He's built a Road to Russia masterplan which has a level of detail that would make Beijing government officials proud. He's already identified almost 20 'challenges and threats' and has set about reducing the impact of each one. Some are familiar - lack of contact time, the travel burden - others less obvious, like lack of team culture or the absence of a defined playing style across the national teams. He has spent the last few months trying to get solutions in place.
Players in the All Whites fold are engaged in distance learning, with Skype, video and email used to increase contact time. Team culture guidelines have been put in place along with a five-man leadership group and Hudson has spent time with the All Blacks to learn about their cultural models.
Changes have been made to the under-20s' coaching set-up and a prescribed style of play in place across national teams.
He's established relationships at West Ham, Ipswich, PEC Zwolle and the other clubs of New Zealand's overseas-based players and has made subtle changes to the team's travel schedules to ensure, whenever possible, the All Whites play in the city they fly into.
Alliances have been built with European clubs, opening opportunities for young players like Deklan Wynne's current trial at West Brom.
But the most noticeable change has been in selections, and Hudson has shaken up the environment in an unprecedented way.
"We've got a plan and we have to stick with it," he says. "In 2017, we want to have two players competing for each position, with maybe another one just behind. It's absolutely necessary but, at the moment, how many positions could you say that about?"
The concern is what might happen in Seoul, especially with the goalkeeping scenario.
Across his nine-year tenure, Ricki Herbert used five players in the No1 jersey. Since Hudson's appointment, six keepers have been selected. It's understandable a No2 custodian needs to be identified, but surely potential candidates could learn alongside Glen Moss.
"It would be even more of a risk to go into a qualifier where the only recognised keeper we have gets injured and we don't have anyone with international experience," says Hudson. "That is a far greater risk." There might also be too many students and not enough teachers at the upcoming camp. How much could a Tyler Boyd or Ryan De Vries learn from spending a week alongside Shane Smeltz?
But to his credit, Hudson has been transparent in his thinking. He should be applauded for that, even if the main ovations may not come until 2016 or 2017.
