Overall I’m pretty happy with those three teams. All should be a challenge but you’d think all are beatable if we play well.
NZ has a bit of a relationship with Chilean football. They’re at a low ebb but we know they’re decent and more importantly they’ll be a good test.
Finland has produced a few class players over the years but beyond them I’m guessing the rest of the team is an unknown for most kiwi football fans. Much like outside of Chris Wood, most All Whites will be unknown to the Finns.
Cape Verde are a bit of a wild card. I haven’t looked into their team yet but I’m sure they have some handy players who’ve gone thru the Portuguese system.
You cant just pick and choose which laws to follow. Sure Id like to tape a baseball game without the express written consent of major league baseball, but thats just not the way it works.-Hank Hill
So it will be two games. Semi and then either the final or 3rd/4th playoff. That's if it follows the same format as that tourney in Cairo, March 2024.
Being a tourney as such at will be a useful mimic of going to the World Cup, ie winning the first (semi) game actually matters. Rather than just the normal two friendlies.
Hopefully we get to play the Chileans in either of the two games as you would expect, they would be the toughest opponent. Though not having qualified for the WC, they may bring an experimental side as they start a rebuild.
As a very young kid can vaguely remember going to that Hungry verus AWs game in 1982 pre Spain. Running on the QEII pitch post game and getting some autographs.
The world No 87 All Whites look set to play two of Cape Verde, Chile and Finland at home during the March international window, in their final matches before their World Cup squad is named in May.
The identities of the other three teams taking part were set to be announced in mid-January, but Cape Verde football federation president Mário Semedo appears to have revealed them ahead of schedule.
The small African nation, ranked 67th in the world, has qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 2026.
World No 57 Chile and world No 75 Finland have not qualified for next year’s tournament, to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Chile finished last in South American qualifying, winning just two of their 18 matches.
Past events have typically featured two semifinals followed by a playoff for third, though there is scope for New Zealand Football as hosts to make alternative arrangements.
If the All Whites were to play Finland, it would be just their fifth full international against a European nation on home soil – and their first in more than 30 years.
In 1982, ahead of New Zealand’s first World Cup appearance, they had a pair of 2-1 losses to Hungary in Auckland and Christchurch.
In 1991, as part of the game’s centenary celebrations, they hosted England for a pair of matches, losing 1-0 in Auckland and 2-0 in Wellington.
Therefore, it will also be an important test for our national team, and in fact an excellent opportunity to test ourselves just a few months before the start of the World Cup.”
These were the two fixtures I was hoping for. A UEFA team on home soil is very novel. And Chile are at an all time low historically. Will see what the leave balance is looking like come late March.
Cape Verde, Chile and Finland are all confirmed to take part in the FIFA Series in Auckland this March at @edenparknz, with the All Whites facing two of them in our final home games before the @FIFAWorldCup 🙌
Confirmed which is awesome, but not great that on the Friday there are two other sporting events on at the same time. The Warriors being one.
Will be painful getting taxis to ubers that night... but for those young enough to head out after games, town should be packed!
I personally will drive home and sleep.
Yeah might be a smallish crowd for the Finland game Friday night??
The Chile match on the Monday might attract a larger gate. Drag in some of the 09's South American community. I'll be on a long haul flight to Europe 29th March, so bad planning on my behalf.
Will be a busy couple of days for grounds people all over Auckland.
Stamenic plays with the Chilean no 1 GK Lawrence Vigourouxthe Swans. Presumably a few other potential club match ups will be on the cards.
No doubt Marco Rojas will field a few interview requests from the Chilean football media. Gallegos as well.
World No 87 New Zealand will face Finland on Friday, March 27, the same night the Warriors host Wests Tigers at Go Media Stadium and Moana Pasifika host the Highlanders at North Harbour Stadium.
The All Whites will then face Chile on Monday, March 30.
In between the two sets of football matches, Eden Park is set to host a Super Rugby match between the Blues and the Fijian Drua on Saturday, March 28.
For anyone who wants to attend the AWs fixtures but not miss the Wāhinix’s last home game of the season, Air NZ have plenty of $89 WLG-AKL flights still available.
It worked out cheaper for me to fly home Saturday morning then back up on Monday than spend the weekend in Auckland, and more importantly it means I’ll still be at Porirua Park on Sunday 29th.
