All Whites coach Anthony Hudson had a wry smile on his face at this afternoon's media session in Auckland, as he admitted Peru was the team he was hoping to face.
A late goal against Colombia ensured Peru a spot in the World Cup playoff, after it appeared they would miss qualification as other results changed around them in the final round of South American qualifying today.
They'll face the All Whites in Wellington, then in Lima, next month.
"I think out of all of the teams that we were looking at certainly from my point of view, Peru is the team that I would have liked to have played," said Hudson.
"But I just felt out of all of them I think that they are a team that would give us confidence going into the game.
"Now we know we can start planning."
Hudson said his side will be primed and prepared for their South American opponents.
"In the last three years I have always believed you know for us to get there we have to – this next window we have to be at our very best," he said.
"The biggest performance of our three years and I believe we will deliver that and if we can deliver that we have got a chance."
The South American team are ranked 12th whereas New Zealand are ranked 112th in the world.
"Peru are a very good team, they're very highly ranked and they are there for a reason and they got a great result against Argentina.
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