Get ready for World Cup fever

Coast football fans are preparing for a month of football fever as the All Whites gear up for the FIFA World Cup with two major pre-tournament clashes in the United States.

New Zealand Football has confirmed warm-up matches against Haiti and football powerhouse England ahead of the tournament, which kicks off this month across Canada, Mexico and the United States.

The All Whites will first face Haiti, currently ranked 83rd in the world, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on June 3, 12pm NZT at Chase Stadium, the same venue where New Zealand played Colombia last year.

The side will then take on England, ranked fourth in the world and considered one of the tournament favourites, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on June 7, 8am NZT. 

The World Cup itself will feature 104 matches across North America, with New Zealand drawn in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and IR Iran.

Football supporters across the Hibiscus Coast are expected to follow the campaign closely, with local clubs, sports bars and groups of friends likely to turn the matches into community viewing events.

Local football continues to grow through clubs such as Hibiscus Coast AFC and Northern Rovers FC, where many young players will now be watching the All Whites compete against some of the world’s top nations.

Sports bars and hospitality venues around Ōrewa, Silverdale and Whangaparāoa are also expected to attract fans keen to watch the tournament live.

New Zealand’s group-stage matches are:

• Tuesday, June 16 – New Zealand v IR Iran, Los Angeles Stadium, 1pm New Zealand time

• Sunday, June 21 – New Zealand v Egypt, BC Place, Vancouver, 1pm New Zealand time

• Saturday, June 27 – New Zealand v Belgium, BC Place, Vancouver, 3pm New Zealand time

Top seed in the pool, Belgium, is expected to provide the toughest challenge in the group, while matches against Egypt and IR Iran could prove crucial in determining whether the All Whites progress to the knockout stages.

Hibiscus Coast AFC, 162 Brightside Road, Stanmore Bay will screen a number of matches.

• Sunday, June 7,
  8am, Pre-match NZ v England 
• Tuesday, June 16,
  1pm, New Zealand v IR Iran
• Thursday, June 18,
  8am, England v Croatia
• Saturday, June 20,
  7am, US v Australia
• 10am, Scotland v Morocco
• 1pm, Brazil v Haiti
• Sunday, June 22,
  1pm, New Zealand v Egypt
• Wednesday 24 June,
  8am, England v Ghana
• Thursday, June 25,
  10am, Scotland v Brazil
• Saturday, June 27,
  3pm, New Zealand v Belgium
• Sunday, June 28,
  9am, Panama v England 

Next round TBA then quarter finals, semis and finals.