Three years after they co-hosted a stunning ninth edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™, New Zealand get their qualification campaign for Brazil 2027 under way this week in the Solomon Islands.
The Football Ferns are one of eight remaining Oceania nations tussling for the region’s lone direct berth to the global showpiece while another place is potentially up for grabs via the Play-Off Tournament.
Although New Zealand will enter as overwhelming favourites to reach a seventh edition of the tournament they won’t have things all their own way as standards continue to rise across the region.
Having fallen at the final hurdle for Australia & New Zealand 2023, Papua New Guinea will be looking to go one step further while Fiji, New Caledonia and Samoa are aiming to parlay youth success into a senior statement.
Reigning OFC Women’s Nations Cup holders, the Solomon Islands are also a clear threat while dark horses American Samoa will be looking to build on some impressive recent results.
Having previously used the OFC Women’s Nations Cup to settle World Cup berths, for the first time a separate qualification tournament is being conducted, with the first round having concluded in December 2025.
There, the OFC’s lowest-ranked nation, American Samoa, caused a boil-over with thumping wins over Tonga and the Cook Islands to secure their passage to the second round.
That phase now sees the eight remaining nations split into two groups of four, with matches to be played in the Solomon Islands and Fiji from 27 February-5 March to decide which four nations will advance to April’s decisive third round.
Group A: New Zealand, Samoa, Solomon Islands, American Samoa
Solomon Islands, the section hosts, enter as the reigning confederation champions after they downed Papua New Guinea to win the Nation’s Cup last July. Their initial challenge is against an American Samoa outfit that caught the eye with some dazzling first round displays late last year to reach this phase.
Samoa are looking to build on their recent success at youth level, with two members of the squad that made history at last year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup™ travelling to Honiara. New Zealand enter as the team to beat and head coach Michael Mayne has called on an impressive squad, drawn from the professional ranks in eight different nations with 17-year-old starlet Pia Vlok earning a maiden senior call-up.
27 February: New Zealand v Samoa
27 February: Solomon Islands v American Samoa
2 March: American Samoa v Samoa
2 March: New Zealand v Solomon Islands
5 March: American Samoa v New Zealand
5 March: Samoa v Solomon Islands
Group B: Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji, New Caledonia
Hosts Fiji enter the qualifiers under the guidance of new coach Nicola Demaine, with the former Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Bhutan coach overseeing a late 2-1 win against American Samoa in a friendly match last weekend. Their opening Group B opponents, New Caledonia have been in camp for a week-and-a-half and have a squad containing six players based in France. They will be led by newly appointed head coach Christelle Wahnawe, the all-time leading scorer for the women’s national team.
Vanuatu are going in search of what would be just a third win in a qualification campaign although they will be missing influential forward Jane Alatoa as well as injured captain Rita Solomon in a couple of key blows. Rounding out the section is a Papua New Guinea side desperate to go one step further after they fell in the Play-Off Tournament for Australia & New Zealand 2023.
27 February: Papua New Guinea v Vanuatu
27 February: Fiji v New Caledonia
2 March: New Caledonia v Vanuatu
2 March: Papua New Guinea v Fiji
5 March: New Caledonia v Papua New Guinea
5 March: Vanuatu v Fiji
“We’re a nation of warriors who always support each other, so our team has what it takes mentally. We don’t take part in many competitions, but when we do, we make our presence felt.”
Marie-Laure Palene, New Caledonia defender
“Over the past month, the girls have been training really hard and then all of us, we have one dream in mind which is to qualify for the World Cup. So coming out here, we are here to give our best and to make sure that we get an opportunity to qualify for the World Cup.”
Yvonne Gabong, Papua New Guinea midfielder
“We’ve seen noticeable progress, particularly in our intensity and recovery. That’s going to be important in a tournament setting where turnaround time between matches is short.”
Nicola Demaine, Fiji head coach
“It is great to get this group together ahead of an important year and start the journey to achieve the first of our goals, qualifying for Brazil in 2027.”
Michael Mayne, New Zealand coach
Images courtesy of OFC Media/Phototek