I see Australia are hosting their FIFA Series in Sydney and Melbourne - Does anyone else remember in early December when Andrew Pragnell said this about giving Auckland all the games: “We would have loved to play in two cities, but one of the requirements of hosting is ensuring all games are played in one location to maximise training time ahead of the FIFA World Cup."
Is FIFA giving New Zealand extra requirements? Or were NZ Football lying?
Especially given the Friday night game verus Finland at EP is going to directly clash with the Warriors game at Mt Smart, for the attention of Aucklanders.
I see Australia are hosting their FIFA Series in Sydney and Melbourne - Does anyone else remember in early December when Andrew Pragnell said this about giving Auckland all the games: “We would have loved to play in two cities, but one of the requirements of hosting is ensuring all games are played in one location to maximise training time ahead of the FIFA World Cup."
Is FIFA giving New Zealand extra requirements? Or were NZ Football lying?
Maybe it might have been specific to the teams who were coming or Australia has asked for an exemption?
Or the rule is about training time and there are plenty of flights in and out of the Aussie cities and available training facilities to satisfy that requirement? IE the rule is not about cities per se, but he’s stated it awkwardly?
The difference is probably that there are direct international flights to most major destinations from both Sydney and Melbourne while in NZ the only game in town is Auckland.
oh poop, why didn't I look at the calendar before booking flights and non refundable accommodation. I'll have to find somewhere in Auckland to watch. Simon B
For anyone who wants to attend the AWs fixtures but not miss the Wāhinix’s last home game of the season, Air NZ have plenty of $89 WLG-AKL flights still available.
It worked out cheaper for me to fly home Saturday morning then back up on Monday than spend the weekend in Auckland, and more importantly it means I’ll still be at Porirua Park on Sunday 29th.
For anyone who wants to attend the AWs fixtures but not miss the Wāhinix’s last home game of the season, Air NZ have plenty of $89 WLG-AKL flights still available.
It worked out cheaper for me to fly home Saturday morning then back up on Monday than spend the weekend in Auckland, and more importantly it means I’ll still be at Porirua Park on Sunday 29th.
I'll just go to the Wahinix game 👍 the All Whites and Ferns can always just come here. The Phoenix clearly represent us, not sure about the others given 8/11 home games since covid in Auckland (and that's despite Wellington getting very similar crowds)
The difference is probably that there are direct international flights to most major destinations from both Sydney and Melbourne while in NZ the only game in town is Auckland.
Christchurch goes to Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, and San Fran.
Auckland only goes direct to Chile out of the travelling teams.
I stand somewhat corrected, but remember that Christchurch did not host WWC games and it is likely their existing stadium is not good enough for FIFA for their "FIFA Series". If Te Kaha was up and running maybe it would be a different story.
I had Wellington in mind as the obvious alternate city and having a game there would have meant an extra two flights for all of the travelling teams, rather than the Sydney/Melbourne split only adding one flight for travelling teams.
Andrew Voerman followed up with NZ Football to find out why, apparently the hosting regulations required one location - and that maybe Australia managed to get a special exemption
Andrew Voerman followed up with NZ Football to find out why, apparently the hosting regulations required one location - and that maybe Australia managed to get a special exemption
Tbf Wood did exactly that after the last Auckland game, subbed off early then went straight to the airport. But if we’re talking potentially 24-30 hours to get home (and a lot of clubs will require a domestic connection at their end), does the extra flight from Welly really make that much difference?
Maybe we should start a sweepstake on which one Wellington gets first: an international game or a proper rectangular stadium.
Andrew Voerman followed up with NZ Football to find out why, apparently the hosting regulations required one location - and that maybe Australia managed to get a special exemption
Tbf Wood did exactly that after the last Auckland game, subbed off early then went straight to the airport. But if we’re talking potentially 24-30 hours to get home (and a lot of clubs will require a domestic connection at their end), does the extra flight from Welly really make that much difference?
Maybe we should start a sweepstake on which one Wellington gets first: an international game or a proper rectangular stadium.
And to add to that - the 2nd matchday in the Australian Series isn't until the Tuesday - So if these players coming to NZ are having to take a flight straight after the 2nd game on the Monday, they will likely make it home before Australia's 2nd matchday even kicks off!
