Soccer: All Whites target higher ranking

Leo Bertos in action against Paraguay at the World Cup. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Results against Paraguay and Honduras in October will be crucial to maintaining the All Whites' climb up the world soccer rankings, New Zealand Football (NZF) chief executive Michael Glading says.

The All Whites broke into the world's top 50 in the latest FIFA rankings released overnight on the back of an unbeaten World Cup campaign and at 49th are just two places shy of their all time high reached in August 2002.

With matches against Paraguay and Honduras, ranked 17th and 52nd respectively, offering potential high profile scalps on home soil, wins over their fellow World Cup finalists could see the All Whites reach new heights.

The All Whites' road to the next World Cup in Brazil is expected to begin in mid-2011.

Glading says rankings will play a part in providing choice when arranging matches in the build-up to qualifying fixtures.

"There's a lot at stake in these two fixtures" said Glading.

"Reaching the top 50 again is a massive achievement for a small nation like ours, and if we can cement our place or climb even higher we can continue to attract high calibre opposition like the teams we've got coming in October.

"And if we can knock one or both of them over with the support of football fans in Auckland and Wellington, we will hold or improve our place in the top 50 and are much better placed to organise the sort of matches we'll need to prepare the team to qualify for Brazil 2014."

New Zealand play Honduras at North Harbour Stadium on October 9 and Paraguay in Wellington on October 12.

- NZPA