Although there is a major benefit for us being in Oceania which has been a huge help in our footballing progress in the last 15-20 years. The fact we qualify for all age group world cups, male and female, as well as the olympics. If we leave oceania that all stops. Australia for example didnt participate in qualifying in 2007 and have qualified 5 times out of 10 for the u17 men. Their u20s have failed to qualify the last 3 times. Their u17 womens team havent qualified ever.
[quote=coochiee]
For sure it's great having all our age group (and FFs) teams qualify direct for World Cups through the weak OFC path.
But just bear in mind, many of that talented U20 squad will now barely set foot in NZ, to play again. That's if we stay in the OFC.
Will most likely get worse post 2022 (at least we still have a high stakes inter continental home playoff game in March 2022), with OFC having automatic WC qualification (1.5 spots) for USA 2026 & beyond.
Just 4-6 low quality home games against the OFC minnows in the last 1-2 years of a World Cup cycle. European players deciding to skip games, because well an A League/domestic based AWs should still win the home OFC qualifiers - some of which may early on in the qualification phase become dull dead rubbers. Probably hardly a game through 2023-2024 (much less any games at home).
You'll just be watching all that playing talent, on your TV or computer screen. That's the future reality.
[quote=andrewvoerman]
The biggest reason why there's nothing now – money – would only become more of an issue if NZ woke up tomorrow in Asia.
[quote=coochiee]
What's the funding model for AFC Asian Cup, and World Cup qualifiers?
Each country has to totally fund their own individual campaigns? Negotiate their own TV rights/sponsorship deals?
Or is it funded (partly or wholly) by AFC/FIFA? Talking senior men's.
Pretty sure AFC senior women's and age group qualification (men's & women's) for World Cups, is through one off tournaments same as OFC. Stand to be corrected.
Fritz's thread has well and truly got off topic. Guilty as charged.
Did find skant goggling around, but there are a few interesting articles on how AFC came to be and has worked out for FFA & Socceroos.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/goal-at-last-australia-joining-asia-20050311-gdkwk4.html
"Lowy and O'Neill have been lobbying the various parties for the past four months, and the breakthrough came early this year when Asia's marketing partners, the World Sports Group, was convinced that Australia could add value to Asia's sponsorship and television deals, some of which are up for renewal in the next 12 months."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Sport_Group
This Singapore based company, sounds like it basically negotiate AFC's TV deals.
"World Sport Group was the exclusive marketing partner of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the ASEAN Football Federation(AFF)."
Could NZF (if they wanted to) convince this mob they would add commercial value to the AFC? Unlikely you would think. Would almost have to be an undertaking that high profile players like Wood & Reid would play so many games. Thomas from PSV. Impossible to gtee.
I think the only way AFC would be interested is NZF taking an automatic WC qualification from OFC (leaving 0.5 spot), and bringing that extra spot into AFC's automatic 8.5 spots (from 2026 WC).
This article touches on some of the sponsorship restrictions that AFC imposes on it's member countries.
Attracting brand interest has been a massive headache for the governing body (FFA), and something Gallop described last year as one of their biggest challenges. Part of the reluctance to buy the naming rights was put down to the limited commercial opportunities with players, who are based at clubs all over the world.
And while the Socceroos are currently in the middle of their 2018 World Cup qualifiers, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) who run them enforce rigid restrictions on the use of branding, as they did for the 2015 Asian Cup.
Fifa rules also prohibit national teams from carrying sponsor branding on their strip, but all training and other kit will now be branded as the Caltex Socceroos. Gallop added that the players themselves would also benefit, as would the grassroots game.
You would think joining AFC would open up more sponsorship opportunities for NZF, but tricky as above.
And lastly this recent March 2019 article from The Roar. Pretty weak. But some of the comments underneath caught my eye.
https://www.theroar.com.au/2019/03/14/should-new-zealand-join-the-afc/
Roar Rookie
March 14th 2019 @ 10:23am Genius article, you only get 10 million for making a world cup.
Oceania are now guaranteed a spot and they even want more.
The only team that would have a chance for qualification in Asia is NZ , but they would struggle their European based players are on the opposite side of the world, its a 24 hour flight. Doing things for a play off where they get extra time is one thing doing it multiple times with short notice they would be a 20% chance even with 7-8 spots for Asia.
Roar Rookie
March 14th 2019 @ 2:33pm
Brainstrust makes a fair point – NZ can just sit back and cruise in Oceania, and watch the FIFA $ and opportunities roll in. Their age group teams invariably qualify for World Cups, male and female, as will the All Whites and Ferns in future years, each coming with enough money to support NZ football over the next four year cycle. It’s hardly a competitive challenge for them, not good for quality improvement but it pays the bills. They would improve, as has Australia, with the greater challenge of Asia. The question for NZ is whether they want to cruise, or improve?
I suspect they’ll argue strongly for the former, and continue to have their only professional club side subsidised by big brother us.