International dates ratified

ZURICH: Fifa has confirmed a new window for international matches in January 2022 as World Cup qualifying fixtures continue to pile up because of the Covid19 pandemic.

World football’s ruling body said in a statement the window was ratified by the decisionmaking Fifa Council yesterday.

It applies to all continents apart from Europe, will last from January 24 to February 1, 2022, and means European clubs will be obliged to release their players during that period.

Fifa also agreed that the Concacaf Gold Cup will take place from July 10 to August 1 next year and that the Africa

Belgium would be.

In the same time the All Blacks have played 27 tests, nine at home.

The Black Caps have played 99 matches — 20 tests, 48 oneday internationals and 31 twenty20 internationals — 63 at home.

Of course, New Zealand’s standing in those sports is far greater than football on a world stage.

Attracting rugby and cricket teams to play against is not an issue, while money and player availability does not present the same issues, either.

But it does show how rare it

Cup of Nations — postponed from 2021 — will be played in January 2022.

Apart from this month’s Uefa Nations League matches, international football has been on hold since March because of the pandemic, causing widespread disruption to the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Six match days have been postponed in the Asian qualifiers, while the South American qualifiers, due to start in March, will not get under way until October at the earliest.

The Concacaf qualifiers, which should have started this month, will not begin until March. — Reuters

has become for the All Whites to actually take the field — and how significant those games are for New Zealand football fans.

It is a shame it has happened in an era in which New Zealand has plenty of talent to choose from, too.

Chris Wood is a genuinely classy goal scorer in the English Premier League, while when fit Winston Reid is rock solid in the defensive line.

There is also the likes of Ryan Thomas and Sarpreet Singh, bringing real class to a team.

They just need to get on the field.