By TERRY MADDAFORD
The All Whites are set to step onto soccer's international stage for a third time this year with a return to the Merdeka Cup tournament, in Malaysia in August.
A one-time regular stop for the national side, it is some time since New Zealand have been invited.
"We welcome the chance to play in such an important tournament," said NZ Soccer chief executive Bill MacGowan. "This is the 36th Merdeka tournament and it is offering a winner's cheque of $US50,000 ($106,650).
"The All Whites have already played South Korea in two games this year and will have another four at the Nations Cup in Tahiti ... we will be looking to put out our strongest possible team."
Six countries will compete - in two groups of three - at the August 12-20 tournament.
National coach Ken Dugdale has welcomed the chance of further international play as he continues the build-up towards next year's vital World Cup eliminations.
"We don't get too many opportunities to play at this level," he said.
MacGowan also confirmed that, as part of a sponsorship arrangement with Lion Breweries, all big soccer games over the next three years will be played at North Harbour Stadium.
These include the Chatham Cup final and women's knockout cup final on September 9 and the World Cup qualifying games involving New Zealand next year.
North Harbour Stadium general manager Graeme Running said: "I think the games we have had here in the past year, including the world under-23 championships, the Football Kingz and the recent Olympic qualifier against South Africa, showed we have a world class soccer venue."
Meanwhile, the New Zealand women will be back in action this afternoon in their last game at the Pacific Cup tournament in Australia.
They are in last place in the six-team tournament, without a point from their first four games.
It will not be any easier in Newcastle today when they come up against second-placed China.
Soccer: All Whites back in Merdeka
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