By Andrew Gourdie
World number 14 Mexico are being lined up as the next opponent for the All Whites.
A Mexican football source has confirmed to Newshub that El Tri will face Guatemala and New Zealand in October. Exact dates and locations are to be confirmed, however Mexico are scheduled to face an as-yet unnamed opponent at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on October 8.
In an interview with Sky Sports UK earlier this month, All Whites coach Anthony Hudson hinted his team would play "an as yet unnamed team from the Americas" later this year.
A New Zealand Football spokesman said the organisation is in discussions regarding an upcoming fixture for the All Whites, but that the details are yet to be confirmed.
The fixture would make sense for the All Whites, whose win at the Oceania Nations Cup in June saw them qualify for next year's Confederations Cup in Russia. As winners of the 2015 CONCACAF Cup, Mexico have qualified as well, and could end up facing the 93rd ranked All Whites in Russia.
Mexico's quality would also help replicate the standard, style and intensity the All Whites can expect to face if they safely navigate the next stage of Oceania qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, which would see them face the fifth-ranked nation in South America for a place in Russia.
With South American teams locked up in World Cup qualifying for the best part of 12 months, opportunities for the All Whites to test themselves against CONMEBOL opponents will be scarce. A Mexico friendly would represent the next best thing.
The All Whites suffered a heavy defeat last time they played Mexico (Photosport)
The last time the two teams met was in November 2013, when Mexico secured a place in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with a 9-3 aggregate win over New Zealand in a two-legged intercontinental playoff.
Newshub.
