The 32-year-old Blackburn defender claims the move would allow New Zealand to play more competitive matches and improve their overall standard of play.

Nelsen made the claim in his forthcoming book titled Road To The World Cup.

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"I think New Zealand should go the whole hog and apply to follow Australia into the Asian confederation," wrote Nelsen.

"I thought that was a great move for Australia and, ultimately, for Oceania."

"In the long run, it will be best for everyone but New Zealand would benefit most from full membership of Asia. Just think if we played South Korea or Japan in Auckland.

"I think there would be a fantastic crowd there and I bet we'd get a full house if we played Australia in Wellington."

New Zealand qualified for their second ever World Cup last November after winning the Oceania confederation and defeating the fifth best Asian side, Bahrain, over two legs.

Nelsen added: "We've got a good team now and I think we'd be competitive against Asia's best sides on a regular basis.

"I would rather have 10 to 15 tough games in Asia even if it meant we didn't go to the World Cup if we weren't good enough.

"This way, we would get the games we need to challenge the top sides.

"We've traditionally always been underprepared for World Cup campaigns. But it's a different story now.

"We've got a very competitive team which can only get better with more international exposure.

"I believe we're good enough to go to the World Cup through playing in Asia."

Football in New Zealand has never been more popular, following the All Whites' World Cup qualification and the success of Wellington Phoenix in the A-League.

Nelsen added: "If it's the Asian Cup or a World Cup qualifier and there's something riding on the result, I think it is proven now that the New Zealand sports public can come and watch.

"We could take the team around the country. Imagine a World Cup qualifier against someone like Saudi Arabia in Invercargill in June. It would be a major advantage.

"We've always had to go to the Middle East and play in the horrible heat and cloying humidity.

"It would be brilliant to bring Asian teams down here in the middle of a freezing New Zealand winter to play in front of a big, ferocious Kiwi crowd while our players lapped up the rain, hail, sleet and wind!"