Ipswich Town defender Tommy Smith is hoping he is included in the New Zealand World Cup squad when it is announced next week.

The English-born 20-year old decided to represent the All Whites earlier this year after spending much of his childhood in New Zealand and has his fingers crossed that his decision will pay off by getting him on the plane to South Africa.

"Obviously I'm hoping to be included in the team for the World Cup and I think the manager is announcing the squad soon, possibly at the end of next week," Smith told Ipswich's official website.

"It was an amazing occasion, making my debut for New Zealand against Mexico in front of 90,000 [in LA] in March, and hopefully I did enough in the game and in training to have impressed the manager."

Smith could have the honour of having his first two international matches in front of packed houses when the All Whites take on Australia in Melbourne on May 24 and was hoping he will gain inclusion into Ricki Herbert's 23-man squad that will travel to Europe before making base in South Africa.

"If I'm involved against Australia, that's going to be a fantastic atmosphere as well with 100,000 at Melbourne for the game," he added.

"Then the team is going to Austria for high altitude training in preparation for the World Cup, but the most important thing for me at the moment is being in the final squad."