Current FIFA World Ranking: 77th
FIFA Trigram: NZL
2010 World Cup Qualifying: Finished 1st in OFC (5-1-0; 14 GF, 5 GA) and defeated Bahrain 1-0 in OFC-AFC playoff
World Cup Finals Appearances: 2 – 1982 (23rd), 2010
Record vs. USA: 0-2-0
Head Coach: Ricki Herbert
Championship Honors: OFC Nations Cup (1973, 1998, 2002, 2008)
Leading World Cup Qualifying Scorer: Shane Smeltz
Key Players: Tim Brown (Wellington Phoenix), Dave Mulligan (Wellington Phoenix), Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn Rovers), Ben Sigmund (Wellington Phoenix)
Language: English
New Zealand took full advantage of the void left in OFC by Australia moving to AFC, defeating Bahrain in a cross-confederation playoff to book a trip to South Africa … Played just eight matches during 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying … Shares an unlikely bond with fellow travelers to South Africa, Honduras: both teams qualified for their first World Cup since 1982 … The All Whites, like the USA, participated in the 2009 Confederations Cup … Soccer does not enjoy the same following in New Zealand as Rugby and Cricket, but South Africa is seen as a chance to grow the popularity of the game in Kiwi country … Defender Ryan Nelson captained D.C. United to their 2004 MLS Cup, before earning a contract with Blackburn Rovers of the EPL … Goalkeeper Mark Paston became a legend when he stopped a penalty kick in their playoff against Bahrain to keep the 1-0 lead … Head coach Ricki Herbert is also the club coach for many of New Zealand’s players at Wellington Phoenix
