The New Zealand men's football coach Anthony Hudson says they need to establish better links with Australia in order to be successful.
The All Whites coach Anthony Hudson. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand Football on Wednesday launched its new high performance plan, aimed at increasing their chances of competing on the world stage.
The strategy includes plans for changes to the National League, a new base for football and more matches for the men's and women's national sides to make them more competitive at World Cups and Olympic Games.
Chief Executive Andy Martin says the plan is one of the most important bodies of work ever completed by the organisation and hopes it will allow New Zealand teams to win at World Cups and Olympics.
Plans are underway for an expanded national league, with more matches and an increased broadcast presence.
They also signalled the need for a new facility to serve as a "home of football" in New Zealand with world class training facilities for the national sides.
New Zealand Football have also been working on next year's schedules for the national sides with the women's team to play 12th ranked Denmark in January, while they're hoping to lock in a match against an Asian opponent for the All Whites in March.
Part of it is securing more quality opposition for the All Whites and Hudson says a good relationship with their Australian counterparts could help them get better matches at home.
He says the two countries could double up whenever Australia secure a home international, with New Zealand also hosting the tourists - and vice versa.
Hudson says they have to help each other and there have been high level discussions between the trans-Tasman neighbours, and he's been talking to the Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou.