Tahiti Climbs FIFA Rankings After Stellar Oceania Qualifiers

Tahiti has made an impressive leap in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking, climbing six places to 153. This surge comes on the back of strong performances in the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Oceania Qualifiers. Under the guidance of Samuel Garcia, Tahiti secured victories against Samoa in Hamilton and Vanuatu in Auckland to advance from Group B. Their campaign continues with a semi-final clash against New Caledonia set for March.

New Caledonia and New Zealand Shine

New Caledonia also enjoyed a boost, moving up three spots to 152 after a solid showing in Port Moresby. A 3-2 victory over Solomon Islands and a 1-1 draw against Fiji were enough to secure their ranking improvement.

Meanwhile, New Zealand, winners of Group B, remain Oceania’s highest-ranked team. The All Whites gained two places to reach 89th position, further cementing their dominance in the region.

Struggles for Samoa and Vanuatu

Samoa and Vanuatu experienced the sharpest declines, both dropping six places. Samoa now sits at 192, while Vanuatu has fallen to 163, with their World Cup qualification hopes ending at the group stage.

Movement Across Oceania

Other notable changes in the region include:

• American Samoa: Gained one place to 188.
• Cook Islands: Gained one place to 190.
• Fiji: Dropped one place to 147.
• Solomon Islands: Dropped one place to 148.
• Papua New Guinea: Dropped one place to 172.
• Tonga: Remained static at 199.

The latest FIFA rankings highlight a dynamic shift across Oceania, setting the stage for exciting semi-final matchups as the road to FIFA World Cup 2026™ continues.