Yes automatic OFC World Cup spot would add a little edge. However would totally lack so much of the mystique of other games where you suddenly start researching players to watch from Bahrain, Mexico and Peru. These games also have the AWs as the great underdog story but we dare to dream.
Apart from the return Fiji game in Wellington, after winning first game in Suva comfortably I don’t remember Hudson resting players for OFC qualifying.
He just had to deal with player unavailabilities.
It will all matter where the 1st leg of any OFC playoff series is played. If it’s in Honiara, Suva, Papeete or wherever expect many casual Kiwis to wait until that result is known, before buying a last minute $120 ticket to the return leg in NZ.
Boss the first leg 3-0 in the Islands, then expect Reid, Wood and Thomas to be given leave to return to their high profile European clubs and miss the return leg - a lot of the game tension and overall attraction disappears. The high high stakes fizz is popped, but I guess the WC celebration party is locked in, as world no 95 beats world no 160 on aggregate 8-1. Westpac crowd 20,000 or is the game at the Harbour sandpit.
There would also be nil travelling fans and media - was great to have the Mexican/Peruvian fans and TV stations in NZ. They drew out the buildup, highlighted the world importance of football, brought a fantastic atmosphere etc etc. Plus extra TV dosh for NZF.
OFC qualifying will always be sharke the Islands have small popns and are financially poor. These games barely get onto the back pages of the NZ newspapers. That won’t change.