New Zealand are to host Malaysia next month in their first home soccer internationals in more than 3-1/2 years.
The All Whites will play Malaysia in Christchurch on February 19 and at Albany near Auckland four days later.
New Zealand last played at home on July 14, 2002, when the All Whites qualified for the 2002 Confederations Cup in France by upsetting Australia 1-0 to win the Oceania Nations Cup in Auckland.
Their last match was in June last year when they lost 0-1 to Australia in London.
The All Whites are ranked No 120 in the world and Malaysia No 123.
New Zealand Soccer chief executive Graham Seatter today said he was thrilled the All Whites' home hiatus would end.
"For the future of the game in New Zealand the All Whites must be visible and performing credibly and this is an important step in that direction," he said.
Other games were in the pipeline for the All Whites away from home this year.
English premiership club Charlton Athletic and championship side Crystal Palace have agreed to games in England in late July while Seatter is also negotiating with World Cup-bound nations about matches in the lead-up to the 2006 finals in Germany.
"We're quite well advanced on a number of other fixtures but as with the Malaysia games, we don't want to announce anything until we have contracts," Seatter said.
" We view this as a fresh start for the All Whites. We agree it has been too long between home internationals."
All Whites coach Ricki Herbert intends naming his team to play Malaysia on February 7.
New Zealand Soccer has approached Blackburn Rovers, Fulham and Roda JC requesting the release of Ryan Nelsen, Simon Elliott and Ivan Vicelich, respectively, but understands their presence against Malaysia is unlikely.
"We will always ask for all our players to be released for all international fixtures," Herbert said.
"Some players may not be released as these matches do not fall in a Fifa (international match) window. That's the reality of international football and something that we must deal with along the way."
Herbert will delve into the national league to supplement the European, United States and Australian-based players expected to return for the series against Malaysia.
"What we will do is select the best players available as we look to identify the 2010 World Cup squad," he said.
"It's important we discover all the players capable of earning us qualification for the 2009 Confederations Cup and the 2010 World Cup and the process has to start now because qualifying is only 21 months away."
- NZPA
Soccer: Home action at last for All Whites
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