New Zealand

All Whites farewelled before World Cup campaign

22:00 pm on 22 May 2010

Football fans farewelled the All Whites on Saturday, ahead of the World Cup tournament in South Africa.

The team has held a public session in Auckland before departing on a four match build-up programme.

Players and managers spent about an hour signing autographs for supporters on Saturday afternoon at Sky City in Auckland.

Hundreds of people queued up to get their T-shirts, posters, and footballs signed by each member of the team while hundreds more waited outside.

The All Whites fly first to Melbourne, where on Monday they will play a friendly match against the Socceroos, who are also bound for the World Cup.

They will go on to play two more friendlies in Europe and one in South Africa before their opening World Cup match against Slovakia next month.

The 23-man squad had their last domestic training session on Friday - in torrential rain at North Harbour Stadium.