KEY POINTS:
The irony hasn't been lost on New Zealand football officials.
Twelve months ago, Australia headed to the Asian confederation, believing they had a better chance of developing their game there than as part of Oceania.
Since Thursday's announcement that the Oceania winners will attempt to qualify for the
2010 World Cup through Asia rather than South America, All Whites coach Ricki Herbert and New Zealand Soccer chief executive Graham Seatter have had permanent grins on their faces.
New Zealand are favourites to win through from Oceania and then presumably join Australia in the final Asian rounds of qualifying.
They also enjoy the massive opportunity, without Australia around, of all of their youth and women's sides qualifying for their respective world tournaments.
"Twelve months ago, I said we didn't want to be the biggest dwarf [after Australia left] but I'm quite happy about our height at the moment," said Seatter, who initially bemoaned Australia's withdrawal.
"We've got the chance to change our sport forever. I think we've got about a 30 per cent chance of qualifying [for the World Cup]."
The road to South Africa has yet to be fully determined, with Asia to decide whether the Oceania winners would join nine other nations to find five qualifiers or whether they would be involved in a playoff with the fifth-best Asian side.
Seatter prefers a qualifying series played on a home and away basis because of the exposure and additional revenue it would give the game here and the fact it would avoid a winner-take-all scenario.
He headed to Japan yesterday for the Club World Cup but will also take the opportunity to push Oceania's case with his Asian counterparts.
Thursday's announcement by the powerful Fifa executive has given momentum to NZS's drive to find 11 international matches next year.
They will play four World Cup qualifiers against Oceania opposition in October and November 2007 and intend to add another seven meaningful fixtures during Fifa's international windows.
"We intend using them for full-strength All Whites teams playing high-quality international sides," Seatter said.
Three have already been agreed in principle and Seatter hopes to have the complete 2007 programme in place by the end of January.
The four remaining bidders will pitch their case for inclusion in an expanded NZFC on Tuesday and Wednesday.
NZS have signalled they are considering expanding the competition to 10 teams with the addition of an under-20 side and one of Gisborne City, Manukau United FC, Auckland-Manukau United and North Shore-based Northern United FC.
The eight franchises will then be consulted for their views before a final decision is made at the start of February.