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Tauhiti Keck of Tahiti and Tyler Bindon of New Zealand.
photo: Shane Wenzlick/Photosport
The competition for Oceania’s representative to the 2026 World Cup will begin in September, with the winner automatically qualifying.
The four countries were divided into two groups, with each group playing three qualifying rounds.
Group A includes the Solomon Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea, while Group B has New Zealand, Tahiti, Vanuatu and the first-round winners.
For the first time, the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) has directly qualified for the FIFA World Cup, with additional qualification available through the FIFA Intercontinental Play-offs.
The second round will be divided into two groups of four countries, each of which will play one match in October and November 2024. The top two teams from each group will advance to the decisive third round, which will be held in March 2025.
The winners of the third round will qualify directly for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the runners-up will receive a place in the continental play-offs.
Of the region’s current member countries, only New Zealand has participated in the World Cup before, in 1982 and 2010.
The Solomon Islands are the other top seed in the draw, as they top Group A, which also features Fiji, New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea.
first round
Meanwhile, the Tonga men’s national football team will begin its quest for a World Cup spot in the Oceania qualifiers in September.
Tonga is scheduled to play its first round of qualifiers in Apia against Samoa, American Samoa and the Cook Islands.
The Tonga football team says they are excited about the chance to compete for a spot at the 2026 World Cup.
The winner will be drawn into Group B of the Oceania qualifiers, along with New Zealand, Tahiti and Vanuatu, which kicks off in October.
The Oceania champion will qualify directly for the Worlds event, while the runner-up will receive another spot via the Intercontinental Elimination Tournament.
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