OFC Beach Soccer Nations Cup

Last updated
OFC Beach Soccer Nations Cup
OFC Beach Soccer Nations Cup logo.png
Organising body OFC
Founded2006;18 years ago (2006)
RegionOceania
Number of teams4
Current championsFlag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti (4th title)
Most successful team(s)Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands
Flag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti
(4 titles each)
Website OFC
Soccerball current event.svg 2024 OFC Beach Soccer Men's Nations Cup

The OFC Beach Soccer Nations Cup is the main championship for beach soccer in Oceania, [1] contested between the senior men's national teams of the members of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). It is the sport's version of the better known OFC Nations Cup in association football.

Contents

The winners of the championship are crowned continental champions; the tournament also acts as the qualification route for Oceanian nations to the upcoming edition of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup [2] and is therefore also known as the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup OFC qualifier. [3] Coinciding with the annual staging of the World Cup, the competition took place yearly until 2009; the World Cup then became biennial, and as its supplementary qualification event, the championship followed suit. [2]

The championship was established in 2006 after FIFA made it a requirement for all confederations to begin holding qualification tournaments to determine the best national team(s) in their region and hence those who would proceed to represent their continent in the upcoming World Cup (previously, nations were simply invited to play). [4] FIFA currently allocate Oceania one berth at the World Cup [5] and hence only the winners qualify to the World Cup finals. [2]

Oceania's governing body for football, the OFC, organise the championship. [6] Cooperation has also come from Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW), particularly in the initial tournaments. [7] The competition was held under the title of the OFC Beach Soccer Championship until 2019 when the name was changed to OFC Beach Soccer Nations Cup, bringing it in line with the naming of other OFC senior national tournaments. [2]

The Solomon Islands and Tahiti are the most successful nation with four titles each. [8] Tahiti also are the current champions. These two nations are the only teams to qualify to the World Cup thus far. [2]

Results

There have been seven editions of the championship as of 2023. For all tournaments, the winners qualified for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.

YearLocationFinalThird place match
ChampionsScoreRunners-upThird placeScoreFourth place
OFC Beach Soccer Championship
2006
details
Flag of French Polynesia.svg Tema'e, Tahiti Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg
Solomon Islands
6–2Flag of Vanuatu.svg
Vanuatu
Flag of French Polynesia.svg
Tahiti
12–4Flag of the Cook Islands.svg
Cook Islands
2007
details
Flag of New Zealand.svg Auckland,
New Zealand
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg
Solomon Islands
5–3Flag of Vanuatu.svg
Vanuatu
Flag of New Zealand.svg
New Zealand
5–3Flag of French Polynesia.svg
Tahiti
2009
details
Flag of French Polynesia.svg Tema'e, Tahiti Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg
Solomon Islands
1–0Flag of Vanuatu.svg
Vanuatu
Flag of French Polynesia.svg
Tahiti
6–3Flag of Fiji.svg
Fiji
2011
details
Flag of French Polynesia.svg Papeete, Tahiti Flag of French Polynesia.svg
Tahiti
4–3Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg
Solomon Islands
Flag of Fiji.svg
Fiji
2013
details
New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg Nouméa,
New Caledonia [a]
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg
Solomon Islands
[round-robin]New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg
New Caledonia
Flag of Vanuatu.svg
Vanuatu
OFC Beach Soccer Nations Cup
2019
details
Flag of French Polynesia.svg Papeete, Tahiti Flag of French Polynesia.svg
Tahiti
4–3Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg
Solomon Islands
New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg
New Caledonia
8–7 ( a.e.t. )Flag of Vanuatu.svg
Vanuatu
2023
details
Flag of French Polynesia.svg Papeete, Tahiti Flag of French Polynesia.svg
Tahiti
7–0Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg
Solomon Islands
Flag of Fiji.svg
Fiji
12–0Flag of Tonga.svg
Tonga
2024
details
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg Honiara, Solomon Islands [9] Flag of French Polynesia.svg
Tahiti
3–2Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg
Solomon Islands
Flag of Fiji.svg
Fiji
4–0Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg
Papua New Guinea
Notes:
a. ^ The 2013 edition was originally set to take place in Papeete, Tahiti. However, despite being defending champions, Tahiti were unable to compete due to a pre-arranged tour of Europe to play against higher level opposition in preparation as host nation of the upcoming World Cup. Hence the competition was relocated to New Caledonia. [10]
Round-robin ^ Indicates this edition was played as a round-robin tournament. There was no final or third place match.

Unrealised editions:

In addition to the above tournaments, a further four editions were scheduled but ultimately did not take place as follows:

  1. 2008: The OFC was unable to organise the 2008 edition in time, due to a late calendar change bringing the 2008 World Cup forward from November to July. Hence, on the back of their two previous titles, the Solomon Islands were hand-picked by the OFC to be the confederation's representative at the World Cup. [6]
  2. 2015: The 2015 edition was originally set to take place in Papeete, Tahiti. [11] Due to undisclosed circumstances, the tournament was cancelled. Tahiti were hand-picked by the OFC to be the confederation's representative at the World Cup. [12]
  3. 2017: The 2017 edition was originally set to take place in February. [11] Due to undisclosed circumstances, the tournament was cancelled. Tahiti were hand-picked by the OFC to be the confederation's representative at the World Cup. [13]
  4. 2021: The 2021 edition was originally set to take place in January in Tahiti. [14] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament was initially postponed [15] and subsequently cancelled entirely. Tahiti were hand-picked by the OFC to be the confederation's representative at the World Cup, based on being the highest ranked Oceanian nation in the then current release of the BSWW World Rankings and being reigning regional champions. [16]

