FIFA World Cup 26 Oceania qualifiers, Oceania World Cup qualification, Fiji World Cup 26, New Caledonia football, Vanuatu football

The first round of group matches on the Road to FIFA World Cup 26™ has wrapped up for the eight remaining Oceania teams, marking a crucial step in the region’s qualification journey.

In Group A, action kicked off in Suva, where New Caledonia secured a 3-1 victory over Papua New Guinea, thanks to an impressive performance from Johann Sidaner’s squad. Fiji, led by head coach Rob Sherman, earned a narrow 1-0 win against Solomon Islands, placing both teams in a strong position heading into the next round of matches.

For Papua New Guinea, the pressure is on to capitalize on their home ground advantage when Group A continues next month in Port Moresby. They will host Fiji on November 14 after Solomon Islands take on New Caledonia. The group stage will conclude three days later, with Papua New Guinea facing Solomon Islands, and New Caledonia meeting Fiji. The top two teams will advance to the semi-finals.

Group B saw its opening games conclude in Port Vila, where hosts Vanuatu dominated Samoa with a 4-1 victory. The group now moves to Hamilton, New Zealand, where the Kiwis will play Vanuatu and Tahiti will face Samoa on November 15. The final group matches will take place in Auckland on November 18, with Vanuatu playing Tahiti and New Zealand squaring off against Samoa.

Looking ahead, the semi-finals and final will take place in New Zealand in March 2025. The winner of the tournament will secure direct entry to the FIFA World Cup 26™, marking a historic first for Oceania. The runner-up will have a second shot at qualification through the FIFA Intercontinental Playoff Tournament.

With only a few matches left in the group stage, all eight coaches are preparing their teams for what promises to be an exciting and pivotal month on the Road to 26™.