Football: Junior All Whites to play Australia

Whangarei Primary School students celebrate their entry into the Football in Schools programme with Fifa Under-20 World Cup tournament mascot Wooliam. 24 March 2015 Photograph by Michael Cunning

The New Zealand under-20s football side will play five internationals ahead of the Under-20 World Cup starting in this country next month, including a game against Australia.

New Zealand and Australia will be joined by Panama, Qatar and Ghana, who are also playing in the World Cup, in a Five Nations Series which kicks off on May 3 with a clash of the transtasman rivals at QBE Stadium in Auckland.

New Zealand will then meet Panama on May 7 and Qatar on May 10 while a New Zealand Invitational XI will also face Ghana on the same day in Hamilton.

Once the Five Nations Series is complete, New Zealand will then complete their preparation for their Group A tournament opener with matches against Honduras and Austria on May 21 and 24 respectively. They open their World Cup campaign against Ukraine on May 30 at QBE Stadium.

"These games will be invaluable for the team on and off the pitch as we put the finishing touches on our preparation," Bazeley said. "We will be tested by strong opposition on the eve of the tournament and it gives us a chance to see our players in action shortly before we have to name our final squad for the World Cup.

"The games also give supporters in Auckland and Hamilton the chance to get a flavour of what the tournament will be like once it all gets underway on May 30.

"Everyone in the squad is excited for the opportunity to play at home ahead of the World Cup and we can't wait for our game against Australia on May 3."

With just over a month to go until kick off in the world's second biggest men's football event, the organisers of the FIFA U-20 World Cup have ticked off another major milestone.

100,000 tickets have now been snapped up for the event that runs from 30 May to 20 June in seven cities the length and breadth of New Zealand.

"Our goal at this point in preparations was 100,000 tickets sold and to achieve that just confirms that we are on target to host a hugely successful event," said Local Organising Committee Chief Executive Dave Beeche.

Twenty four countries from the six FIFA Confederations have been confirmed for the 20th edition of the tournament that began in 1977 in Tunisia. Argentina (6 titles) and Brazil (5) are the two most successful nations at this level and both have qualified for the event, with Argentina playing their group matches in Wellington and Brazil based in New Plymouth.

Mr Beeche added: "This is a truly world-class event and one which won't be repeated in New Zealand in most of our lifetimes. These are the players who will be lighting up TV screens around the world in a couple of years and Kiwis really shouldn't miss the chance to see them.

"Football fans understand that the next global football superstars will be discovered here in New Zealand and have been buying up the best seats in the house since we went on sale last year, I would urge all other Kiwi sports fans to get in soon if they also want to get decent seats to watch this global spectacle."

Already all corporate hospitality boxes have been sold out for the Final at North Harbour Stadium on 20 June and with history showing that the Final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup New Zealand 1999 was sold out, organisers expect that U-20 Final tickets will be a hot item as well.

Fans wanting to get large groups together (up to 20) are being encouraged to purchase now through the 'Invite a Friend' promotion. Until 1 May anyone using 'Invite a Friend' in their ticket purchase, goes in the daily draw to win Official FIFA U-20 Merchandise

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Under-20 Five Nations Series
May 3: New Zealand v Australia, QBE Stadium, 7pm
May 4: Qatar v Ghana, QBE Stadium, 1pm
May 7: Qatar v Australia, QBE Stadium, 4pm
May 7: New Zealand v Panama, QBE Stadium, 7pm
May 10: Panama v Australia, Waikato Stadium, 1pm
May 10: New Zealand v Qatar, Waikato Stadium, 4pm
May 10: Ghana v NZ Invitation XI, Waikato Stadium, kickoff TBC
May 13: Qatar v Panama, Waikato Stadium, 1pm
May 13: Ghana v Australia, Waikato Stadium, 4pm
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Additional international matches
May 21: New Zealand v Honduras, Warkworth
May 24: New Zealand v Austria, Venue TBC