The 2026 OFC U-15 Girls Development Tournament in Lautoka, Fiji, has played a crucial role in shaping the future of women’s football across Oceania, with players, coaches, referees and competition staff gaining valuable international experience.
Hosted in partnership with UEFA, through the UEFA Together programme, the tournament brought together eight nations – Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Cook Islands and hosts Fiji – in a tournament designed to provide young athletes with their first exposure to international football in a safe and supportive environment, helping bridge the gap between grassroots football and the pressures of future FIFA Women’s World Cup™ qualification pathways at U-16 level.
“Playing football is a global passion and we are proud to work with the OFC on developing youth football,” said Zoran Lakovic, UEFA Deputy Secretary General.
“The U-15 tournament in Fiji is a great collaboration that gives young women the chance to explore their dedication and potential for football on the pitch.”
OFC Acting General Secretary, Frederic Guillemont, outlined the crucial role these competitions play in helping to shape the future of football in the region.
“The opportunities that these tournaments provide young players, coaches and officials is invaluable for their future progression.
“For many of those involved, it will be their first experience of international football and the chance to create a safe and secure environment in which to do so can be crucial for their footballing aspirations.
“We are very grateful to UEFA for partnering with us through the UEFA Together programme and look forward to continuing that excellent relationship as we work to nurture future generations of football talent in Oceania and beyond.”
Educational workshops formed a key part of the tournament experience, with sessions delivered on high-performance preparation, recovery and menstrual health. Presenter and High Performance Coach, Maha Shankar said introducing players to these topics early could have a lasting impact on their development.
“I personally believe that if they start now it really goes a long way for their performance,” she said. “A lot of people did not have the exposure to these things before and for them to have it at such an early stage is really good.”
She added that exposing players to elite environments helps “bridge the gap” between where they currently are and the standards expected at higher levels of the game.
Players also had the opportunity to take part in sessions with members of the New Zealand Football Ferns, gaining insight into the experiences of professional footballers and learning about the opportunities the sport can provide in the future.
Football Ferns goalkeeper Anna Leat also spent time working closely with the young goalkeepers throughout the tournament and praised their enthusiasm and eagerness to improve.
“The support they get is crucial to whether they realise that potential, but there’s no doubt that it’s there,” Leat said.
Meanwhile, fellow internationalist Kelli Brown highlighted the importance of exposing young players to high-performance environments before major international qualifiers.
“It gives the girls an opportunity to play in a performance environment where they can understand what needs to happen while still having a little bit more room to breathe,” Brown said. “Providing something special like that for the girls is super important, and I think it will help them a lot in the long term.”
The tournament also plays a major role in developing the wider football workforce across Oceania. Competition staff and match coordinators from Member Associations were given hands-on experience in managing match day operations and event delivery, helping strengthen the region’s ability to host elite competitions in the future.
Referee development was another major focus. OFC Head of Referees Kevin Stoltenkamp highlighted that the tournament provides emerging officials with their first taste of elite-level football.
“This is the first step in their pathway to become match officials,” Stoltenkamp said. “Tournaments like these are crucial in OFC referee development.”
Officials participated in fitness and theory sessions throughout the competition, with standout performers now identified for future development camps and higher-level tournaments later in the year, ensuring the tournament’s impact teachers players and staff long lasting skills.