Good to see some critical discussion on this topic.
My concern is that we won't see any big games outside Auckland in this era of the All Whites and even the Ferns post World Cup.
Auckland has got both our home games for the Soccer Ashes, the World Cup qualifying final and now the FIFA Series. For the Ferns you can add in the WC Qualifying final too.
It's frustrating because I don't know where this has come from - Wellington crowds for national team games are similarly good and sometimes better than Auckland crowds (i.e. we got 22k for Fiji while they got 20k for Australia), while Christchurch hasn't even had the chance to show what crowds it can get.
If they spread the games around a lot and it turns out Auckland gets way bigger crowds than the other cities, then I'm fine for them to have most games, but I'm pretty certain this won't be the case. Wellington is being punished for nothing and Christchurch is just getting left out altogether.
It would be absolutely criminal for them to not even try and look at locking in an AWs/Ferns match here in Christchurch after the new stadium is completed and opened.
I'm pretty sure Pragnell has said that the AWs will play in Christchurch once Te Kaha is completed.
In NZF's defence the long travel distance to NZ, and locked in need to play Friday and Monday each window does cause issues.
And yeah Baze likely wants to maximise on the grass training time as the big dance very quickly approaches. You fly Auckland to another city domestically you lose at least one training session. That won't matter at all as the AWs just play friendlies post the WC until about 2028 (even 2029).
It might be that going forward that games get split ChCh and Auckland as those two cities have the most international flight connections, ie Welly misses out.
I'm pretty sure Pragnell has said that the AWs will play in Christchurch once Te Kaha is completed.
In NZF's defence the long travel distance to NZ, and need to play Friday and Monday each window does cause issues.
It might be that going forward that games get split ChCh and Auckland as those two cities have the most international flight connections, ie Welly misses out.
Dunedin? or is it only Auckland getting all the games?
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
Unfortunately it is all over for Dunedin. Christchurch now has a (newer, better, equally sized) replica of Forsyth Barr stadium, a much larger population and a bigger and better connected airport. Any event that could go to Dunedin would be better to be held in Christchurch, that is just the reality.
Unfortunately it is all over for Dunedin. Christchurch now has a (newer, better, equally sized) replica of Forsyth Barr stadium, a much larger population and a bigger and better connected airport. Any event that could go to Dunedin would be better to be held in Christchurch, that is just the reality.
Forsyth Barr is exactly what is needed in Wellington. It's a fantastic stadium that's very well built.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
I love it too, the North Stand is the best place to watch rectangular sports in the country, steep and close to the pitch means you can get a great view from up on high while still being close to the action. I hope Te Kaha has similarly steep/close stands.
I love it too, the North Stand is the best place to watch rectangular sports in the country, steep and close to the pitch means you can get a great view from up on high while still being close to the action. I hope Te Kaha has similarly steep/close stands.
When you are only about 20 feet from the pitch and now 25 meters, it does make a difference.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
For the last 15 odd years Cantabs have been travelling down to Dunners to watch Ed Sheeran, All Blacks tests, 2023 FIFA WWC or whatever.
But yeah from April expect the reverse to happen. Those south of the Waitaki will now need to head north. I see for the first Women's rugby Lions tour next year, the only game in the South Island is at Te Kaha.
I'm pretty sure Pragnell has said that the AWs will play in Christchurch once Te Kaha is completed.
In NZF's defence the long travel distance to NZ, and locked in need to play Friday and Monday each window does cause issues.
And yeah Baze likely wants to maximise on the grass training time as the big dance very quickly approaches. You fly Auckland to another city domestically you lose at least one training session. That won't matter at all as the AWs just play friendlies post the WC until about 2028 (even 2029).
It might be that going forward that games get split ChCh and Auckland as those two cities have the most international flight connections, ie Welly misses out.
I'm guessing Tony Popovic doesn't want to maximise on the grass training time as the big dance very quickly approaches? There is always, always a throwaway reason this stuff has to be so damn Auckland centric!
Also I read Australia has one of their matchdays on a Tuesday! So much for teams getting back home soon then!
Presale for the FIFA Series in March is live now for Football Whānau members 🇳🇿🇫🇮🇨🇱🇨🇻
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