Soccer: Cup route change to be sought

New Zealand Football are likely to present a case to Fifa for Oceania's qualification route to change for the 2014 World Cup.

The All Whites played the first leg of their home-and-away playoff against Asia's fifth-placed team Bahrain in Manama this morning. The second leg is to be played in Wellington on November 14.

NZF chairman Frank van Hattum wants to see the Oceania winners join the top nine Asian teams. The top five teams would then qualify for the World Cup.

"I can see a change in the qualification route in the future," van Hattum said. "One possibility is to go into the last round of 10 with Asia, which I would be quite happy about. That would ensure four good games at home and good exposure.

"But there are a lot of politics involved, because no one wants to give up a spot. Fifa have to provide for Oceania somewhere. I'm sure we will make a submission along the way."

Fifa traditionally review qualification routes after a World Cup. While it will be the decision of the Fifa executive, headed by president Sepp Blatter, Asia are unlikely to favour the idea.

Asia are one of the most powerful confederations, along with Europe, and are unlikely to give up one place in their last round of the top 10 countries for the Oceania winner.

There has been significant debate about the merits of New Zealand following Australia into Asia. This would provide better quality opposition in qualification games and give the game a higher profile here.

But van Hattum said this would be financially crippling. Oceania now has direct entry into all world tournaments except the men's World Cup and he wanted that to continue.

"To have all of our qualification games through Asia is an unsustainable financial burden," van Hattum said. "The All Whites would be OK because they would get decent gates but the other levels would struggle. Australia are finding out that the cost of playing through Asia is astronomical.

"So while I would like to see the All Whites play there, the current alignment provides a fantastic development opportunity for our junior and women's teams. I want to have my cake and eat it, too."

New Zealand have missed qualification for only one 11-a-side tournament since Australia joined Asia in 2006.

This morning's result will go a long way to determining if the Wellington game is a sellout. As many as 15,000 tickets had been sold by Friday.

Most of the 1982 All Whites team will be paraded on the field before kickoff.