OFC U-19 Men’s Championship 2026
Eight teams descended on Apia, Samoa for the 25th edition of the OFC U-19 Men’s Championship, competing for the regional crown and two places at the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2027 in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
Hosts Samoa were drawn in Group A alongside 2024 finalists New Caledonia and Solomon Islands, plus qualifying winners Papua New Guinea. Defending champions New Zealand headlined Group B, joined by Fiji, Tahiti and Vanuatu. With direct World Cup qualification on the line, all eight sides went at it hard across the fortnight.
Group A
A tight opening match-day saw Solomon Islands edge Papua New Guinea 1-0, while New Caledonia saw off hosts Samoa 4-2. Solomon Islands all but sealed their semi-final spot next time out, beating New Caledonia 3-1, while Papua New Guinea bounced back from their opening defeat to beat Samoa 4-2 and keep their own hopes alive.
The group decider went New Caledonia’s way in emphatic fashion, a 7-0 win over Papua New Guinea confirming their place in the final four. Solomon Islands closed out an unbeaten campaign with a comfortable 2-0 win over Samoa.
Group B
Goals flowed on the opening match-day in Group B, New Zealand and Fiji cruising past Tahiti and Vanuatu respectively for a combined 15 goals between the two fixtures to open with wins.
That set up what many expected to be a final preview between the tournament’s early pacesetters. New Zealand had the better of a hard-fought meeting, edging Fiji 2-0 to move into the semi-finals. Earlier the same day, Tahiti produced a late leveler to draw 1-1 with Vanuatu and keep their own campaign alive.
With qualification still to play for, Tahiti got the better of the Junior Bula Boys, beating Fiji 2-1 to book their spot in the final four. New Zealand rounded out their group campaign with a clean sheet, putting six past Vanuatu without reply.
Semi-finals
Continuing their run through the tournament, Tahiti handed Solomon Islands their first defeat of the campaign, winning 2-1 to reach the final and secure their third FIFA U-20 World Cup qualification. The Aito Taure’a scored twice in the second half to pull clear of the Solomon Islanders in what stands as one of the tournament’s standout results.
New Zealand made light work of their 2024 final opponents in the other semi-final, a 6-1 win over New Caledonia sending the defending champions back into the final and confirming their return to the World Cup stage.
Play-offs
In the final place play-off matches, qualifying winners Papua New Guinea cruised past Fiji 4-0 with Christopher Euguene scoring a brace to help lead his side to victory securing fifth. In the 7th place play-off, hosts Samoa avoided qualification relegation defeating Vanuatu 3-1. Lomitusi Scanlan starring for the home side scoring a hat-trick to round out their tournament.
Third Place Play-Off
Solomon Islands beat New Caledonia 1-0 to claim bronze, repeating their group-stage result against the same opponents. Seltia Blake scored the only goal in the 73rd minute, finished off a pass from player of the match Michael Horikura.
It’s a fourth top-three finish for the Solomon Islands, and a seventh straight top four appearance for New Caledonia.
Final
New Zealand claimed a tenth OFC U-19 Men’s Championship title, beating Tahiti 2-0 in Apia to confirm both nations’ places at the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2027. An own goal just before half-time and a late Harley Hill strike settled a far tighter contest than their 8-0 group-stage meeting on the first match-day.
Tahiti held out for most of the first half before Malo Dieugard turned in a Dejaun Naidoo delivery under pressure from Victor Barbosa. Nihuau Firiapu denied Oscar Grosso twice after the break, while Keahinui Brown curled narrowly wide at the other end. Substitute Hill made it 2-0 in the 79th minute, with the Junior All Whites holding on to their lead to secure their 10th continental title.