Ben Sigmund News Today

The Wellington Phoenix have committed to the longest player contract in the club's history with the signing of young defender Lukas Kelly-Heald.

Tommy Smith and New Zealand will be out to win a shock place in the World Cup round of 16 when they complete their Group F games with a match against Paraguay in Polokwane this afternoon (KO 3pm). A victory would take the All Whites through, while a draw may be enough depending on the result of the Italy-Slovakia game being played simultaneously.

The All Whites will have to wait another four years for the opportunity to play at the Fifa World Cup finals after a heart-breaking loss in their final qualification game.

New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert has confirmed that Blues defender Tommy Smith will captain the All Whites at their Oceania Nations Cup games this week. Regular skipper Ryan Nelsen misses the matches, which double as World Cup qualifiers, due to an ankle injury.

Countless shoulder dislocations and being away from home for the best part of two years have led to stalwart Phoenix defender Louis Fenton calling time on his professional football career.

After spending the last five months based in Australia the Wellington Phoenix return home this weekend.

Everyone remembers the All Whites' World Cup playoff win in Wellington, but it was the gritty draw in the Middle East that set the tie up.

KEVIN STENT/Stuff A panel featuring the All Whites World Cup qualifier against Bahrain takes pride of place in the Sky Stadium Heritage Walk. The responses to the readers poll in 2019 had been compiled into a special exhibition created to showcase the stadiums history that was unveiled today. Alex Bargh​ of Sky Stadium said the history of the venue filled her with pride. “We thought it was a natural progression to get the fans to tell us what their favourite moments and their favourite p...

Joseph Johnson/Photosport Dan Terris of Canterbury United, pictured competing for a ball with Auckland Citys Fabrizio Tavano, has been involved in the New Zealand national football league since 2004. (File photo) Canterbury United stalwart Dan Terris is sad to see the end of the national football leagues provincial structure as the Dragons era comes to an enforced close. Terris played for Canterbury United in the first year of the New Zealand Football Championship format in 2004-05, captained ...

Stuff football scribes Phillip Rollo and Andrew Voerman have taken a look at some burning questions. Ashley Feder/Getty Images The Wellington Phoenix celebrate Ulises Dávila’s opening goal against the Central Coast Mariners. The Wellington Phoenix got their first win of the season on Sunday against the Mariners and have four points from a possible 12 – is that a fair reflection of their efforts? Phillip Rollo: Can’t argue with it. They were robbed when Alex Rufer was wrongly sent off aga...