Edit - see in the below article NZF have to split these big FIFA qualification payouts with the players. But still the cash is critical to NZF driving the code forward in a positive direction, and unleasing the sport's potential in NZ.
Lastly I think having a 2nd NZ ALM team, and 2-3 big derbies each season now in NZ, goes a long way to replacing those big Bahrain/Mexico/Peru playoff games that are seemingly lost forever. Certainly gives football some high exposure a few extra times each summer now.
It's one reason why Pragnell is so keen now on a 3rd A League club out of Christchurch. Then the sport has a truly nationwide professional footprint, and those 3 clubs become your main high quality week in week out promotion of the code. Football fans outside of Auckland, then ain't so upset if they only rarely see the AWs in the flesh. Different to rugby where it's heavily the All Blacks on a annual nationwide roadshow, as the sport's big shop window.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/all-whites-chase-richest-prize-in-new-zealand-sporting-history-as-fifa-world-cup-qualifying-gets-under-way/VRZCMR74HZFGDIFRU33BBFZ3TU/
New Zealand Football received US$8 million ($13m) for their efforts in South Africa in 2010, where Ricki Herbert’s team managed draws with Slovakia, Italy and Paraguay. Even after the players’ share was deducted (around 40%) it was a massive windfall, which funded the sport (and both the All Whites and Football Ferns international programmes) for many years.
Lastly I think having a 2nd NZ ALM team, and 2-3 big derbies each season now in NZ, goes a long way to replacing those big Bahrain/Mexico/Peru playoff games that are seemingly lost forever. Certainly gives football some high exposure a few extra times each summer now.
It's one reason why Pragnell is so keen now on a 3rd A League club out of Christchurch. Then the sport has a truly nationwide professional footprint, and those 3 clubs become your main high quality week in week out promotion of the code. Football fans outside of Auckland, then ain't so upset if they only rarely see the AWs in the flesh. Different to rugby where it's heavily the All Blacks on a annual nationwide roadshow, as the sport's big shop window.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/all-whites-chase-richest-prize-in-new-zealand-sporting-history-as-fifa-world-cup-qualifying-gets-under-way/VRZCMR74HZFGDIFRU33BBFZ3TU/
New Zealand Football received US$8 million ($13m) for their efforts in South Africa in 2010, where Ricki Herbert’s team managed draws with Slovakia, Italy and Paraguay. Even after the players’ share was deducted (around 40%) it was a massive windfall, which funded the sport (and both the All Whites and Football Ferns international programmes) for many years.
The rewards in 2026 will be even greater. Participating nations at the last World Cup in Qatar received a minimum of US$9m ($14.7m) and that is expected to rise, given Fifa has already committed to a 20% increase in the total fund allocated to prizemoney and the compensation payments to clubs, from US$750m in Qatar to US$896m in 2026.
It’s predicted to be in excess of US$10m ($16.33m), along with at least US$1m for preparation costs ahead of the tournament for qualified nations. On top of that there are the new sponsorship and commerical deals – NZF gained several new sponsors leading into 2010 – along with the priceless exposure, the opportunities to play high profile preparation matches and the gravitas.