Three nations will represent Oceania when FIFA U-17 World Cup 2026™ kicks off in Qatar next week.
The 21st edition of the tournament will run from the 19th of November – 13th of December and feature 48 teams from around the world, fighting for the opportunity to be crowned FIFA U-17 World Cup champions.
As the tournament prepares to get underway, we’ve taken a closer look at the format, the venues, the history, and the three teams representing OFC.
The format
The 48 competing teams have been split into 12 groups of four, from which the top two in each group will progress to the Round of 32. The eight best third-placed sides will also qualify for the knockout stages.
The venues
Qatar will host the FIFA U-17 World Cup for the second year in a row and is scheduled to host the tournament annually until 2029.
Every match with the exception of the final will be played at one of the eight pitches at the Aspire Zone in Al Rayyan. The final will be held at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium which seats 45,032 spectators.
Tournament History
Portugal are the current FIFA U-17 World Cup champions after defeating Austria 1-0 in the final last year. They won’t defend their title this year though, after failing to qualify.
Nigeria are the competition’s most successful nation with five titles, the last of which came in 2015. Brazil have won it four times, whilst Ghana and Mexico are the only other nations to have lifted the trophy on multiple occasions.
New Zealand
New Zealand return for their 12th FIFA U-17 World Cup, with six players from the Young All Whites squad that competed at last year’s edition in Qatar back for another campaign.
“Being able to provide players with multiple World Cup experiences is an advantage we have,” says head coach Martin Bullock. “A big part of our leadership group’s role is to pass on their experience and knowledge to the newer players and help everyone perform at their very best.”
New Zealand remain the only current OFC member to have reached the knockout stages, doing so on three previous occasions in 2009, 2011 and 2015. However, they have not won a match at the tournament since 2019.
Drawn into Group G alongside Belgium, Mali and Vietnam, progressing to the knockout stages again will be a challenge, but one Bullock believes his side is better prepared for this time around.
“We were able to take part in a tournament in Japan in September and face similar opposition to what we’ll face in Qatar. This was obviously a great opportunity to play but also reconnect with each other and an opportunity to give some new players a chance to stake their claim.”
“The majority of our players are NZ-based and have very limited exposure to football from different parts of the world, which makes our group opponents exciting challenges who have different styles from Asia, Africa and Europe.”
New Zealand qualified without conceding a goal on their way to the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship 2025 title, whom 17 of Bullock’s 21-player squad travelling to Qatar were part of.
“We will play our style of football, which reflects our values and beliefs and aligns with our senior team. We have taken on some learnings from previous World Cups which we hope will give us an improved playing model and help us be successful.”
Player to Watch: Ben Trenberth
A two-time OFC U-16 Men’s Championship winner and captain of the 2026 title-winning side, Ben Trenberth heads to his first FIFA U-17 World Cup having scored four goals across two continental campaigns.
The attacking midfielder is also fresh off signing his first professional contract with Wellington Phoenix in the A-League Men’s competition.
Match Schedule
New Zealand | Group G
Mali v New Zealand
Saturday 21st November, 2:30am NZT
Aspire Zone, Al Rayyan, Qatar
Vietnam v New Zealand
Tuesday 24th November, 4:30am NZT
Aspire Zone, Al Rayyan, Qatar
New Zealand v Belgium
Friday 27th November, 2am NZT
Aspire Zone, Al Rayyan, Qatar
Fiji
After making their debut in 2025, Fiji return for their second appearance at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, with senior men’s national team coach Stéphane Auvray taking charge following Sunil Kumar’s departure to PNG Hekari FC.
The Young Bula Boys endured a tough introduction to the tournament last year, losing all three group-stage matches without scoring a goal. They face another difficult assignment this time around, having been drawn alongside Spain, China PR and Morocco in Group H.
“We are conscious of where we stand compared to our opponents,” says Auvray. “The good news is that we have nothing to lose.”
