The fixture with Chile, with whom New Zealand share a cooperation agreement at National Association level, lifts to five the number of international matches the All Whites will play prior to their World Cup opener against Slovakia in Rustenburg.
New Zealand have already played Mexico in Pasadena and en-route to South Africa will face Australia in Melbourne on May 24, Serbia in Klagenfurt, Austria on May 29 and Slovenia in Maribor on June 4.
The match will be played near Nelspruit, the location of New Zealand’s second pool match against Italy and Chile’s opener against Honduras, at Chile’s base camp training venue Ingwenyama Sports Grounds. The match is likely to be played behind closed doors in three 30 minute periods.
“I think we’ve got some really good fixtures lined up leading into our arrival in South Africa so something a bit more informal will be an ideal opportunity to finalise our build-up,” All Whites coach Ricki Herbert said.
“We may tinker with positions and personnel, but we aim to be heading into the opening game against Slovakia with all those bases covered and players fully aware of what they need to do.”
In addition, New Zealand Football have confirmed a two week training camp for World Cup candidates from the A-League and New Zealand Football Championship.
“There will be some players there who are defiantly going to the World Cup and who are still being considered for places in the final squad of 23 so the camp gives us the chance to look at some players while keeping everyone at the level they need to be at.”
The camp will be held from April 28 to May 10 in Auckland with any players involved in the second leg of the O-League final released to play in that that fixture.
Sunday’s O-League pool match between Auckland City and Waitakere United at Kiwitea Street will decide which of New Zealand’s top two sides reaches the final. Herbert and assistant coach Brian Turner will be there to cast their eye over players on both sides.
New Zealand’s Confirmed World Cup build up
May 24
New Zealand v Australia
Melbourne, Australia
9.30pm (NZT)
May 29
New Zealand v Serbia
Klagenfurt, Austria
Kickoff 3.15am May 30 (NZT)
June 4
New Zealand v Slovenia
Maribor, Slovenia
Kickoff time tbc
June 9
New Zealand v Chile
Nelspruit, South Africa
Kickoff 11.30pm (NZT)
2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa
June 15
11.30pm (NZT)
New Zealand v Slovakia
Rustenburg
June 21
2am (NZT)
New Zealand v Italy
Nelspruit
June 25
2am (NZT)
New Zealand v Paraguay
Polokwane
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Story courtesy NZ Football Media.