OFC World Cup Qualifying table | OneFootball
Oceania takes centre stage
Oceania’s 11 set to tussle for historic FIFA World Cup berths.
OFC World Cup draw takes place on 18 July in Zurich
Oceania has two possible berths for the 2026 showpiece
FIFA will live-stream the draw this Thursday
For just the fifth time, a nation representing Oceania will take its place among the global elite at a FIFA World Cup™. With the expanded FIFA World Cup 26™ bringing with it a guaranteed place for an OFC member nation for the very first time, along with a possible second slot via the FIFA Intercontinental Play-off Tournament, there is palpable excitement across the region.
All 11 OFC members will feature at this week’s qualification draw at the Home of FIFA in Zurich, where the path to North America will be laid out. They will be vying to join Australia (now an AFC member) and New Zealand who, to date, are the only nations to have flown the flag for Oceania on the global stage.
FIFA takes a look at how the region’s hopefuls have fared in past qualification campaigns and their recent form prior to this week’s draw.
In all five previous qualification campaigns, American Samoa have failed to progress from beyond the first round, although only goal difference saw them fail to reach the second stage of Russia 2018 qualifiers.
Previous qualification campaigns: Korea/Japan 2002, Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018
Best qualification result: First round (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018)
Highest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking: 164 (October, 2015)
Current OFC Ranking: 9
Recent form: The 2023 Pacific Games campaign was American Samoa’s most recent major tournament outing, and things didn’t go to plan. They lost 10-0 against neighbours Samoa and 11-0 at the hands of the Solomon Islands to finish bottom of the group.
The confederation’s eighth-ranked nation is returning to qualification for the first time since Russia 2018, when they came within a whisker of reaching the second round. Wins over Tonga and Samoa saw the Cook Islanders only fail to progress on goal difference in 2015, eight years after they collected their first qualification win: a 4-1 victory over Tuvalu (an OFC associate member nation).
Previous qualification campaigns: France 1998, Korea/Japan 2002, Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018.
Best qualification result: First round (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018)
Highest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking: 166 (October, 2015)
Current OFC Ranking: 8
Recent form: Although they would defeat Tonga 1-0 in their second match, a 1-0 defeat against Samoa first up in March’s OFC Nations Cup qualifiers saw the Cook Islands fail to reach the continental championships.
A FIFA member since 1964, Fiji are the OFC’s second-oldest association, with their first attempt at qualification being for Spain 1982. The closest the nation came to reaching the global showpiece was in the preliminaries for Russia 2018, when they reached the third round only to fail to collect a win in a tough group featuring New Zealand and New Caledonia.
Previous qualification campaigns: Spain 1982, Italy 1990, USA 1994, France 1998, Korea/Japan 2002, Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, Qatar 2022.
Best qualification result: Third round (2018)
Highest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking: 94 (July, 1994)
Current OFC Ranking: 3
Recent form: Three straight group-stage wins at the OFC Nations Cup saw Fiji storm into the semis, where they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Vanuatu in the semi-finals before losing by the same scoreline against Tahiti in the third-place play-off.
The OFC’s newest member association, New Caledonia was only affiliated to FIFA in 2004. Nonetheless, they have turned heads in their five qualification campaigns so far.
On the road to Brazil 2014, they reached the third round, where they won four of the six group matches, with only a pair of narrow losses against New Zealand ending their dreams of reaching the inter-confederation play-offs. Four years later it was once again the All Whites that thwarted their hopes of progression.
Previous qualification campaigns: Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, Qatar 2022.
Best qualification result: Third round (2014, 2018)
Highest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking: 93 (August, 2013)
Current OFC Ranking: 5
Recent form: Forced to withdrawn from the recent OFC Nations Cup, the last major tournament outing for New Caledonia came at the 2023 Pacific Games, where they dazzled throughout, eventually pipping the Solomon Islands on penalties in the final to claim their eighth regional title.
The confederation’s undisputed powerhouse, New Zealand are the only current OFC nation to have qualified for the World Cup, having featured at both the 1982 and 2010 editions. The All-Whites have also reached the FIFA Inter-confederation play-offs in each of the past three editions, only to fall to Mexico, Peru and then Costa Rica. As the top-ranked nation in the region they’ll be the favourites to secure that direct slot for North America.
Previous qualification campaigns: Mexico 1970, West Germany 1974, Argentina 1978, Spain 1982, Mexico 1986, Italy 1990, USA 1994, France 1998, Korea/Japan 2002, Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, Qatar 2022.
Best qualification result: Qualified (1982, 2010)
Highest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking: 47 (August, 2002)
Current OFC Ranking: 1
Recent form: Having won all four matches, scored 15 and not conceded once, the All Whites’ title-winning OFC Nations Cup campaign emphasised just how tough they will be to dislodge in the race for the OFC’s lone World Cup qualification spot.
Papua New Guinea, a FIFA member since 1966, are one of the OFC’s oldest nations. Yet they have attempted World Cup qualification on just five occasions. PNG have shown recent promise, though, by reaching the third round in both of their previous attempts and will be looking to go one better this time out.
Previous qualification campaigns: France 1998, Germany 2006, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, Qatar 2022.
