Soccer: Dancing to a different beat

The visiting supporters are determined to make their presence known. Photo / Mark Mitchell

A cluster of football supporters have made the longest away-trip of their lives, and will face a city quickly warming to the much-overshadowed round-ball game.

Nearly 700 Bahrain supporters are expected to attend tonight's World Cup qualifier against the All Whites at the Westpac Stadium, which kicks off at 8pm.

At least 100 have flown from the Gulf to Wellington.

Elie Semaan, a sporting director in Bahrain, said their tiny support had been bolstered by a strong contingency of Arabic students in the capital who were backing the oil-rich island state.

"There is a big group of Saudi students here, and Iraqis. We are only a small group, facing 35,000 fans. So the Gulf nationalities are going to help us - even the Saudis, who we knocked out of the World Cup."

- additional reporting NZPA