Nickname: All Whites
Manager: Ricki Herbert
Previous World Cup appearances: One
Best finish: Group stage
Key players:
Ryan Nelsen (captain)
Simon Elliott
Chris Killen
Michael McGlinchey
Life changed profoundly for the All Whites the day when, before this qualifying campaign, their Antipodean neighbours Australia were moved into the Asian qualifying zone by FIFA.
Before that, qualifying for any World Cup was a tough assignment. No matter how well they played they'd always have to get past Australia.
Consequently New Zealand's only previous appearance at a World Cup was in 1982, when they had to make it through a tough play-off against China.
And things hardly got any easier all those years ago when they landed in sunny Spain to make their debut on the football's world stage - grouped with Brazil, the former Soviet Union and Scotland, the All Whites lost 4-0, 3-0 and 5-2 to those teams respectively.
Moving on to the current World Cup campaign, their progress to South Africa in 2010 has been relatively serene. In the second qualifying round in Oceania, New Zealand were paired were up against New Caledonia, Fiji and Vanuatu - hardly a group to strike fear into a side boasting many experienced professionals.
Ricki Herbert's side consequently topped the group, going forward to a nerve-wracking play-off against Bahrain.
Following a tense goalless draw in Manama in the Middle East, a Rory Fallon strike (and a crucial second-half save by goalkeeper Mark Paston) sealed their first appearance at a World Cup in 27 years.
Herbert is also manager of Wellington Phoenix, and there was controversy in November 2009 when the club forbade him from attending the draw for 2010 on December 4th.
Herbert is no shrinking violet, however: He's on record as saying that he would love to be drawn against the 1966 champions, Fabio Capello's England.
The 35-year-old Simon Elliott is the most capped player in the current squad. Formerly of Fulham, and now playing for the San Jose Earthquakes on the west coast of America, he'd amassed no fewer than 59 caps and six goals following their qualifying campaign.
Ryan Nelsen of Premier League outfit Blackburn Rovers is their talismanic captain. The Christchurch-born centre-back switched from DC United to Ewood Park in 2005 and has since become a fixture at the club.
He made his debut for his country in 1999, but injury problems have restricted his career and he had harvested 38 caps by the time they qualified.
If New Zealand can take the example of Nelsen's leadership as inspiration, they stand every chance of making a mark on the tournament.
DID YOU KNOW: The All Whites have beaten only one European or South American team in their history: they defeated Georgia 3-1 in 2006.