Best qualification result: Third round (2018, 2022)
Highest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking: 153 (June, 2017)
Current OFC Ranking: 7
Recent form: In a competitive group at the recent OFC Nations Cup, a win over Samoa and a draw with Tahiti wasn’t enough to qualify PNG for the semi-finals after they lost 5-1 against Fiji in their opener.
Returning to the qualification trail for the first time since Russia 2018, Samoa will be looking to build on positive showings in both that campaign and the previous one, where they reached the second round on both occasions.
Previous qualification campaigns: France 1998 (as Western Samoa), Korea/Japan 2002, Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018,
Best qualification result: Second round (2014, 2018)
Highest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking: 146 (January, 2008)
Current OFC Ranking: 10
Recent form: Having seen off Tonga and the Cook Islands in qualification, Samoa entered the OFC Nations Cup in positive spirits. Although they ultimately lost all three group stage matches, they were competitive in narrow defeats against Tahiti (2-0) and Papua New Guinea (2-1).
The OFC’s second-highest ranked nation, the Solomon Islands are emerging as a real continental power. The Melanesians have reached the third round on four occasions, falling to New Zealand at the final stage of qualification for both of the previous World Cups and they will fancy their chances of reaching a maiden global showpiece when things get underway late this year.
Previous qualification campaigns: USA 1994, France 1998, Korea/Japan 2002, Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, Qatar 2022.
Best qualification result: Third round (2006, 2014, 2018, 2022)
Highest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking: 120 (October, 2007, April, May 2008)
Current OFC Ranking: 2
Recent form: Having reached the semi-finals at the two prior editions, it was a disappointing 2024 OFC Nations Cup campaign from the Solomon Islands, with a 1-0 defeat against Vanuatu and a 3-0 loss at the hands of New Zealand meaning they failed to progress from the group.
Tahiti will be entering their ninth consecutive qualification campaign and, as the confederation’s fourth highest ranked team, will be hopeful of building on three strong recent showings. The Polynesians have reached the third round on each of those occasions, with the race for a spot at Qatar 2022 ending only after a 1-0 loss against New Zealand in the final stage tournament.
Previous qualification campaigns: USA 1994, France 1998, Korea/Japan 2002, Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, Qatar 2022)
Best qualification result: Third round (2014, 2018, 2022)
Highest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking: 111 (August, 2002)
Current OFC Ranking: 4
Recent form: Tahiti should enter the qualifiers in fairly strong spirits after they recovered from a hefty loss at the hands of New Zealand in the semi-finals to bounce back and see off Fiji 2-1 to claim third place at the recent OFC Nations Cup.
Although Tonga have often been competitive in the early stages of qualification, with several wins over nations in and around a similar ranking, they have so far failed to progress from the first round at any of their previous six attempts to reach the global showpiece. They enter the current campaign as the OFC’s lowest-ranked nation.
Previous qualification campaigns: France 1998, Korea/Japan 2002, Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018.
Best qualification result: First round (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018)
Highest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking: 163 (October, November, December 1998)
Current OFC Ranking: 11
Recent form: Defeats against Samoa and the Cook Islands saw Tonga fail to qualify for the recent OFC Nations Cup; that off the back of a disappointing 2023 Pacific Games campaign, where they lost both matches to finish bottom of the group.
Runners-up at the 2024 OFC Nations Cup, Vanuatu will be hopeful of a strong World Cup qualification campaign. It took the nation three attempts to collect their first win before managing to reach the second round in both tilts at Germany 2006 and South Africa 2010, with their undoubted highlight being a stunning 4-2 win over New Zealand back in June 2004.
Previous qualification campaigns: USA 1994, France 1998, Korea/Japan 2002, Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018.
Best qualification result: Second round (2006, 2010)
Highest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking: 131 (October, 2007)
Current OFC Ranking: 6
Recent form: Vanuatu impressed in collecting wins against the Solomon Islands and Fiji in qualifying for the final of the OFC Nations Cup. But they were no match for the might of New Zealand in the final as they fell to a 3-0 defeat in Port Vila.
Association football competition
International football competition
The Oceanian section of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification process is taking place from September 2024 to March 2025.[1] The 2026 tournament is the 16th edition of Oceanian qualifiers and marks the first time OFC has a direct qualification slot into the FIFA World Cup.[2]
The qualification structure is as follows:[1][3]
All eleven eligible OFC nations have entered qualification.
The schedule of the competition is as follows.
The inter-confederation play-offs will be scheduled to be played in March 2026.
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).
Note: Teams in bold qualified for the third round. Teams in italics competed only in the 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]
The winner advanced to the 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]
The third round is scheduled to take place in New Zealand on 21 and 24 March 2025.[1] The winner will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the runner-up will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.[13]
The winner qualifies for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The loser advances to the inter-confederation play-offs.
Inter-confederation play-offs
The runner up team 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 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.[39]
Qualified for the World Cup
Can qualify for the World Cup
The following teams from OFC qualified for the final tournament.
There have been 60 goals scored in 15 matches, for an average of 4 goals per match (as of 18 November 2024). Players highlighted in bold are still active in the competition.
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