The All Whites’ next international games will be a two-match series against China, with games played in Auckland and Wellington, according to award-winning football writer Michael Burgess.
Burgess, who writes for the NZ Herald, says the matches are set to go ahead in an exclusive report under the heading ‘All Whites returning home in March to face old foe’.
NZ Football have yet to confirm any matches but stated after September’s centennial match against Australia that they were “in advanced discussions” with the All Whites’ next opponents.
New Zealand have played China 14 times since 1975, including the 2-1 win to the All Whites in Singapore in January 1982 that took them to the FIFA World Cup in Spain.
China are currently ranked 80th in the FIFA men’s world rankings, compared to New Zealand’s rank of 105.
In a statement released after the Eden Park match in September, NZ Football said it was aiming to provide competition for the All Whites in every possible FIFA match window.
“We are therefore committed to playing in the first available official window which, because of the schedule changes required to play the FIFA World Cup in November, is March 2023,” the statement said.
“New Zealand Football are already in advanced discussions with the opponent for this window. The team will also be looking to play in every subsequent official FIFA window.”
Main photo: Another opportunity for the All Whites to play at Auckland’s Eden Park? Photo: Phototek.
READ MORE: All Whites’ next international fixture being lined up for next March >>>>
More stories
