Round 2 of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ Oceania Qualifiers kicks-off in Fiji and the Solomon Islands this week, with four places in the final round on offer for eight proud nations.
Govind Park in Ba, Fiji will host Group B of Round Two, where four Melanesian sides will face off over three match-days, with the winner and runner-up advancing to the final Round in New Zealand in April. Hosts Fiji are joined in Group B by Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia and Vanuatu.
Fiji
Fiji enter the tournament with useful experience from their 2025 international fixtures, finishing runners-up in the MSG Cup, and recording a fourth-placed finish at the OFC Women’s Nations Cup.
Nicola Demaine comes in as their new head coach and has already taken charge of her first international with the Kulas, beating American Samoa 2-1 in preparation for the qualifying campaign.
“We’ve had a month to prepare and we’ve done everything we can to be ready,” says Demaine. “We looked at where we were at and what we needed to do in the four weeks we’ve had”
“I’m really happy with the progress we’ve made so far. We’ve had a short time to get things going, but we’re developing our culture and how we want to be.”
Demaine championed the opportunity for young female footballers across the region, taking inspiration from athletes competing in the tournament.
“If any of the Pacific Island teams qualify for the World Cup, I think every girl in every country in the Pacific would be motivated by that, so I think it’s a really big opportunity for us.”
New Caledonia
New Caledonia return to the women’s international football stage for the first time since competing at the Pacific Games in 2023.
With the U-19 New Caledonian women’s team qualifying for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup™ for the first time ever, senior head coach Chrystelle Wahnawe is confident that competing in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ qualifying campaign is another step in the right direction.
“This tournament represents a major step in the development of our team and women’s football in our country,” says Wahnawe.”Qualifying for the next round would be recognition of the work accomplished and a strong signal for the progress of our programme.”
“Beyond the sporting result, it is an opportunity to gain international experience, expose our players to a higher level of demands, and continue structuring our project towards qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™.”
“We approach this campaign with ambition, but also humility, knowing that each match is a step in our development.”
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea enter the tournament with momentum following their MSG Prime Minister’s Cup success in 2025 and second place finish at the OFC Women’s Nations Cup.
Head Coach Ericson Komeng leads the PNG Lakatois in their campaign in Fiji, as they look to progress to the next stage of the qualifying tournament.
“Preparations have been good, we’re in a tough pool and we’re looking forward to the tournament,” says Komeng. “The best thing is that all the players are healthy.”
With three other Melanesian sides competing for a place in the next round, Komeng said capturing their maiden MSG Cup title last year has given them momentum heading into the start of their World Cup qualifying campaign.
Papua New Guinea lost in an intercontinental play-off to Panama during their previous qualifying campaign for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™, marking the closest they’ve come to reaching the global finals.
“If we can qualify, it would mean a lot for our FA and a lot for our young girls and women to be motivated to play back home. We can show the world that Oceanian countries can play football, and if we can qualify it will show our qualities across the Pacific.”
Vanuatu
Vanuatu enter the fold having finished fifth at last year’s OFC Women’s Nations Cup and third place in the MSG Prime Ministers Cup.
“For me there’s one goal, and that’s to be in the third stage, says coach Jean Robert Yelou. “So for us the first game is very important for all of us.”
“We had a third place finish at the MSG Cup last year, and it’s given us a strong motivation. They believe they can be there, and we can push the team to go harder towards the next stage.
With the prospect of gaining a FIFA World Cup™ place on the line, Yelou said it would reinforce that “anything is possible”.
“This is everything, especially for the future of women’s football back home. If we can make it to the next stage and push more of our younger players to give them confidence to say that “yes we can do it.” Anything is possible.”