Darren Bazeley’s New Zealand side will be joined by fellow FIFA U-20 World Cup competitors Panama, Qatar and Ghana as well as Australia for the Five Nations Series which kicks off on Sunday 3 May with a clash of the trans-Tasman rivals at QBE Stadium in Auckland.
New Zealand will then meet Panama on Thursday 7 May at QBE Stadium before tangling with Qatar on Sunday 10 Mayat Waikato Stadium while a New Zealand Invitational XI will also face Ghana on the same day in Hamilton.
Once the Five Nations Series is complete, New Zealand will then complete their preparation for their Group A tournament opener with matches against Honduras and Austria on May 21 and 24 respectively.
Honduras will contest Group F once the FIFA U-20 World Cup gets underway while Austria will compete in Group B along with Panama and Ghana. Qatar has been drawn in Group C against Columbia, Portugal and Senegal.
New Zealand Men’s U-20 coach Darren Bazeley says the confirmation of the warm-up games provides as excellent cap on the team’s build up to their tournament opener against Ukraine on May 30 at QBE Stadium.
“These games will be invaluable for the team on and off the pitch as we put the finishing touches on our preparation,” Bazeley said.
“We will be tested by strong opposition on the eve of the tournament and it gives us a chance to see our players in action shortly before we have to name our final squad for the World Cup.”
“The games also give supporters in Auckland and Hamilton the chance to get a flavour of what the tournament will be like once it all gets underway on May 30.
“Everyone in the squad is excited for the opportunity to play at home ahead of the World Cup and we can’t wait for our game against Australia on May 3.”
New Zealand Football High Performance Director Fred de Jong is delighted at the pre-tournament schedule secured for the Men’s U-20 side.
“At every step of the way since we secured the FIFA U-20 World Cup we have aimed to ensure the team have had the best possible preparation,” de Jong said.
“These matches, at this time, are the latest examples of that approach and they give Darren and the group the best possible lead in to the tournament. It also gives us a chance to showcase the team to the New Zealand public and build the momentum of local support behind our team on the eve of the event.”
FIFA U-20 World Cup CEO, Dave Beeche reiterated Bazeley’s comments saying that the tournament would act as a fantastic curtain-raiser for the main event – the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
“We’re delighted that some of the participating nations will be in New Zealand early, it all helps to build the momentum and excitement for the FIFA U-20 World Cup,” Beeche said.
“Kiwis are really starting to get behind the event, ticket sales have tipped over the 100,000 mark and this pre-tournament will only help to raise the profile even further.”
Entry to all matches will be by gold coin donation.
U-20 Five Nations Series – May 2015
New Zealand v Australia
Sunday 3 May, 7pm
QBE Stadium, Auckland
Qatar v Ghana
Monday 4 May, 1pm
QBE Stadium, Auckland
Qatar v Australia
Thursday 7 May, 4pm
QBE Stadium, Auckland
New Zealand v Panama
Thursday 7 May, 7pm
QBE Stadium, Auckland
Panama v Australia
Sunday 10 May, 1pm
Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
New Zealand v Qatar
Sunday 10 May, 4pm
Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Ghana v NZ Invitation XI
Sunday 10 May, kickoff TBC
Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Qatar v Panama
Wednesday 13 May, 1pm
Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Ghana v Australia
Wednesday 13 May, 4pm
Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Additional international matches
New Zealand v Honduras
Thursday 21 May
Warkworth, Auckland
New Zealand v Austria
Sunday 24 May
Venue TBC
Courtesy NZF Media
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