Fiji qualified for this year’s tournament with a third-place finish at the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship 2025, defeating Papua New Guinea 1–0 in the play-off. They have also secured qualification for a third consecutive FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2027, after reaching the final of this year’s OFC U-16 Men’s Championship in Papua New Guinea.
Kumar’s departure on the eve of the tournament, however, means Auvray has had limited time to prepare the side and familiarise himself with the players.
“I am pleased with their fitness level and their willingness to work hard. The key is for them to be fast learners and increase their level of play quickly.”
Several players return for their second World Cup appearance after making their debut last year, including Maikah Dau, who became the youngest player in the inaugural OFC Pro League season with Bula FC.
“Fortunately, a few of our players had their first experience last year. They will have a role in helping their teammates.”
Fiji will begin as outsiders, but the opportunity to compete on the world stage for a second consecutive year will provide invaluable experience for their emerging talent.
Player to Watch: Maikah Dau
Fresh off making his senior national team debut for Fiji at the MSG Prime Minister’s Cup 2026, Maikah Dau is one of the brightest young talents in Fijian football.
The midfielder scored twice during his first senior international campaign and made 13 appearances for Bula FC in the inaugural OFC Pro League season.
He captained Fiji at last year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup and is set to do so again in Qatar, bringing valuable international and professional experience to the squad.
Match Schedule
Fiji | Group H
Fiji v Morocco
Saturday 21st November, 5am FJT
Aspire Zone, Al Rayyan, Qatar
Spain v Fiji
Tuesday 24th November, 1:30am FJT
Aspire Zone, Al Rayyan, Qatar
China v Fiji
Friday 27th November, 4am FJT
Aspire Zone, Al Rayyan, Qatar
New Caledonia
Preparing for their fourth FIFA U-17 World Cup campaign, New Caledonia have previously produced some memorable results at the tournament, including draws against Asian heavyweights Japan in both 2017 and 2025.
Their previous campaign was also marked by a 16–0 defeat to Morocco though, the heaviest defeat in men’s FIFA World Cup history across all age groups – highlighting the challenge of competing against the world’s best.
“The draw against Japan last year demonstrated that Oceanian teams can compete with major footballing nations when they are fully committed to their game plan,” says head coach Francis Watrone.
“The more difficult results also remind us of the high standards required at the global level and the importance of maintaining concentration for the full 90 minutes. This new generation must draw inspiration from past successes while writing its own story, with the ambition of taking New Caledonian football even further.”
New Caledonia qualified for their third consecutive FIFA U-17 World Cup with a runners-up finish at the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship 2025. Watrone guided the team through that qualifying campaign and will now take charge at his first World Cup.
“The team has evolved significantly since our campaign at the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship. The players have gained maturity, international experience and a greater understanding of the game. Tactically, we are more organised and versatile.”
They have been drawn into another challenging group in Qatar alongside Ecuador, Korea Republic and Uganda, but believe their recent World Cup experience will prove beneficial.
“It is a strong group featuring very different styles of play. Every match will start at 0-0, and we will look to make the most of our strengths, our unity and our collective mentality to seize every opportunity that comes our way.”
Player to Watch: Sylvain Ipeze
Returning for his second FIFA U-17 World Cup after being part of last year’s squad, goalkeeper Sylvain Ipeze captains New Caledonia as they prepare for another campaign on the world stage.
The AS Lössi goalkeeper was instrumental in securing qualification, producing several crucial saves against Fiji in the semi-finals of the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship 2025 before denying two penalties in the shootout to send New Caledonia through to the final and secure their World Cup place.
Match Schedule
New Caledonia | Group C
New Caledonia v Ecuador
Friday 20th November, 12am NCT
Aspire Zone, Al Rayyan, Qatar
Korea Republic v New Caledonia
Monday 23rd November, 1:30am NCT
Aspire Zone, Al Rayyan, Qatar
Uganda v New Caledonia
Wednesday 25th November, 11:30pm NCT
Aspire Zone, Al Rayyan, Qatar
Feature image photo credit: FIFA via Getty Images