regardless of it being in a FIFA window. March is always a pretty crucial month in the EPL, and he may favour a little rest.

The Egyptians & Tunisians may even send squads of mostly domestic players, to keep Euro clubs happy, quad tourney being not that long after the AFCON.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/133536527/chris-wood-and-mohamed-salah-could-clash-again-if-all-whites-face-egypt-in-march

it's a 4 team tournament but each team will only play two games. No need for Salah to skip it I'm sure 

Hope he plays against the AWs would be great to see. But by March he would have played 35+ EPL, Cup & European games this season with Liverpool. Plus another 10 or more for Egypt if they go all the way to the AFCON final on 12th February.

Don't discount the bigger Euro clubs asking their African players who played in the AFCON (and so missed important club games) to have a rest through the March window, especially for a basically meaningless tourney of friendlies - at the back end of a long season. I'm sure alot of the African teams have had to fight to get their players released during the AFCON (and leadup - Salah played against Tanzania in a friendly overnight), and if that involves later concessions on friendly games they will. 

As always these games that as AWs fans we eagerly look forward to, it's very different for our opponents. AFCON, Euros etc that's their excitement.

Anyone know how to get tickets to the AW  games? I will be over that way then

Napier Phoenix

Anyone know how to get tickets to the AW  games? I will be over that way then

Keep an eye on the NZF socials. Need to wait for the draw to be made first. But I doubt the Emiratis will be rushing out to buy tickets. You'll likely have a bit of time, though I guess there maybe popns of expat Egyptians & Tunisians in the UAE.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/133536527/chris-wood-and-mohamed-salah-could-clash-again-if-all-whites-face-egypt-in-march

The draw for the cup will be made shortly as well as an announcement on further competition details including match locations, kick-off times and tournament sponsors.

coochiee

Is Salah missing any Liverpool games because of the AFCON? If so it wouldn't surprise to see him sit out this 4 game tourney in March, regardless of it being in a FIFA window. March is always a pretty crucial month in the EPL, and he may favour a little rest.

The Egyptians & Tunisians may even send squads of mostly domestic players, to keep Euro clubs happy, quad tourney being not that long after the AFCON.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/133536527/chris-wood-and-mohamed-salah-could-clash-again-if-all-whites-face-egypt-in-march

Salah has always been very, very committed to the Egypt national team, regardless of how Liverpool are going. I’d be surprised if he skipped this.