2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC)

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2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC)
Tournament details
Dates6 September 2024 – 24 March 2025
Teams11 (from 1 confederation)
Tournament statistics
Matches played18
Goals scored73 (4.06 per match)
Attendance77,489 (4,305 per match)
Top scorer(s) Flag of New Zealand.svg Chris Wood (9 goals)
← 2022
2030 →

The Oceanian section of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification process took place from 6 September 2024 to 24 March 2025. [1] The 2026 tournament was the 16th edition of Oceanian qualifiers and marked the first time OFC had a direct qualification slot into the FIFA World Cup. [2]

Contents

On 24 March 2025, the Oceanian confederation qualification ended with New Zealand directly qualifying to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and New Caledonia qualifying to the inter-continental play-offs.

Format

The qualification structure was as follows: [1] [3]

Entrants

All eleven eligible OFC nations entered qualification.

Schedule

The schedule of the competition was as follows.

RoundMatchdayDateVenue(s)
First round Matchday 16 September 2024Flag of Samoa.svg Samoa
Matchday 29 September 2024
Second round Matchday 310–12 October 2024Flag of Fiji.svg Fiji and Flag of Vanuatu.svg Vanuatu
Matchday 414–15 November 2024Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand and Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Papua New Guinea
Matchday 517–18 November 2024
Third round Semi-finals21 March 2025Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand
Final24 March 2025

The inter-confederation play-offs are scheduled to be played in March 2026.

Draw

The draw for the first two rounds was held at FIFA headquarters in Switzerland on 18 July from 9:00 CEST (UTC+2). [1] [4] Although announced prior to their official release, the seeding for the draw was based on the FIFA Men's World Rankings of 18 July 2024 (shown in parentheses below).

For the first round, the four lowest-ranked teams competed in a single-elimination play-off to determine which team advanced to the second round. The highest-ranked team faced the lowest-ranked team and the second-ranked team faced the third-ranked team in the semi-finals, and the winners of those matches faced each other in the final.

For the second round, each group contained one team from Pot 1, two from Pot 2 and one from Pot 3 (which also included a placeholder for the first round winner).

From the July 2024 FIFA World Rankings [5]
Bye to second roundCompeting in first round
Pot 1Pot 2Pot 3
  1. Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji (153)
  2. Flag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti (158)
  3. New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg  New Caledonia (160)
  4. Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu (162)
  1. Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea (168)
  2. First round winner [a]
  1. Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands (186)
  2. Flag of American Samoa.svg  American Samoa (187)
  3. Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa (192)
  4. Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga (200)

Note: Teams in bold qualified for the third round. Teams in italics competed only in the first round.

  1. ↑ The first round winner was not known at the time of the draw.

First round

First round matches were played 6–9 September 2024 in Samoa. [6] The four lowest-ranked teams competed in a knockout series, and the winner advanced to join the seven highest-ranked teams in the second round. [1]

Bracket

 
 Matchday 1 Matchday 2 (final)
 
      
 
6 September 2024 – Apia
 
 
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands 1
 
9 September 2024 – Apia
 
Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 3
 
Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 1
 
6 September 2024 – Apia
 
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa (a.e.t.)2
 
Flag of American Samoa.svg  American Samoa 0
 
 
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 2
 

Matchday 1

Cook Islands  Flag of the Cook Islands.svg1–3Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga
Kumsuz Soccerball shade.svg63'FIFA [7]
OFC [8]
FFS Football Stadium Field 1 , Apia, Samoa
Attendance: 300
Referee: Calvin Berg (New Zealand)
American Samoa  Flag of American Samoa.svg0–2Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa
FIFA [9]
OFC [10]
FFS Football Stadium Field 1 , Apia, Samoa
Attendance: 600
Referee: Norbert Hauata (Tahiti)

Matchday 2

The winner advanced to the second round.

Tonga  Flag of Tonga.svg1–2 (a.e.t.)Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa
FIFA [11]
OFC [12]
FFS Football Stadium Field 1 , Apia, Samoa
Attendance: 500
Referee: Mederic Lacour (New Caledonia)

Second round

The second round took place from 10 October to 18 November 2024 with two groups of four teams playing each other once in a league format. [1] Matches were played in Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu. [13]

