The draws for the upcoming OFC U-19 Men’s Championship 2026 and its qualifying tournament have been officially announced at the OFC Home of Football – Te Kahu o Kiwa in Auckland. The main championship is set to take place in Samoa from September 1 to September 14, while the qualifying tournament will be hosted by the Cook Islands from June 6 to June 12.
Defending champions New Zealand have been placed in Group B of the OFC U-19 Men’s Championship 2026, competing alongside Tahiti, Fiji, and Vanuatu. Meanwhile, hosts Samoa will face off against the 2024 runners-up, New Caledonia, along with the Solomon Islands and the winner of the qualifying tournament in Group A.
The qualifying tournament will feature the Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga playing in a single-group format, where each team will compete against one another just once. The team that emerges victorious will earn the right to join Group A in the championship.
This edition of the OFC U-19 Men’s Championship marks its 25th anniversary since it was first introduced in 1974, reflecting the tournament’s long-standing tradition in youth football within the region. The upcoming events promise to offer exciting matches and showcase emerging talent from across the Pacific, maintaining the spirit of competition that has characterized the championship over the decades.
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