In co-operation with World Sport Group, OFC has secured the rights for all Pacific Island broadcasters and will make the feed available with support from TVNZ Pacific Services and Sky Television.
The opening match at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi kicks off at 5:00am on Thursday (NZ time) and will feature Oceania club champions Auckland City FC and host club Al Ahli FC.
OFC General Secretary Tai Nicholas says it is a huge coup to secure the rights for FIFA’s topflight club competition.
“Auckland City were deserved winners of the 2009 O-League and the side built up a following of fans during the competition including the 25,000 Solomon Islanders who turned out for the final at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara. Now those fans will be able to watch the team compete on the world stage and fight to become the first New Zealand side to get a result at the FIFA Club World Cup,” said Nicholas.
“I would like to sincerely thank World Sport Group for enabling OFC to broadcast this opening match to thousands of fans across the Pacific.”
Today’s announcement follows on from the successful distribution of this season’s O-League highlights plus a full broadcast of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ qualifying match between New Zealand and Bahrain last month.
Photo courtesy FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images