OPINION: The pressure is on All Whites coach Ricki Herbert as he faces the most crucial selection conundrum of his career.
Simon Elliott believes Mexico's massive home crowd could turn into the All Whites' trump card tomorrow.
The Azteca Stadium, where the All Whites face Mexico tomorrow, is an arena every player wants to play in but it is also a place of physical and mental suffering.
The Football Ferns have surprised everyone this year but themselves.
As the All Whites enter Mexico, there are serious security concerns over what could unfold over the next 72 hours, with some players privately questioning if New Zealand Football has done enough to ensure their safety.
The country’s prolific national striker Benjamin Totori has been shortlisted as one of the nominees for the OFC Player of the year for 2012.
Any of the top three teams in New Zealand football's national league would be competitive with professional clubs in the bottom half of the A-League table.
As football's popularity among junior players in New Zealand continues to rise, parents are more likely than ever to hear the words 'I want to be a professional footballer'.
Matt Ridenton was probably much like many other youngsters growing up in that he dabbled in plenty of different sports.
New Zealand can once again take a place at soccer's grandest table if they get past Mexico in their qualifying playoff. Victory will mean a third appearance in the finals, and the second in back-to-back tournaments.
The All Whites could take the field on Thursday with a radically reshaped defensive unit.
Bienvenidos 'El Marcito'. His recent lack of match play means he may not even take the field on Thursday but Marco Rojas is already 'world famous' in Mexico.
Yellow is everywhere they look, but the All Whites are doing their best to ignore the perilous card situation.
The All Whites have been advised not to leave their team hotel in Mexico City because of security concerns ahead of Thursday's World Cup playoff.
His home is the football pitch, not in front of the camera, but Marco Rojas was nonetheless a Mexican media hit yesterday.
Been there, done that: Rory Fallon isn't remotely afraid about what awaits his All Whites in Thursday's World Cup playoff against Mexico at Estadio Azteca.
It's a sleepy Sunday morning in Los Angeles but the All Whites' Mexican mission is underway.
He "retired" more than five years ago but Ivan Vicelich will be a key figure for the All Whites on Thursday.
It's hard to imagine - but the All Whites could take the field without Shane Smeltz and Marco Rojas on Thursday in Mexico City.
WaiBop United got exactly what they deserved from their Premiership opener - a surprise victory over Canterbury United.
If this is the calm, then the storm will be fierce when the All Whites lob into Mexico City as public enemy No 1 tomorrow.
He grew up dreaming of playing for Australia, but Andrew Durante understands his increasing importance to New Zealand's hopes of qualifying for back-to-back World Cups.
Both Auckland clubs began the ASB Premiership in fine fashion today but there was hope for those teams trying to disrupt the duopoly.
Team Wellington began their national football premiership campaign with a 4-1 defeat to perennial powerhouses Auckland City at David Farrington Park yesterday.
All Whites goal machine Shane Smeltz should be "pretty close" to match fit for Thursday's World Cup playoff match in Mexico City, according to his A-League coach.
The Wellington Phoenix have now gone five games without a win after a 1-1 draw with Perth Glory last night - but their All Whites emerged unscathed.
Next Thursday, the All Whites will be entering the most formidable fortress in world sport.
The Phoenix will need total commitment to the cause to earn their first victory of the season when they play Perth today.
The All Whites are well versed in demanding travel schedules but what they are about to undertake over the next two weeks is at the extreme end of the scale.
The All Whites Phoenix contingent won't have time to savour the moment at AMI Stadium tonight - they'll be on a madcap dash ultimately bound for Mexico City.
Skipper Andrew Durante insists the Wellington Phoenix will put their "crazy week" of disruptions behind them when they tackle Shane Smeltz's Perth Glory team in Christchurch tonight.
Waitakere United midfielder Jake Butler was added to the All Whites squad on Friday ahead of the New Zealand side’s FIFA World CupTM intercontinental playoff with Mexico beginning next week.
Team Wellington have signed English winger Charlie Henry to bolster their 2013-14 national football league roster.
The biggest blow to the All Whites in decades. With the timing and circumstances of Winston Reid's withdrawal from the All Whites after injuring an ankle in training, it is easy to get carried away with hyperbole but Ivan Vicelich provides some context.
Ben Sigmund says losing Winston Reid is "a massive blow" but he would relish the challenge of replacing the injured skipper for the World Cup playoff series with Mexico.