Soccer: Kiwi referees wait for their chance of World Cup glory

Ricki Herbert and his All Whites are not the only New Zealanders with their sights set on next year's World Cup in South Africa.

Peter O'Leary and Michael Hester face an anxious wait to see if they will get their ticket to soccer's biggest stage.

The 37-year-olds - the top-ranked New Zealand/Oceania referees - are on the shortlist of 38 still in line for World Cup selection. If one or both is selected, it would be a first for a New Zealand referee.

The only New Zealand official to be so honoured is Paul Smith who was a linesman (assistant referee) at the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan.

The 38 survivors from an original list of 53 at an elite referee seminar in Zurich in September last year come from 35 countries. Only Mexico, Uruguay and New Zealand (with two each) have more than one referee still in contention.

It is unlikely that Hester and O'Leary will both be given the nod as Fifa has a policy of spreading the spoils. Both are, however, in Nigeria for the Under-17 World Cup with Hester having already controlled two matches.

O'Leary is in Africa as a designated fourth official and filled that role in the same match. It is the second Fifa appointment for both this year.

Should either make the cut, they will be accompanied by assistants from this part of the world as Fifa sees match officials as a "team". They will learn their fate in February-March next year.