Australia and New Zealand will both get a bye to the second round. 1st Round Group A Tahiti, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and American Samoa Group B Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Tonga and the Cook Islands The top two in each group advance to play New Zealand and Australia in a six-team home and away group. The first place team advances to the World Cup. http://www.dailysoccer.com/?page=art&Article=6085&country=&offset=1&ref=hl
I have to say, this format is 10 times better than the last one they had for 2002. I like the idea of a preliminary stage so hopefully stage 2 will have some competitive matches. Although I dislike OFC getting a full spot, they are at least looking like a real confederation and who knows, maybe NZ or Fiji will give Australia problems.
It looks like OFC has moved to the old CONCACAF model, while CONCACAF has moved to the AFC model. It'll be CONCACAF's turn for lopsided scores. The new format should help the middle tier of OFC teams develop, and keep the minnows from humiliation.
Because the tournament is designed to give the smaller OFC nations experience against other nations. The idea is to promote football in the OFC not crush the smaller nations. Crowdie.
Although the quality of the teams in the OFC are somewhat poor, OFC is a FIFA confederation and deserves respect from the other established confederations (OFC founded in early 1960's) Remember the present OFC were part of the AFC until they rused them entery into the world cup qualifiers. I am pleased that we get a direct spot as it will do the game in Australia and New Zealand a world of good and boost the game in these countries. Although there are many teams competing for the spot it is really a 2 horse race Aust & NZ
https://www.espn.com/soccer/new-zea...nament-partially-outside-international-window The nine-team tournament will be staged in Qatar from March 14-30 to decide which team advances to a playoff against the fourth-placed side from CONCACAF, which features nations from North and Central America and the Caribbean.
Tonga withdrew, which eliminated the need for them to play Cook Islands for one spot in the group stage. The Group Stage starts tomorrow with Cook Islands vs. Solomon Islands and Tahiti vs. Vanuatu. Group A plays on 17 March, 20 March, and 24 March. Group B plays on 18 March, 21 March, and 24 March. In order for both games in a group on the last matchday to be at the same time, two stadiums will have doubleheaders on 24 March with a game in Group A followed by a game in Group B. Group B has New Zealand, New Caledonia, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea. The Semifinals are on 27 March, and the Final is on 30 March, so it will take 14 days to go from eight teams to one team. The winner will play fourth from Concacaf, which will probably be determined on 30 March. Concacaf plays on 24 March, 27 March, and 30 March, and it is impossible for fourth to be clinched on 24 March. Fourth place Panama and fifth place Costa Rica are the most likely fourth place teams, but any of the top six could hypothetically finish fourth. That includes first place Canada, second place USA, third place Mexico, and sixth place El Salvador. Concacaf has a group of eight. Through 11 of 14 games, no team has qualified, and seventh place Jamaica and eighth place Honduras are eliminated.
Yesterday Solomon Islands beat Cook Islands 2-0, and Tahiti vs. Vanuatu was postponed because many Vatuatu players with COVID, and I wouldn't be surprised if they have to withdraw to make Group A have three teams. Today's Group B games had New Zealand beat Papua New Guinea 1-0, and New Caledonia plays Fiji later.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international...t-semi-final-spot-in-ofc-world-cup-qualifiers Papua New Guinea have come from behind to beat Fiji 2-1 and seal the final playoff berth in the FIFA World Cup Oceania Qualifiers in Qatar.
In a 2022 FIFA World Cup semis of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea (PNG) will square off at the Grand Hamad Stadium on Sunday.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/footb...dream-alive-with-big-win-over-solomon-islands Relief as All Whites keep World Cup dream alive with big win over Solomon Islands
Watching the WC now, brings me back bad memories of that match. I really believe that NZF should have made a complaint on that match to FIFA.
I'm not saying it was the wrong decision, but I would not have called that foul and I have been a referee since 1984.