NZ to play Chile in World Cup warm-up

New Zealand will play Chile in a training match in the lead up to their opening match in the World Cup in South Africa in June.

The game on June 9 — six days ahead of New Zealand’s World Cup opener against Slovakia — would likely be played behind closed doors in three 30 minute spells, New Zealand Football said Tuesday.

“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,” New Zealand 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.”

New Zealand Football also said New Zealand and Australian players will go into a camp from April 28 to May 10 before the final World Cup squad of 23 is named.

The All Whites, who have qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1982, will play friendlies against Australia, Serbia and Slovenia in late May and early June on the way to South Africa.