18 May 2011

Draw made for Fifa under-17 football World Cup

12:16 pm on 18 May 2011

New Zealand have been drawn to play, the Czech Republic, USA and Uzbekistan in their group at the FIFA under-17 football World Cup in Mexico next month.

Following today's draw, New Zealand open their campaign on June 19th against Asian runners-up Uzbekistan, play Czech Republic three days later before wrapping up pool play against group seed USA on June 25th.

The 2009 Young All Whites became the first New Zealand team to reach the second round of a FIFA event and head coach Aaron McFarland, an assistant for that campaign, says the ambitious current squad have set their sights on going one better.

The top two teams from each of the six pools qualify for the round of 16 along with the four best third place getters.