Port Moresby to stage U16 OFC Women’s Qualifiers

The 2026 Under-16 OFC Women’s Qualifiers will kick off today (April 18th), with Papua New Guinea, American Samoa, and the Cook Islands battling for a spot in the tournament's final, slated from 6-19 September in Honiara, Solomon Islands. 

The qualifying stage will run from April 18th to 24th in Port Moresby. The three countries will compete in a round-robin format, with each team playing each other once. The winner will advance to the final.

Papua New Guinea coach Susan Steven emphasised both preparation and the advantage of playing on home soil, using the occasion as motivation to impress.  

“The preparation is going well. The girls are ready and looking forward to this tournament,” Steven said.

“Playing at home is definitely an advantage for us. Our families and all of Papua New Guinea will be supporting the team.”

Steven added: “We just need discipline, teamwork, the right mindset, and consistency. We have to work together to move forward to the next stage. 

“Please come and support the team. There’s no entry fee, so we want everyone to be there with us.”

The Cook Islands coach, Tuka Tisam, expressed confidence in his team's preparation to compete on foreign soil. 

“The preparation has been good. The girls are coming together really well. We’ve got some players from New Zealand, and we’re jamming with the girls right now,” he said. 

With many players returning from last year’s campaign, Tisam believes his squad has matured significantly and is better equipped for the challenge ahead.

“They are at the right age now and are more mature. A lot of them learned from the last tournament, and they’re ready for this one,” he said. 

“It’ll be huge for the girls. Some of them played the last one and didn’t make it through. This is their chance to go to the next round."

American Samoa arrived early to get acclimatized, with coach Diane Justus noting the importance of adjusting to local conditions as part of their preparation.

“For us, preparation has been good. We got here earlier and adjusted to the environment. It’s not the same as back home, but the girls are adapting well,” she said.

“The weather is unpredictable. Sometimes, we expect humidity, but it’s cool instead. But overall, the team is settling in well.”

American Samoa previously qualified in the championship qualifiers and is aiming to build on that success.

“We see the importance of winning this stage to get to the next one. We are coming here with that same intention again,” she said. 

Each team brings a blend of experience, youth, determination, and ambition into the qualifiers, setting the stage for a competitive tournament in the nation’s capital.

As the action approaches, all 3 teams remain focused and hungry, setting their sights on securing the last spot and advancing to the tournament final in September.