Blanco was a Socceroo assistant during Australia's qualifiers for France 98 and was on the bench with head coach Terry Venables for the ill-fated final World Cup qualifier with Iran at the MCG in 1997.

Australia was in the box-seat to qualify for the first time since 1974 but the tough Iranians somehow found a way to win, going through on away goals 2-2.

Blanco's World Cup dream was shattered as Australia's collective grief cut deep.

And after his Olyroos underperformed at the 2000 Olympics, Blanco has kept a low profile outside the national coaching structure as Graham Arnold took over as an assistant. 

In the years since, the Argentine-born coach has been shunned by the FFA.  However one man who always kept in touch was Ricki Herbert.

The All-Whites coach brought him in as part of his coaching team for New Zealand's final - and successful - World Cup qualifier with Bahrain last November.

Now Blanco is going to a World Cup.

But first, there is an emotional date with Australia at the MCG for a pre-World Cup friendly on May 24. With Blanco wearing a Kiwi tracksuit and singing God Defend New Zealand, he knows it will feel very strange.

"We've all have that dream to go to the World Cup. I had that dream twice [with Australia] but we didn't conquer what we were looking for," Blanco told au.fourfourtwo.com.

"But now, in a really unexpected way, I'm back with the New Zealand team and part of it. It does show you should never say never.

"The dream came true, even if it's with New Zealand who have treated me so well and welcomed me to the team. It will be a special, special day of my life."

The day after the Socceroos game, the Kiwis depart for Europe and continue with their preparations ahead of the World Cup.

And in the lead-up to the trans-Tasman clash, the Kiwis will go into camp from April 28 to May 10. Joining the camp will be Canterbury midfielder Aaron Clapham - a player Wellington Phoenix have also been tracking.

The final 23 All-Whites will then meet on May 19 in preparation for the friendly against Australia. Expected in the 23 is rising star, defender Tommy Smith.

Herbert told FourFourTwo Australia magazine recently that New Zealand is now getting a chance to improve their football credentials by playing bigger nations.

"That trans-Tasman rivalry across all codes is looked upon quite favourably," he said. 'It's going to be a big game for us.

"What we've managed to do is get a range of top ranking, top level nations in the lead up to the World Cup which was similar to the style of opponents we play at the World Cup.

"We played Mexico in March and Serbia and Slovenia is coming up but Australia is special."

And Blanco knows it will be memorable for him too.

He added: "It's a really special occasion to be with the Australian boys. All of them I know very well for a very long time.

"Some I haven't seen for many years so I'm fortunate enough to part of such a big game at such a big arena against a country I love so much like Australia."