The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) has officially released the complete tournament schedule for 2026, marking a pivotal moment in the growth of football in the Oceania region, especially with a strong focus on women’s football. The announcement is viewed as an integral step in enhancing the visibility and competitive landscape of the sport across its member nations.
A highlight of the upcoming tournaments is the OFC Women’s Champions League, which will see participation from ten of the eleven OFC Member Associations—a notable achievement that underscores the development of women’s football in the region. The qualifying matches for the tournament will take place in the picturesque Cook Islands, while the championship finals will be held in the Solomon Islands, the site of the event in 2024.
On the men’s side, Fiji is set to host the OFC Men’s Champions League, reinforcing its reputation for delivering top-tier regional football. Additionally, the OFC Beach Soccer Nations Cup will return to Tahiti, a location renowned for its vibrant beach soccer culture, having reached two FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup finals in the past.
As part of its commitment to fostering talent at all levels, the OFC will host various age-grade tournaments throughout the Pacific. The Cook Islands and Tonga will host key qualification events, while Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands will organize the OFC U-16 Championships for both boys and girls, respectively.
The competitive season will commence in Samoa with the OFC Men’s Champions League Qualifying running from January 31 to February 6, followed by the OFC U-19 Men’s Championship in September. In a notable collaboration with UEFA Together, the OFC is set to organize the inaugural Boys and Girls U-15 Development Tournaments in the same year, providing young athletes with exceptional opportunities for growth. The Girls’ Tournament is slated for May in Fiji, while the Boys’ Tournament will follow in New Zealand in October.
The tournament schedule is packed with essential events, including:
– OFC Men’s Champions League – Qualifying: January 31 – February 6, Samoa
– FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 – Oceania Qualifiers Round Two: February 24 – March 7, Fiji and Solomon Islands
– OFC U-16 Men’s Championship – Qualifying: March 25 – 31, Tonga
– FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 – Oceania Qualifiers Round Three: April 12 – 15, New Zealand
– OFC U-16 Women’s Championship – Qualifying: April 18 – 24, Papua New Guinea
– OFC Women’s Champions League – Qualifying: April 20 – 26, Cook Islands
– OFC U-15 Girls’ Youth Development Tournament: May 4 – 12, Fiji
– OFC U-19 Men’s Championship – Qualifying: June 6 – 12, Cook Islands
– OFC Women’s Champions League: June 27 – July 10, Solomon Islands
– OFC U-16 Men’s Championship: July 12 – 25, Papua New Guinea
– OFC Men’s Champions League: August 9 – 22, Fiji
– OFC U-19 Men’s Championship: September 1 – 14, Samoa
– OFC U-16 Women’s Championship: September 6 – 19, Solomon Islands
– OFC U-15 Boys’ Youth Development Tournament: October 1 – 9, New Zealand
– OFC Beach Soccer Men’s Nations Cup: October 22 – 31, Tahiti.
This extensive schedule not only highlights the OFC’s commitment to nurturing football talent across various age groups and genders but also signals a bright and promising future for the sport in Oceania, fostering an environment conducive to growth and excellence in football.