A chance to play Colombia in London next month has fallen through.
The South Americans approached New Zealand Soccer (NZS) a fortnight ago about filling in for Australia, who withdrew from the fixture following the sacking of coach Frank Farina.
After initial reservations, NZS chief executive Graham Seatter was on
the verge of agreeing to the match when Colombia pulled out on Friday, preferring to play Venezuela at home instead.
"It's disappointing but they have decided it's too difficult to arrange at such short notice," Seatter said. "But it shows that we can make these things happen. It also shows that running around and reacting to fixtures when other teams fall through is not what we should be doing.
"Sadly, it doesn't look like much more will materialise this year but we are confident of putting together a comprehensive fixture list for next year."
It had seemed that a combination of Colombia's desperation to play a game ahead of their crucial World Cup qualifiers in September and New Zealand's keenness to play another international might have won the day. Seatter had expected to sign up to the match tomorrow before the phone call came on Friday about Colombia's alternative plans.
Auckland City have signed two new players ahead of their defence of the New Zealand Football Championship which starts on October 22.
Nick Hyde, a 30-year-old versatile midfielder, and Luiz Del Monte, a 25-year-old winger, have transferred from Napier to join the defending champions.
City assistant coach Craig Alexander said they had already signed 18 of their squad of 23, made up mainly of players from last season, and were close to signing three other new faces.
"We would like to have everything sorted by mid-August," he said.
Goalkeeper James Banantyne is the only player from last season's successful squad to make himself unavailable after he signed with Canterbury United.
New Waitakere United coach Steve Cain is yet to sign any players, returning or new, but expects to have his squad finalised within a fortnight.
Waitakere will be without All Whites Danny Hay and Noah Hickey, who are both with the New Zealand Knights, but expects to keep the services of Knights apprentices like Jeremy Christie for much of the season.
- HERALD ON SUNDAY
