The play-off marked the third consecutive intercontinental play-off participation for New Zealand after previously losing toMexico in2013 and defeatingBahrain in2009.
This was Peru's first participation in the inter-confederation play-offs. They previously qualified for the World Cup in1982.
The draw for the order in which the two matches would be played was held by FIFA on 25 July 2015 in the World Cup Preliminary Draw.[2]