Thai Airways International will ensure New Zealand travel in style - and in confusion - on the Road to South Africa and the 2010 FIFA World Cup after being unveiled as the All Whites’ official sponsor on Monday.

The airline has signed a three-year deal with New Zealand Football for naming rights to the All Whites, Olympic (U-23 men), Young All Whites (U-20) and Youth All Whites (U-17).

Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Nelsen was also reinstalled as captain of the Thai Airways All Whites following Danny Hay’s recent international retirement.

Wellington Phoenix midfielder Tim Brown will serve as Nelsen’s co-pilot after being named vice-captain for the World Cup campaign which opens away to Vanuatu on October 13 before a return leg in New Zealand four days later.

Viset Sontichai, General Manager of Thai Airways International’s New Zealand, Fiji and Tahiti arm, said the All Whites were a good fit for the airline.

“Football in New Zealand is not the major sport but it is the only truly global game so we see synergies in our promotion of the Thai Airways All Whites to the public of New Zealand,” Mr Sontichai said.

“We wanted to show our on-going commitment with a tangible gesture of support for the sporting community."

NZ Football Chief Executive Graham Seatter said it was “fantastic” to have Thai Airways on board.

“It’s wonderful having such a great commercial partnership established around our premier team,” Seatter said.

“Thai Airways is a great fit for the All Whites given the truly international nature of our programme and the amount of travel we are undertaking, particularly as we increase our activity and exposure in Asia.

“We have a very exciting programme for the sport over the next three years and hopefully that will culminate in a World Cup playoff in Asia in 2009 and qualification for the FIFA World Cup in South Africa the following year.”

Nelsen has gladly accepted the captaincy after last representing the All Whites at the 2004 Oceania Nations Cup-World Cup qualifying tournament in Adelaide where he was skipper for the last three games, including New Zealand’s infamous 4-2 loss to Vanuatu.

The Blackburn Rovers captain is poised to play in New Zealand – barring injury - for the first time since July 14, 2002, when he scored the 78th minute winner against Australia that sent the All Whites to their second FIFA Confederations Cup appearance in France the following year.

“I can’t wait to get back and lead the guys out because it’s been an impressive couple of years for the game in New Zealand,” Nelsen said from Majorca where he was making the most of a break in the English Premiership scheduled for Euro 2008 qualifiers.

“What Ricki and the other guys are doing is really exciting. I think there is a lot of potential in New Zealand Football at the moment with guys going overseas.

“Obviously I would have played for New Zealand a lot earlier if it hadn’t been for injuries. But I’ve always wanted to play for New Zealand...my club know that, they know I’m a patriotic guy.”

All Whites coach Ricki Herbert expects Nelsen to bring to the national team job all the qualities that have made him one of the Premiership’s most highly regarded defenders.

“Ryan’s really excelled and is spoken of highly in one of the highest ranks of football in the world. It’s going to be great to tuck all that defensive steel, determination and character into the centre of the national team defence,” Herbert said.

“It’s the same with Tim [Brown] who is evolving into a potential captain for the future. He whetted his lips when he stood in as captain [for May’s 2-2 draw] against Wales and did an outstanding job with a very young team.”

Herbert is happy with New Zealand’s draw for the Oceania leg of World Cup qualifying, confirmed at the completion of the South Pacific Games in Samoa on Sunday.

New Zealand will open their bid for a start at the 2010 FIFA World Cup against Vanuatu - the team that ruined their last qualifying campaign.

Vanuatu upset the Solomon Islands 2-0 to claim the bronze medal at the 13th South Pacific Games in Apia just before New Caledonia stunned Fiji 1-0 to claim gold.

The results mean Vanuatu earn the Oceania Football Confederation’s final World Cup qualifying spot and a first round date with Herbert’s top-seeded All Whites – in Vanuatu on October 13 before the return leg in New Zealand four days later.

New Zealand will then face Fiji home and away on November 13 and 17 respectively before meeting New Caledonia on September 6 and 10 next year.

The eventual Oceania champion automatically qualifies for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa as well as a home and away World Cup playoff against Asia’s fifth-ranked team.

Venues for New Zealand’s home matches are to be confirmed although the match against Fiji on November 17 is likely to be at North Harbour Stadium.

“It’s nice to know what’s ahead of us now as it means we can plan with some certainty,” Herbert said.

“None of our opponents will be easy, particularly in their own countries in front of hugely patriotic home crowds.

“But [All Whites assistant coach] Brian Turner spent the last week of the South Pacific Games up in Apia scouting so we have a clear idea of what it’s going to take.”