All Whites get government boost

The All Whites will get $300,000 from the Government to support their campaign at the FIFA Football World Cup in South Africa.

Prime Minister John Key announced the funding this afternoon.

It would fund a temporary media manager for the All Whites; a football coaching clinic for 100,000 young people; and a revamp of the New Zealand Football (NZF) website.

"New Zealand's participation in the World Cup has the potential to generate significant flow-on benefits for New Zealand from both increased participation in football domestically and promotion of New Zealand internationally," Mr Key said.

New Zealand Football was under-resourced to capitalise on the FIFA World Cup campaign, Mr Key said.

The tournament kicks off in June.

Mr Key also used his post-Cabinet press conference this afternoon to congratulate the Wellington Phoenix football team. The Phoenix finished what Mr Key called a "stellar" season in the Australian A-League at the weekend, bowing out in the preliminary final to Sydney.

"Despite their loss to Sydney at the weekend I think it's fair to say that all New Zealanders will be proud of how far they got in the competition this year," Mr Key said.

- © Fairfax NZ News