Three OFC nations will compete at a FIFA event for the first time, when New Zealand, Fiji, and New Caledonia play at the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025™ in Qatar.
The tournament runs until the 27th of November and is also the first of five consecutive FIFA U-17 World Cup’s™ to be hosted in Qatar over the next five years. With the tournament’s expansion to 48 teams, OFC will be repressented by three teams – the highest it’s been for a FIFA event.
Fiji will be making history by competing in their first FIFA U-17 World Cup™, and have been drawn alongside heavyweights Argentina, Belgium, and Tunisia.
“We are very humbled and excited to be part of the FIFA U-17 World Cup™ for the first time, and very thankful for this opportunity,” said Head Coach Sunil Kumar.
“We are preparing well and are aware of the tough challenge we will face. We are grateful for the opportunity to face top teams at the World Cup, as it will expose our local boys to top quality games.”
The Junior Bula Boys open their campaign against Tunisia and will also play at FIFA U-17 World Cup 2026™ next year, after finishing third at the 2025 edition of the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship in the Solomon Islands.
“We have settled in well in Qatar, we’ve had a two-week training camp in Saudi Arabia and it helped us to adjust to the conditions,” said Kumar.
They’ll be attempting to become just the second Fijian team to pick up points at a FIFA event, following in the footsteps of the U-20 side who beat Honduras at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup™ in New Zealand.
New Zealand arrives at their 11th FIFA U-17 World Cup™ as continental champions after claiming their ninth consecutive OFC U-16 Men’s Championship title last year.
“We feel we have a strong squad with many more players now coming from professional club environments,” said coach Martin Bullock.
The Junior All Whites start their campaign against Mali and have also been grouped alongside Saudi Arabia and Austria.
Not since 2015 have New Zealand managed to progress past the group stage, but hopes are high with the current squad at Bullock’s disposal.
“We have at least 3 top quality international games and will give everything to get out of the group and play more than that.
“As well as setting some goals on and off the pitch, this tournament is a major step on everyone’s journey in trying to become an All White.”
Meanwhile, New Caledonia are becoming regulars at this level, competing in their third FIFA U-17 World Cup™. They start against Portugal and have also been drawn alongside Japan and Morocco in another tough group.
Notably, New Caledonia picked up their first point at a FIFA U-17 World Cup™ with a 1-1 draw against Japan in 2017 and will have the chance to repeat that feat when they square off again in Doha on November the 6th.
“It’s a great source of pride for our players to represent their family, their clan, their tribe, their chieftaincy and, of course, New Caledonia. We want to do everything possible to show a good image of our country,” says coach Leonardo Lopez.
“I’ve told my players that this is their adventure, and asked them to take ownership of this moment. We can’t wait, but we know that the level we’re up against is very, very high.”
All games aside from the final are being played at the Aspire Zone in Doha, and football fans can watch all three OFC nations in action at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup™ LIVE and FREE on FIFA+.