KEY POINTS:
In handing back the All Whites captaincy to Ryan Nelsen this week, Tim Brown reminded him they were "just 270 minutes from playing in a World Cup". That clock starts ticking in Noumea tonight. A win over New Caledonia would reduce that to 180 minutes - the closest New Zealand has been to soccer's biggest stage since the glorious 1982 campaign.
This is New Zealand's 11th bid to reach the World Cup finals. Some have been over before they really started, others have given some hope only to end in despair.
The first foray, in 1970, had New Zealand pitted against Israel. They played both matches in Ramat Gan, a city in the Tel Aviv district, losing 4-0 and 2-0.
Four years later New Zealand were in Asia for the first time playing in sub-group D, finishing last of the four teams. From that qualifying process, Australia, Oceania's other team, went on to qualify for the World Cup for the first time, losing 2-0 to East Germany and 3-0 to West Germany before a 0-0 draw with Chile, thereby earning the first World Cup point for an Oceania country.
New Zealand were back in Asia in 1978 in sub-group five finishing second behind Australia who went through to the second phase where they finished fourth (of five) behind Iran who went on to the World Cup.
The well-documented 1982 campaign was a long and arduous one. Up against Australia, Indonesia, Taiwan and Fiji, the All Whites won six and drew two to take the group by four points from Australia. New Zealand progressed to the second phase with the other three group winners Kuwait, China and Saudi Arabia, with the top two teams winning through to Spain.
New Zealand lost only once - the hotly disputed 2-1 fiasco at Mt Smart Stadium against Kuwait - and went on to finish equal on points and in goal difference with the Chinese.
The one-off play-off in Singapore was dramatically won 2-1 and the last of the 24 World Cup spots was claimed by John Adshead and his team.
Four years later, Oceania were handed a half-place in their own right for the first time.
In 1990 New Zealand finished third in the group with Israel taking the honours from Australia.
Oceania were reduced to a quarter-place in 1994. New Zealand won their group but lost to Australia in the play-off. Australia then beat Concacaf representative Canada before progressing to the final stage where they narrowly dipped out - beaten 2-1 (on aggregate) by Argentina in a play-off against the strong South American Confederation. It was a similar story in 1998 when New Zealand won their Oceania group but lost to Australia in the play-off.
For the third successive time, New Zealand won their OFC group in 2002 but then bowed out to Australia, who then lost to Uruguay.
The 2006 campaign never got started. Eliminated at the Oceania Nations Cup in Adelaide - finishing third behind Australia and the Solomons after losing to Australia and Vanuatu - that dream became a nightmare.
Tonight, or at the latest Wednesday, will hopefully rekindle the dream and pitch this team into a home-and-away, winner-take-all play-off with the fifth-best team in Asia. Not an easy ask. But not impossible.
THE NUMBERS
New Zealand's World Cup bids
* 1970: Sub group B - lost to Israel (4-0, 2-0) in a supposed home-and-away series but with both matches played in Israel.
* 1974: Asian sub group D - finished last of four teams. Australia won and went on to qualify for World Cup.
* 1978: Asia sub group 5 - finished second to Australia who then finished fourth of five in 2nd round as Iran qualified.
* 1982: Won Asia/Oceania group one (unbeaten) finished equal second in final round then beat China 2-1 in Singapore to join Kuwait at World Cup finals in Spain.
* 1986: OFC group finished behind Australia and Israel and ahead of Chinese-Taipei. Australia eliminated by Scotland.
* 1990: OFC group finished third (of three) behind Israel and Australia. Israel eliminated by Colombia.
* 1994: OFC group B, won, then lost play-off to Australia who beat Canada in a penalty shootout before being eliminated 2-1 (on aggregate) by Argentina.
* 1998: OFC group B, won, then lost play-off to Australia 5-0 (on aggregate - Australia drew 3-3 with Iran aggregate) but lost on away goals.
* 2002: OFC group B won, then lost 6-1 (aggregate) to Australia who were then eliminated 3-1 (aggregate) by Uruguay.
* 2006: Oceania Nations Cup, third (eliminated). Australia beat Solomon Islands 9-1 (aggregate) to progress. Beat Uruguay 4-2 in penalty shootout to qualify for Germany 2006.
NZ v New Caledonia
Noumea, 6 tonight, live SS3