Performance

Successful nations

TeamTitlesRunners-upThird place
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands 4 (2006, 2007, 2009, 2013)3 (2011, 2019, 2023)
Flag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti 4 (2011*, 2019*, 2023*, 2024)2 (2006*, 2009*)
Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu 3 (2006, 2007, 2009)1 (2013)
New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg  New Caledonia 1 (2013*)1 (2019)
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 2 (2011, 2023)
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 1 (2007*)
* = Hosts

Awards

YearTop goalscorer(s)GlsBest playerBest goalkeeper Fair play Ref.
Flag of French Polynesia.svg 2006 Flag of French Polynesia.svg Teiva Izal11 Flag of French Polynesia.svg Teiva Izal Flag of Vanuatu.svg Chikau MansaleFlag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands
Flag of New Zealand.svg 2007 Flag of French Polynesia.svg Teva Zaveroni 11 Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg James Naka Flag of Vanuatu.svg Chikau MansaleFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Flag of French Polynesia.svg 2009 Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg James Naka 7 Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg James Naka Flag of Vanuatu.svg Chikau MansaleFlag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu
Flag of French Polynesia.svg 2011 Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg James Naka
Flag of Fiji.svg Ratu Dugucagi
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg Robert Laua
4 Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg James Naka Flag of French Polynesia.svg Jonathan Torohia Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji
New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg 2013 Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg Joe Luwi5 Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg Samson Takayama Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg Fred Hale not awarded
Flag of French Polynesia.svg 2019 Flag of French Polynesia.svg Patrick Tepa12 Flag of French Polynesia.svg Heimanu Taiarui Flag of French Polynesia.svg Jonathan Torohia Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands
Flag of French Polynesia.svg 2023 Flag of Fiji.svg Gabiriele Matanisiga12 Flag of French Polynesia.svg Heirauarii Salem Flag of French Polynesia.svg Jonathan Torohia Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji
Flag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti

All-time top goalscorers

As of 2023

The following table shows the all-time top goalscorers (minimum 10 goals).

RankPlayerTeamGoals
1 James Naka Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands 34
2Patrick TepaFlag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti 21
3 Teva Zaveroni Flag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti 18
4 Raimana Li Fung Kuee Flag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti 17
5 Seule Soromon Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu 15
6Teva IzalFlag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti 14
Henry KotoFlag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands
8Max Fa'ariFlag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands 12
Gabiriele MatanisigaFlag of Fiji.svg  Fiji
10Loic BouletFlag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu 11
Tearii LabasteFlag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti
Heirauarii SalemFlag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti
13 Fenedy Masauvakalo Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu 10
Heimanu Taiarui Flag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti
Sources:
2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013: (a, b, c), 2019, 2023: ( a, b, c)

All-time table

As of 2023

PosTeamAppPldWW+WPLGFGAGDPts
1Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands 7261900713686+5057
2Flag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti 6241600817988+9148
3Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu 519920811790+2731
4New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg  New Caledonia 2721043246–148
5Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 31020086261+16
6Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 1410032126–53
7Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands 140004649–430
8Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 28000815129–1140

Key: Appearances App / Won in normal time W = 3 points / Won in extra-time W+ = 2 points / Won on penalty shoot-out WP = 1 point / Lost L = 0 points

Appearances & performance timeline

The following is a performance timeline of the teams who have appeared in the OFC Beach Soccer Nations Cup and how many appearances they each have made.

Legend
Timeline
Year
Team
2006
Flag of French Polynesia.svg
(4)
2007
Flag of New Zealand.svg
(4)
2009
Flag of French Polynesia.svg
(4)
2011
Flag of French Polynesia.svg
(3)
2013
New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg
(3)
2019
Flag of French Polynesia.svg
(5)
2023
Flag of French Polynesia.svg
(4)
2024
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg
(4)
Apps
8
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands 4th×××××××1
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji ××4th3rd××3rdQ4
New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg  New Caledonia ××××2nd3rd××2
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand ×3rd××××××1
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea ×××××××Q1
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands 1st1st1st2nd1st2nd2ndQ8
Flag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti 3rd4th3rd1st••1st1stQ7
Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga ×××××5th4th×2
Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu 2nd2nd2nd••3rd4th××5

Performance of qualifiers at the World Cup

The following is a performance timeline of the OFC teams who have gone on to appear in the World Cup, having qualified from the above events (including the years when the event did not take place and instead the qualifying team was handpicked by the OFC, being 2008, 2015, 2017 and 2021).

Legend
Timeline
Year
Team
Flag of Brazil.svg
2006
Flag of Brazil.svg
2007
Flag of France.svg
2008
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg
2009
Flag of Italy.svg
2011
Flag of French Polynesia.svg
2013
Flag of Portugal.svg
2015
Flag of the Bahamas.svg
2017
Flag of Paraguay.svg
2019
Flag of Russia.svg
2021
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg
2023
Flag of Seychelles.svg
2025
Total
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands R1R1R1R1R15
Flag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti R14th2nd2ndR1QFQF7
Total no. of unique qualifiers2

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