English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur are heading to New Zealand.
It'll be the first time in 12 years that a Premier League side has visited these shores – providing the North London club can turnaround their season and stave off relegation.
They'll face Auckland FC at Eden Park on July 26.
All Whites great Ryan Nelsen, who remains the sole New Zealand international to have played for Spurs, is thrilled about the visit.
"It's super impressive, the size of Tottenham globally is massive," he says.
"They're an international club, some famous players have played for that club, arguably one of the best stadiums in the world, they've got everything. To get them down onto New Zealand shores is exciting."
Spurs, who currently sit 17th on the Premier League standings, command a strong local supporter base down under.
They'll play two friendlies in Australia before making the trip to Aotearoa.
"A lot of my family growing up were Spurs fans, I know it all too well," says Nelsen.
The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including an Auckland fuel pipe’s cut and left leaking, and the English football heavyweights coming here. (Source: Breakfast)
"And quite rightly, they've always been a club outside of the Man U's, Arsenals and Chelseas, the fun club to follow. And they've always played an entertaining brand of soccer that puts the fans through a rollercoaster of emotions, as we're seeing right now."
Tottenham last visited New Zealand in 1976, winning 5-3 in front of 10,000 fans at Newmarket Park.
Tickets go on sale on April 7 via Ticketek New Zealand.
TVNZ will broadcast the match live and free on TVNZ+ and TVNZ 2.
SHARE ME