Soccer: All change possible for All Whites

Players previously lost to the All Whites could be drafted into the national team on the back of changes to international eligibility introduced by Fifa last week.

Under the old rules, players with duel eligibility who had already played for a country at youth level were allowed to switch loyalties only before they were 21.

But in a surprise move, Fifa voted to remove the age limit on changing national teams, opening up the possibility of players like Rory Fallon, Michael McGlinchey, Winston Reid and Tommy Smith one day pulling on an All Whites shirt.

Fallon is perhaps the most realistic immediate target and could even be in line to get a callup for New Zealand's World Cup playoff in October and November. He played junior internationals for England but was blocked from playing for the country of his birth because he didn't commit soon enough.

The 27-year-old striker is currently with Championship side Plymouth Argyle, who paid £300,000 for him in 2007, where he has scored 13 goals in 44 league games, mainly off the bench. Fallon has played professionally in England for a decade, making more than 250 appearances in the lower divisions in a career that has also encompassed Barnsley, Swindon and Swansea.

McGlinchey was born in New Zealand but threw his lot in with Scotland, who he represented at the 2007 Under-20 World Cup. The 22-year-old midfielder played one Scottish Premier League match for Celtic but was released last month.

Reid was also born in New Zealand but has represented Denmark at youth level and is set on playing senior football for his adopted country.

The 20-year-old central defender is highly thought of in Denmark and was reportedly being tracked by Italian club sides Fiorentina, Palermo and Sampdoria.

Smith was born in England but grew up in New Zealand, so holds duel nationality. The 19-year-old defender is currently with Championship side Ipswich and represented England at the 2007 Under-17 World Cup.

All three might be persuaded to throw their lot in with New Zealand if their senior international careers don't take off.

"On the face of it, the change may provide opportunities for players and for New Zealand, but we have to make sure we fully understand the new rules. There are some rules that need clarity, and until we have that we need to make sure we don't rush off without the facts," New Zealand Football chairman Frank van Hattum said.

The change greatly benefits "smaller" countries and was heavily backed by African countries, who often lost out to European countries in the past.

The rule change doesn't allow any player who was played for a full national team from switching nations.