New Zealand Football's copped plenty of criticism in recent times, most of it warranted. But the organisation deserves credit for securing an October friendly against 14th ranked Mexico.
This is a premium fixture, as All Whites coach Anthony Hudson put it this morning.
"We really have got the best team that's available in this window in the whole of the world," said Hudson.
"Frustrated fans of football around the country really can't ask for more than that."
But take a look at the calendar, and you'll soon realise it's just as well they did. While Hudson's team don't need to worry about an intercontinental playoff until November next year, opportunities to face quality opponents between now and then are scarce.
"We have (Oceania) qualifiers in the majority of the windows now. So we'll have this October window, we have Confederations Cup which we're going to see some big games in that tournament, and then we have one other opportunity in the window before our playoff."
Anthony Hudson overlooks an All Whites training session (Photosport)
This fixture will be telling. Given the 9-3 thrashing the All Whites suffered at the hands of Mexico in their two-legged intercontinental playoff in 2013, the October rematch in Nashville will give an indication of how far the team has progressed - or otherwise - in the last three years.
It'll also provide Hudson with a valuable yardstick to measure his team against ahead of the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia, where they could face Germany (ranked 4), Chile (5), Portugal (6), Mexico (14), Russia (38), Australia (59) and an African nation which won't be confirmed until January.
If they can safely navigate the third stage of Oceania Qualifying, Hudson's team will face the fifth-ranked team in South America for a place at the 2018 World Cup.
There's plenty of water to go under the bridge in CONMEBOL qualifying, but fifth place is currently occupied by Colombia, ranked third in the world. It could be worse – guess who's one point back in sixth place? Brazil.
That's over a year away. For now, Mexico presents a timely - and important – test.
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