OFC U-16 Men’s Championship kicks off tomorrow in Port Moresby

Port Moresby will come alive from 12-25 July 2026, when eight countries converge at the PNG Football Stadium and Sir Hubert Murray Stadium to compete for the OFC Under-16 Men’s Championship glory.

New Zealand defeated New Caledonia in the final last year, with both teams qualifying for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar. Fiji finished 3rd, and PNG secured the fourth spot. 

The defending champions (New Zealand) will look to retain their title, while PNG, Fiji, New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Vanuatu, and Samoa aim for the coveted trophy. 

Speaking during the press conference today (July 11th) at PNG Football Stadium Presidential Suite, the coaches of the 8 participating countries gave a brief rundown on their teams’ preparations. 

“As the host nation, we are really excited to stage the tournament in Port Moresby. Our preparations have been good, and we are looking forward to our first game,” PNG coach Mathias Apo said.

New Zealand coach Martin Bullock mentioned that this was the first time the entire playing group would set foot on PNG soil.

“Our preparations have been good. Most of the players have not been to PNG before, so it’s a great life experience for them,” he said.

As the reigning champions, coach Bullock revealed that they had fielded a strong side by selecting players from Australia, England, and New Zealand, and hopes to defend their title. 

The New Zealand mentor explained that they haven't found the weather too hot, saying it was a positive sign, and the players look forward to the kick-off.

The coaches of the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Tahiti, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, and Samoa expressed similar sentiments and look forward to the opening round. 

Kicking off the tournament tomorrow (July 12th), New Caledonia will take on Fiji at 4:00 PM, while PNG will host Samoa at 7:00 PM, with the double-header fixture to be held at PNG Football Stadium.

Created in 1983, the OFC U-16 Men's Championship will stage its 23rd edition in 2026. It is a biennial tournament, which is held every two years.

The tournament serves as the official Oceania qualifiers to decide which regional teams advance to the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Historically organized at the Under-17 level from 1983 to 2017, the competition shifted format to the Under-16 bracket for modern events.

The two pools are structured as follows:

Pool A

• Papua New Guinea

• New Caledonia 

• Fiji

• Samoa

Pool B

• New Zealand

• Solomon Islands

• Tahiti 

• Vanuatu (Qualifying Winner)