Group A

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg Flag of Fiji.svg Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg
1New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg  New Caledonia 321074+37Advance to the third round ——— 3–1
2Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 312054+15 1–1 ———
3Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands 310245−13 2–3 0–1 ——
4Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 301258−31— 3–3 1–2 —
Source: OFC [14]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
New Caledonia  New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg3–1Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea
FIFA [15]
OFC [16] 		Semmy Soccerball shade.svg78'
HFC Bank Stadium , Suva, Fiji
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Campbell-Kirk Waugh (New Zealand)
Solomon Islands  Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg0–1Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji
FIFA [17]
OFC [18] 		Krishna Soccerball shade.svg13'
HFC Bank Stadium , Suva, Fiji
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Norbert Hauata (Tahiti)
Solomon Islands  Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg2–3New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg  New Caledonia
FIFA [19]
OFC [20]
PNG Football Stadium , Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Calvin Berg (New Zealand)
Papua New Guinea  Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg3–3Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji
FIFA [21]
OFC [22]
PNG Football Stadium , Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Attendance: 1,428
Referee: Matthew Conger (New Zealand)
Fiji  Flag of Fiji.svg1–1New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg  New Caledonia
FIFA [23]
OFC [24]
PNG Football Stadium , Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Attendance: 877
Referee: Norbert Hauata (Tahiti)
Papua New Guinea  Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg1–2Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands
FIFA [25]
OFC [26]
PNG Football Stadium , Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Attendance: 1,284
Referee: Campbell-Kirk Waugh (New Zealand)

Group B

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of New Zealand.svg Flag of French Polynesia.svg Flag of Vanuatu.svg Flag of Samoa.svg
1Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 3300191+189Advance to the third round — 3–0 8–1 —
2Flag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti 320153+26—— 2–0 —
3Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu 3102511−63——— 4–1
4Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 3003115−140 0–8 0–3 ——
Source: OFC [14]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
New Zealand  Flag of New Zealand.svg3–0Flag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti
FIFA [27]
OFC [28]
VFF Freshwater Stadium , Port Vila, Vanuatu
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Médéric Lacour (New Caledonia)
Vanuatu  Flag of Vanuatu.svg4–1Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa
FIFA [29]
OFC [30]
VFF Freshwater Stadium , Port Vila, Vanuatu
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Ben Aukwai (Solomon Islands)
Samoa  Flag of Samoa.svg0–3Flag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti
FIFA [31]
OFC [32]
Waikato Stadium , Hamilton, New Zealand
Attendance: 638
Referee: Kavitesh Behari (Fiji)
New Zealand  Flag of New Zealand.svg8–1Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu
FIFA [33]
OFC [34]
Waikato Stadium , Hamilton, New Zealand
Attendance: 10,113
Referee: Ben Aukwai (Solomon Islands)
Tahiti  Flag of French Polynesia.svg2–0Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu
FIFA [35]
OFC [36]
Mount Smart Stadium , Auckland, New Zealand
Attendance: 395
Referee: Médéric Lacour (New Caledonia)
Samoa  Flag of Samoa.svg0–8Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
FIFA [37]
OFC [38]
Mount Smart Stadium , Auckland, New Zealand
Attendance: 5,327
Referee: Veer Singh (Fiji)

Third round

The third round took place in New Zealand on 21 and 24 March 2025. [1] The winner qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the runner-up advanced to the inter-confederation play-offs. [13]

Bracket

 
 Semi-finals Final
 
      
 
21 March 2025 – Wellington
 
 
New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg  New Caledonia 3
 
24 March 2025 – Auckland
 
Flag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti 0
 
New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg  New Caledonia 0
 
21 March 2025 – Wellington
 
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 3
 
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 7
 
 
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 0
 

New Zealand defeated New Caledonia 3–0 and qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. New Caledonia advanced to the inter-confederation playoffs.

Semi-finals

New Caledonia  New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg3–0Flag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti
FIFA [39]
OFC [40]
Sky Stadium , Wellington, New Zealand
Attendance: 1,948
Referee: CK Kawana-Waugh (New Zealand)
New Zealand  Flag of New Zealand.svg7–0Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji
FIFA [41]
OFC [42]
Sky Stadium , Wellington, New Zealand
Attendance: 20,947
Referee: Norbert Hauata (Tahiti)

Final

The winner qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The loser advanced to the inter-confederation play-offs.

New Caledonia  New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg0–3Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
FIFA [43]
OFC [44]
Eden Park , Auckland, New Zealand
Attendance: 25,132
Referee: Ben Aukwai (Solomon Islands)

Inter-confederation play-offs

The runner-up, New Caledonia, will join one team each from AFC, CAF, and CONMEBOL and two from CONCACAF in the inter-confederation play-offs. The teams will be ranked according to the FIFA Men's World Ranking, with the four lowest-ranked teams playing in two single-elimination matches. The winners will meet the two highest-ranked teams in another set of single-elimination matches, with the winners of these matches qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. [45]

Qualified teams

.mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{} Qualified for the World Cup Can qualify for the World Cup Failed to qualify Not an OFC member 2026 World Cup OFC qualification.png
  Qualified for the World Cup
  Can qualify for the World Cup
  Failed to qualify
  Not an OFC member

The following teams from OFC qualified for the final tournament.

