The Wellington Phoenix participation in the Australian A-League football competition has been confirmed for another five years.
Under the club's current competition agreement it was only guaranteed a place in the competition until the end of the next season which will finish in 2011.
The extension will take the Phoenix through until 2016.
Concerns had been raised by Asian officials about the Phoenix being part of a competition which is governed by Football Federation Australia, which is in turn part of the Asian Football Confederation.
The Phoenix, while registered as an Australian club, is obviously based in New Zealand, which is part of the Oceania Football Confederation.
However officials from both the Oceania and Asian Confederations met recently in Zurich and agreed to the extension.
Phoenix Chief Executive Tony Pignata says a lot of lobbying has gone on by Football Australia officials and those from New Zealand Football and the Oceania confederation.
Formal ratification of the extension is scheduled to be made in June at a FIFA meeting in South Africa.