I'm holding out hope that a AFC-OFC Nations League happens, along an East-West Asia split.
AWs in Group A, East Asia with Japan, Aus, Sth Korea, China & maybe Vietnam. Other OFC teams sprinkled down through lower tier Groups, with Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos etc. Flights should all be less than 15 hours. 10 games H&A over 12 months (5 FIFA windows), so Kiwi fans get to see the AWs Euro stars actually play meaningful games in NZ. Games between AFC teams to double up as Asian Cup qualifiers or something, as UEFA does.
Sorry well off topic now.
Edit - and how could OFC organise qualifiers earlier? Europe & Asia's borders opened well before those in Oceania.
Back in late 2021/early 2022 any players or coaching staff returning to NZ & many Island countries would have had to do 1-2 weeks quarantine upon return. Some Island nations may not have allowed people to even leave their countries, at that stage. Plus some were in complete lockdown, so players completely unable to train, even gather together.
AWs (with a mostly overseas based squad playing in various competitions) would likely have been the only country ready to play by Nov-Jan. Other countries woefully underprepared, so yes they decided on March to give themselves the best chance to be competitive. Sucks for us, but you can't really blame them.
AWs in Group A, East Asia with Japan, Aus, Sth Korea, China & maybe Vietnam. Other OFC teams sprinkled down through lower tier Groups, with Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos etc. Flights should all be less than 15 hours. 10 games H&A over 12 months (5 FIFA windows), so Kiwi fans get to see the AWs Euro stars actually play meaningful games in NZ. Games between AFC teams to double up as Asian Cup qualifiers or something, as UEFA does.
Sorry well off topic now.
Edit - and how could OFC organise qualifiers earlier? Europe & Asia's borders opened well before those in Oceania.
Back in late 2021/early 2022 any players or coaching staff returning to NZ & many Island countries would have had to do 1-2 weeks quarantine upon return. Some Island nations may not have allowed people to even leave their countries, at that stage. Plus some were in complete lockdown, so players completely unable to train, even gather together.
AWs (with a mostly overseas based squad playing in various competitions) would likely have been the only country ready to play by Nov-Jan. Other countries woefully underprepared, so yes they decided on March to give themselves the best chance to be competitive. Sucks for us, but you can't really blame them.