11 Feb 2015

All Whites to take on South Korea

3:51 pm on 11 February 2015

The All Whites will travel to Seoul next month for their first game of the year against the Asian Cup runners-up South Korea.

Winston Reid in action for the All Whites.

Winston Reid in action for the All Whites. Photo: Photosport

Anthony Hudson's team will take on the 69th-ranked Korean side on March 31 ahead of the first stage of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup starting later this year.

New Zealand Football High Performance Director Fred de Jong said he was delighted to have secured the match, as well as a week-long camp in Seoul.

"Confirming Korea for the March window certainly fulfils every criteria we have for opponents for the All Whites," he said.

"On the field they will provide top-level competition for the team as they move forward in their preparation for the first stage of 2018 World Cup qualifying at the end of this year."

The announcement comes while Hudson is away visiting the Europe-based All Whites as the coach continues to move ahead with his plans for the national side.

The March clash will be the first meeting of the two nations since 2000, when a two-match series in New Zealand saw South Korea take a 1-0 win in Auckland before a scoreless draw played out in New Plymouth.

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