Soccer: No home build-up dates for All Whites

The All Whites haven't played at home since November. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand football have shelved plans for a match for the All Whites on home soil as part of their World Cup build-up.

The national body had hoped to lure a decent opponent here to give the All Whites another game but also ensure home fans could see them before they ventured to South Africa.

A suitable opponent hasn't been found and NZF have given up on their search.

"We won't have a game back here," NZF chief executive Michael Glading said.

"The players will still have their training camp [in Auckland in April] and there will be a game of sorts [against a local selection] but it's not going to be against an international side.

"We feel the build-up is good enough already. The team will have four more games against countries ranked much higher than us, so we feel that is enough," he said.

That means New Zealand-based fans wanting to see the All Whites before the World Cup will have to head to Melbourne for the match against Australia on May 24. The squad then head to Austria for altitude training, as well as games against Slovenia and Serbia.

NZF are close to confirming a final match against another World Cup qualifier once they arrive in South Africa.

This will be the final chance for coach Ricki Herbert to give his side a run before their first game against Slovakia in Rustenburg on June 15.

NZF had been approached to play another World Cup side in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi but turned it down.

After the logistical troubles they had around matches against Tanzania and Botswana ahead of the Confederations Cup, they didn't want to compromise their build-up.