New Zealand football: internal enemies, international woes

In this four-part series, Ryan Murray unravels the intricate tapestry of New Zealand football, delves into the nuances that have thwarted the Kiwis' progress, reflects on whether recent infrastructural changes have had an immediate positive impact and reflects what the future holds for us. New Zealand's national game.

You can read part 1 here and part 2 here.

The Vicious Circle

There's almost a chicken-and-egg dynamic to New Zealand's slow progress. Aren't the All Whites exceptional because they represent a country burdened with a historically weak league? Or is the level of football in his national league poor because the majority of national team members ply their trade outside the borders of their home country? In truth, the answer to every question is a resounding yes: both realities have conspired to weaken the Kiwi cause.

Artwork by Shivani Khot

However, a diploma of sympathy must be applied. Yes, New Zealand football is guilty of inflicting a regular barrage of self-inflicted injuries, but the governing body is forced to operate under a thoroughly bizarre set of conditions, which are hardly conducive to production of a powerful international force.

OFC, co-founded by New Zealand in 1966, is by far the least developed confederation in terms of internal infrastructure, commercial leverage and global influence. Kiwis are a colossal fish in a small pond, or, more accurately, a relative shark in an ocean of minnows. Previously, New Zealand shared this unbalanced status with Australia; however, since the Socceroos' departure, the NZF has been forced to operate in a unique state of paradox. Continuing OFC affiliation roughly certifies a World Cup play-off spot every four years, provided the Kiwis overcome an extremely modest field of opponents and, a place in a winner takes any tie inter-confederation. waits. However...