WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) -David Beckham arrived in New Zealand on Wednesday for a second round of football diplomacy, receiving a welcome which was rousing if more muted than on his inaugural visit a year ago.

Beckham's Los Angeles Galaxy club team will play an Oceania selection in a friendly in Auckland on Saturday.

He touched down in New Zealand at 5.30am local time looking travel weary, standing quietly among teammates as a group of indigenous Maori performed a traditional welcoming ceremony.