TeamQualified asQualified onPrevious appearances in FIFA World Cup
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Third round winners24 March 20252 (1982, 2010)

Goalscorers

There were 73 goals scored in 18 matches, for an average of 4.06 goals per match.

9 goals

4 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal

Discipline

A player was automatically suspended for the next match for the following infractions: [46]

The following suspensions were served during qualification:

TeamPlayerInfraction(s)Suspended for match(es)
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji Aporosa Yada Red card.svg vs Solomon Islands (10 October 2024)vs Papua New Guinea (14 November 2024)
vs New Caledonia (17 November 2024)
New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg  New Caledonia Morgan Mathelon Yellow card.svg vs Papua New Guinea (10 October 2024)
Yellow card.svg vs Tahiti (21 March 2025)		vs New Zealand (24 March 2025)
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa Alton Leiataua Red card.svg vs American Samoa (5 September 2024)vs Tonga (9 September 2024)
vs Vanuatu (12 October 2024)
Alex Malauulu Yellow card.svg vs American Samoa (5 September 2024)
Yellow card.svg vs Tonga (9 September 2024)		vs Vanuatu (12 October 2024)

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "FIFA Headquarters to host OFC preliminary draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026". Oceania Football Confederation. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  2. ↑ "Road to the FIFA World Cup 26 set to begin". FIFA. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  3. ↑ "Journey to historic FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off in South America". FIFA. 4 September 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  4. ↑ "FIFA to stage OFC preliminary draw for the FIFA World Cup". FIFA. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  5. ↑ "FIFA Men's Ranking – July 2024". FIFA. 18 July 2024.
  6. ↑ "OFC Competition Calendars Confirmed for 2024". Oceania Football Confederation. December 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  7. ↑ "Cook Islands vs Tonga". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  8. ↑ "Cook Islands vs Tonga". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  9. ↑ "American Samoa vs Samoa". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  10. ↑ "American Samoa vs Samoa". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  11. ↑ "Tonga vs Samoa". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  12. ↑ "Tonga vs Samoa". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  13. 1 2 "Hosts and venues confirmed for FIFA World Cup 26™ Qualifiers of the Oceanian Zone". Oceania Football Confederation. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  14. 1 2 "FIFA World Cup 2026 - OFC Qualifiers Round Two". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  15. ↑ "New Caledonia vs Papua New Guinea". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  16. ↑ "New Caledonia vs Papua New Guinea". Oceania Football Confedetation. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  17. ↑ "Solomon Islands vs Fiji". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  18. ↑ "Solomon Islands vs Fiji". Oceania Football Confedetation. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  19. ↑ "Solomon Islands vs New Caledonia". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  20. ↑ "Solomon Islands vs New Caledonia". Oceania Football Confedetation. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  21. ↑ "Papua New Guinea vs Fiji". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  22. ↑ "Papua New Guinea vs Fiji". Oceania Football Confedetation. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  23. ↑ "Fiji vs New Caledonia". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  24. ↑ "Fiji vs New Caledonia". Oceania Football Confedetation. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  25. ↑ "Papua New Guinea vs Solomon Islands". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  26. ↑ "Papua New Guinea vs Solomon Islands". Oceania Football Confedetation. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  27. ↑ "New Zealand vs Tahiti". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  28. ↑ "New Zealand vs Tahiti". Oceania Football Confedetation. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  29. ↑ "Vanuatu vs Samoa". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  30. ↑ "Vanuatu vs Samoa". Oceania Football Confedetation. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  31. ↑ "Samoa vs Tahiti". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  32. ↑ "Samoa vs Tahiti". Oceania Football Confedetation. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  33. ↑ "New Zealand vs Vanuatu". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  34. ↑ "New Zealand vs Vanuatu". Oceania Football Confedetation. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  35. ↑ "Tahiti vs Vanuatu". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  36. ↑ "Tahiti vs Vanuatu". Oceania Football Confedetation. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  37. ↑ "Samoa vs New Zealand". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  38. ↑ "Samoa vs New Zealand". Oceania Football Confedetation. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  39. ↑ "New Caledonia vs Tahiti". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  40. ↑ "New Caledonia vs Tahiti". Oceania Football Confedetation. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  41. ↑ "New Zealand vs Fiji". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  42. ↑ "New Zealand vs Fiji". Oceania Football Confedetation. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  43. ↑ "OFC Final". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  44. ↑ "Final". Oceania Football Confedetation. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  45. ↑ "Bureau of the Council recommends slot allocation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup". FIFA. 30 March 2017. Archived from the original on 19 June 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  46. ↑ "Regulations: FIFA World Cup 2026 Preliminary Competition" (PDF). FIFA. June 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
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