Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tahiti and Vanuatu locked in a battle for the two remaining final round berths in Oceania qualification.
The four-nation field for next March’s third and final round of Oceania qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 26™ is partly set and when the sun goes down in Auckland on Monday evening it will be complete. With New Caledonia joining perennial final round entrants New Zealand in grabbing third round tickets this week, it means that just two slots remain to be filled.
Having lost both of their second round outings, Samoa and the Solomon Islands are already eliminated, leaving Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tahiti and Vanuatu to fight it out for the final berths.
How qualification works
The top two nations in each group progress to the third and final round, to be held in March 2025. A simple knockout format is then in place to determine the OFC’s direct qualification slot as well as a second nation that will qualify for the FIFA Play-off Tournament.
Group A
Fixtures
Fiji v New Caledonia Papua New Guinea v Solomon Islands
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Standings
1st) New Caledonia – 6 points (Qualified) 2nd) Fiji – 4 3rd) Papua New Guinea – 1 4th) Solomon Islands – 0 (Eliminated)
Sunday 17 November PNG Football Stadium, Port Moresby
For Fiji, the equation is simple as they know a point against an already-qualified New Caledonia side will be enough to send them through to the third round. Given that Les Cagous are likely going to do all they can to secure top spot and avoid a probable semi-final showdown with New Zealand in next year’s third round, there’s plenty at stake here for both teams.
Key stat: Fiji have won three of the last four international matches between these two teams.
Sunday 17 November PNG Football Stadium, Port Moresby
Sitting third in the section and with a three-goal worse differential than second-placed Fiji, Papua New Guinea know that things are no longer in their own hands. With this clash taking place an hour after Fiji’s tussle with New Caledonia though they will at least know whether or not they remain in contention and, if so, exactly what they need to do. At a minimum that will require maximum points and likely by a decent margin so entertainment could be in order for the home fans here on Sunday evening.
Key stat: Papua New Guinea have lost only two of their last eight World Cup qualifying matches in Papua New Guinea (W2 D4).
Group B
Fixtures
Tahiti v Vanuatu Samoa v New Zealand
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Standings
1st) New Zealand – 6 points (Qualified) 2nd) Tahiti – 3 3rd) Vanuatu – 3 4th) Samoa – 0 (Eliminated)
Monday 18 November Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
The only fixture on the slate where a pair of combatants go head-to-head with a final round berth on the line should be a tense and potentially end-to-end affair in Auckland. Courtesy of a superior goal difference, a point for Tahiti will be enough to see them book a final four berth while only a win will do for Juliano Schmeling’s Vanuatu.
Key stat: Tahiti are aiming to win successive World Cup qualifying matches for the first time since 2012.
Monday 18 November Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
A dead-rubber it may be, with New Zealand having already secured qualification and Samoa being eliminated, but there should be plenty of emotion on display between this pair of nations that share deep cultural and historical links. On a personal level there are also plenty of Samoan players with family ties to New Zealand and they’ll be keen to end their campaign on a high while the All Whites are looking to once again stamp their credentials as the OFC’s undisputed heavyweights. The hosts could likely once again be without the injured Tim Payne and Kosta Barbarouses while Faitalia Hamilton-Pama came off early in Samoa’s previous fixture and is also a doubtful starter.
Key stat: New Zealand have won their last seven matches in OFC qualifying for the FIFA World Cup™.
New Zealand (91st) Fiji (146th) Solomon Islands (147th) New Caledonia (155th) Vanuatu (157th) Tahiti (159th) Papua New Guinea (171st) Samoa (186th)
|
Ranking
|
Team
|
Total Points
|
Previous Points
|
+/- points
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
 Argentina |
1883.5 | 1889 | -5.5 |
|
2
|
 France |
1859.85 | 1852 | +7.85 |
|
3
|
 Spain |
1844.33 | 1836 | +8.33 |
|
4
|
 England |
1807.83 | 1817 | -9.17 |
|
5
|
 Brazil |
1784.37 | 1772 | +12.37 |
|
6
|
 Belgium |
1761.27 | 1768 | -6.73 |
|
7
1 |
 Portugal |
1752.68 | 1752 | +0.68 |
|
8
1 |
 Netherlands |
1748.24 | 1760 | -11.76 |
|
9
1 |
 Italy |
1729.4 | 1726 | +3.4 |
|
10
1 |
 Colombia |
1724.37 | 1739 | -14.63 |
