The All Whites latest steps under new coach Fritz Schmid will be taken next month when they compete in a four-team tournament in India.
All Whites coach Fritz Schmid. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand Football confirmed on Friday the national men's team will join hosts India, Chinese Taipei and a to-be-confirmed African team in the Intercontinental Cup.
The tournament will be held from June 1-10, with the teams playing each other once before the two highest-placed sides meet in the final.
Schmid took charge of the All Whites in February, with their only match since being a 1-0 loss in a friendly against Canada in late March.
The Intercontinental Cup will provide a stern challenge for 133rd-ranked New Zealand as their two confirmed opponents are both ranked higher.
India (97) are among the top 100 sides in the world, while Chinese Taipei are not far off that mark in 121st.
New Zealand Football technical director Andreas Heraf said the tournament offered the All Whites a chance to continue putting strong foundations in place as they build towards qualifying for the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar.
"It was exciting to see the team return to action in March for the first time since the Intercontinental Playoff against Peru and we are looking forward to seeing what can be achieved with our new coach at the helm.
"This tournament will be invaluable for Fritz as he looks to put a team together capable of competing with the best in the world and making it all the way to Qatar."
The event will also be the first time the All Whites have played in India, the two nations clashing only once before in a scoreless stalemate on neutral ground in Kuala Lumpur in 1981.
Conversely, New Zealand has faced Chinese Taipei on 12 occasions and are yet to lose, notching 10 wins and two draws.
New Zealand Football said fixture details and further information on the All Whites' participation in the Intercontinental Cup would be released shortly.
- RNZ
