New Zealand to face Australia in first home match in five years

• All Whites will face the Socceroos at Eden Park in Auckland.
• The Socceroos will host New Zealand as part of a two-game series.
• New Zealand will play Costa Rica in Qatar after Australia.

In September, the men’s football team of New Zealand will play in front of their home fans for the first time in over five years when they face Australia in a historic friendly.

On September 25, the All Whites will face the Socceroos at Eden Park in Auckland, honoring the 100th anniversary of the first international match between the two countries.

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It will be the rugby venue’s first senior international football match, occurring a day after a Bledisloe Cup rugby match between the same nations.

The Socceroos will host New Zealand as part of a two-game series, date and location to be determined. They have not competed against one another in over a decade.

This week, both countries will be solely focused on World Cup qualifying.

Australia will face the United Arab Emirates in an Asian playoff match in Doha on Tuesday evening, with the winner facing Peru on June 13 for a spot in the World Cup Finals in Qatar later this year.

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A day later, New Zealand will play Costa Rica in Qatar to determine the 32nd and last team in the championships.

In December 2017, the All Whites faced Peru in a World Cup playoff, which they ultimately lost.

The location of New Zealand makes it difficult to convince powerful opponents to travel, and the cost and logistics of summoning their mostly overseas-based players present further obstacles.

Andrew Pragnall, the chief executive of New Zealand Football, thinks that the relaxation of Covid restrictions will herald the beginning of more regular home games.

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“We made a commitment to play more games in Aotearoa (New Zealand) for all our national sides,” said Pragnall.

“This game represents an opportunity for all New Zealanders to witness some of Aotearoa’s greatest football talent who have been developing and plying their trade abroad at the highest levels.”

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