SunLive – Beyond the oval ball: a growing love for football

The Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions, traditionally known for their passion for rugby, are seeing marked changes as football begins to capture local enthusiasm.

With the All Whites set to face Vanuatu in a crucial FIFA World Cup qualifier at FMG Waikato Stadium on November 15, excitement is building for the great game. Sports fever appears to extend beyond the oval ball.

Recent statistics show a significant increase in local club football participation, with juniors up 10 per cent, youth up 19 per cent and seniors up 11 per cent in recent years.

Waikato Bay of Plenty Football (WaiBOP) is enthusiastic about this surge that is reinvigorating the local football scene.

The upcoming All Whites match is expected to further increase interest and support for the sport. Local coaches and football clubs attribute this growing interest to the sport’s accessibility and global appeal.

“We are thrilled to see this growth,” said Karin Walters, executive director of WaiBOP Football.

“Football has an amazing ability to bring people together and it’s great to see everyone getting behind it. The All Whites match in November is a huge highlight for our community and we can’t wait to show our support.”

Founded in 2000, WaiBOP Football oversees the development of the sport in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taupo, Thames/Coromandel, Waikato and Western Bay of Plenty.

FMG Waikato Stadium will host the New Zealand v Vanuatu game.

As football increasingly becomes the team sport of choice among children aged 5 to 18 in New Zealand, the national organization has implemented a Total Football Plan to promote the growth of the sport and ensure its long-term success.

With three national teams – the All Whites, Football Ferns and Futsal Whites – gaining international recognition, WaiBOP Football is poised to build on this momentum, enhancing opportunities for players, coaches and fans alike.

The match against Vanuatu is more than just a qualifying match. It offers local fans a rare opportunity to interact with their national team and enjoy international football in their own backyard.

Ricky Broderson, Northern United Football coach, emphasized the significance of such events.

“Our players want to see the All Whites live – it’s a rare chance here. The more they see New Zealand represented on the world stage, the more they want to be part of it.”

In addition, the event will kick off with Samoa vs Tahiti, providing fans with a full day of international football.

The All Whites will play two World Cup qualifying games in November after New Zealand were confirmed as one of four host countries for the qualifying series.

They play Vanuatu in Hamilton on November 15 and meet Samoa at Go Media Stadium, Mount Smart, Auckland on Monday November 18.

New Zealand will also host the semi-finals and final of the series in March next year.

New Zealand Football chief executive Andrew Pragnell. Photo / New Zealand Football

“We are delighted to have won these World Cup rights, bringing the All Whites home in November 2024 and again, if fate allows, in March 2025, and are excited to begin our qualifying journey for the 2026 World Cup.” , said New Zealand Football chief executive Andrew Pragnell.

“This helps us achieve a number of our strategic objectives.

“We must continue to play the All Whites in every international window and bring them home every year to create excitement, pride and connection with New Zealanders.

“We also believe that this will be the start of our journey to qualify for and win the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“We have worked very hard to do everything we can to make Oceania football a success, to secure quality tournaments and matches for all of Oceania, with the Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament and the OFC Futsal Cup in 2023, to secure the hosting rights for these tournaments . critical games in 2024 and 2025 are extremely satisfying.

“Football has already experienced huge growth, exacerbated by the 2023 Women’s World Cup, and we know this will only continue with the All Whites’ campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”

Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate welcomed the impending clash.

“This is fantastic news. We are delighted to welcome the All Whites to play in Hamilton for the first time.

“Not only is this good news for Hamilton football fans and players, but it will attract people from all over New Zealand as well as international visitors,” she said.

“This is a great way to showcase the world-class services and hosting we offer, as well as supporting our great hospitality and visitor business.”

How does the qualifying series work?

Qualifying campaigns are currently underway as countries vie for a place at the biggest World Cup in history.

New Zealand is one of four hosts for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers along with Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. Qualifying competitions began last month.

Following the first round of qualifying in September in Samoa, which featured hosts the Cook Islands, American Samoa and Tonga, the third match day in October took place at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva, Fiji, and VFF Freshwater Stadium in Porto. Vile, Vanuatu.

Group A matches took place in Suva on Thursday, October 10. Fiji beat Solomon Islands 1-0 and New Caledonia beat Papua New Guinea 3-1.

Group B matches took place in Port Vila on Friday 11 October, with New Zealand beating Tahiti 3-0 and Vanuatu beating first round winners Samoa 4-1 on Saturday 12 October.

World Cup.

Matchdays four and five fall during FIFA’s November international window, with matches to be played at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton and Auckland in New Zealand, as well as the PNG Football Stadium in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

Group A matches in Port Moresby will see Solomon Islands take on New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea face Fiji on Thursday 14 November, ahead of the final round of group matches when Fiji face New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea take on Solomon Islands Islands on Sunday. November 17.

In Group B, the winner of the first round will face Tahiti while New Zealand meet Vanuatu at Waikato Stadium on Friday 15 November, with the final group matches played on Monday 18 November when Tahiti meet Vanuatu and New Zealand meet from Samoa. , who became the winners of the first round in Auckland.

The top two teams in Groups A and B will advance to the semi-finals, with the winners advancing to the final, which will be held in New Zealand in March 2025.

The sixth and seventh match days will take place in New Zealand in March, with the winners of Group A facing the runners-up of Group B and the winners of Group B facing the runners-up of Group A, followed by a final to determine which country qualifies for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and which country will qualify for the FIFA intercontinental playoff tournament.

Tickets for the New Zealand qualifiers are available through Ticketek, inviting the community to join the growing football movement and support the All Whites in their journey to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Friday, November 15 (19:30): All Whites v Vanuatu, FIFA World Cup Qualifier, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton. Adults – $20, children – $5.