Some interesting ideas. The carrot of a much easier path for age-group World Cups plus Womens World Cup (2 spots Oceania WWC 2023), could certainly be attractive to likes of Indonesia.
But as an AWs fan, the prospect of playing the Indonesians, Malaysia, Philippines etc is not much more attractive than playing the Island nations. That's just me.
A combined AFC/OFC Nations League in the first 2 years of any World Cup cycle, say split West Asia - East Asia/OFC, with AWs put in a home away pool with Japan, China, Sth Korea & Socceroos, now that would be exciting. With some meaningful AWs games actually played at home, showcasing this current talented group in NZ.
The Nations League games, doubling up as Asian Cup qualifiers for the AFC teams. Much the same as UEFA now runs it's Nations League games as qualifiers for the Euros also.
Then AWs & Island teams move into OFC WC qualifying for the last 2 years of the cycle. The Island teams also participating in an AFC/OFC Nations League, playing lower ranked AFC teams, with pro/rel between different divisions.
Even better of course would be a complete split off, of West & East Asia, and OFC chucked in with East Asia. Thought of playing the Japans, Australia, Koreas etc home & away would be exciting. Malaysia & Guam much less so.
But pressure needs to be put on NZF to do something. Sure they have very limited power with likes of AFC/FIFA, but current setup of virtually no games apart from the odd friendly with very much 2nd string selections in first 2 years of a WC cycle, followed by OFC qualifying in last 2 years is just shark house, when trying to promote football in NZ. The 2 big intercontinental playoff games briefly for about 2 weeks put the AWs up as the no 1 sports news story. Then for 3 years they are barely talked about again, unless of course they actually qualify for the big dance like 2010.
So NZF need to try their damnest to find a format that brings big quality meaningful AWs games to NZ, regularly.
And that AWs team that played in India 2018, was very much an AWs 'B' selection.
But as an AWs fan, the prospect of playing the Indonesians, Malaysia, Philippines etc is not much more attractive than playing the Island nations. That's just me.
A combined AFC/OFC Nations League in the first 2 years of any World Cup cycle, say split West Asia - East Asia/OFC, with AWs put in a home away pool with Japan, China, Sth Korea & Socceroos, now that would be exciting. With some meaningful AWs games actually played at home, showcasing this current talented group in NZ.
The Nations League games, doubling up as Asian Cup qualifiers for the AFC teams. Much the same as UEFA now runs it's Nations League games as qualifiers for the Euros also.
Then AWs & Island teams move into OFC WC qualifying for the last 2 years of the cycle. The Island teams also participating in an AFC/OFC Nations League, playing lower ranked AFC teams, with pro/rel between different divisions.
Even better of course would be a complete split off, of West & East Asia, and OFC chucked in with East Asia. Thought of playing the Japans, Australia, Koreas etc home & away would be exciting. Malaysia & Guam much less so.
But pressure needs to be put on NZF to do something. Sure they have very limited power with likes of AFC/FIFA, but current setup of virtually no games apart from the odd friendly with very much 2nd string selections in first 2 years of a WC cycle, followed by OFC qualifying in last 2 years is just shark house, when trying to promote football in NZ. The 2 big intercontinental playoff games briefly for about 2 weeks put the AWs up as the no 1 sports news story. Then for 3 years they are barely talked about again, unless of course they actually qualify for the big dance like 2010.
So NZF need to try their damnest to find a format that brings big quality meaningful AWs games to NZ, regularly.
And that AWs team that played in India 2018, was very much an AWs 'B' selection.