New Zealand Football is pleased to announce that QBE Stadium, Albany will host the first home All Whites fixture on their Road to Russia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The All Whites will play New Caledonia in Auckland on Saturday November 12 in the first leg of their home and away fixtures in Round Three of the OFC Qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The World No 93 will then travel to New Caledonia to play the away leg on November 15 with the venue of this fixture still to be confirmed.
The Anthony Hudson-coached side, who will play international friendlies against Mexico and USA in October, drew New Caledonia and Fiji in Group A of the Round Three Qualifiers in July.
Hudson: 'This is one of the biggest windows we’ve had – against two world-class sides.' https://t.co/aBYd2YHyf5 pic.twitter.com/nMm8deBj40
— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) August 17, 2016
The All Whites and Papua New Guinea, as OFC Nations Cup champions and runners-up respectively, were seeded as A1 and B1 respectively for the next stage of Oceania World Cup Qualifying.
New Zealand Football Chief Executive Andy Martin said QBE Stadium would be a great host for the much-anticipated match against New Caledonia.
“We are delighted to confirm that we will hold this important game at QBE Stadium, the host venue for the final of the 2015 FIFA U20 World Cup,” said Martin.
“It is an exciting time for the All Whites and we hope that football fans from not only Auckland but across New Zealand will get behind the team as they begin their qualification for the FIFA World Cup.”
VIDEO I #AllWhites coach Anthony Hudson talks the fixture against @ussoccer on 'dream tour' https://t.co/qeEBc5AUsf pic.twitter.com/CJdRmcVNGZ
— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) August 17, 2016
The All Whites defeated New Caledonia 1-0 in the semi-final of the OFC Nations Cup with a free kick from Captain Chris Wood proving the difference.
New Zealand will face Fiji home and away – between March 20 and 28 – with the dates and venues of these fixtures still to be confirmed.
The winner of the Round Three OFC Qualifiers will advance to the Intercontinental Playoff in 2017 to meet the fifth-placed South American side in a home and away qualifier for a place in Russia.
OFC Round Three Qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup
GROUP A
November 12 New Zealand v New Caledonia at QBE Stadium in Albany
November 15 New Caledonia v New Zealand venue TBC
20-28 March, 2017
Fiji v New Zealand
New Zealand v Fiji
