First, NZF finally has clarity on the World Cup pathways – after a long wait – and can plan accordingly. Overall Pragnell is determined to find positives. " we've built a bit of robustness about how we run the organisation it's not cataclysmic in terms of its impact, but it's definitely challenging." "At one stage, we were pretty dependent on this game for sole survival," said Pragnell. The balance sheet could take a hit, though Pragnell emphasised that NZF has evolved significantly over the last decade and diversified its revenue streams, which would soften the potential blow. "But certainly with the confederations, everyone needs to understand that whatever member associations are playing, there has to be some sort of model for distribution back to them as the primary participants." "We are not taking it for granted that we are there," said Pragnell. NZF will "immediately" initiate discussions with FIFA around the television rights for those games, should New Zealand be involved. "There's no escaping that but the biggest variable in the overall potential revenue impact is the opposition and broadcast implications around that." "It has potential financial implications for the organisation and that's significant. "We've been on a thin diet of trying to get games home and this one was looking to be the first so to lose that is really disappointing, for the fans and the team. "These fixtures are huge for the entire sporting community and for the country. "The first reaction is obviously one of disappointment," Pragnell told the Herald on Sunday. NZF was caught out by the timing of the announcement, and chief executive Andrew Pragnell admitted it was a potential setback, should the All Whites progress as the top Oceania nation. It ends a long tradition of home-and-away contests, which have produced some memorable occasions in New Zealand and been lucrative for NZF, with sold-out games against Bahrain (2009), Mexico (2013) and Peru (2017).įIFA's move was pre-empted by the fixture congestion created by the Covid-19 pandemic, along with the ongoing uncertainty around international travel. On Saturday FIFA announced the playoffs will be single-leg matches at a neutral venue, after the Herald exclusively revealed that possibility on Friday. FIFA's decision to change the format of the 2022 World Cup Intercontinental playoffs could have major implications for New Zealand Football, though the organisation is determined to "roll with the punches".
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