2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC)

The 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification for the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) will select one nation to compete in a two-legged home-and-away playoff against the fifth-place team from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for a spot in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. (Oceania is the only confederation that does not have an automatic place in the finals.) Its final round will also be the 2008 OFC Nations Cup. Consequently, the winner will also be considered the OFC Nations Cup champion, and will represent the OFC in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

This is the first OFC World Cup qualifying campaign since Australia's move from the OFC to the AFC.

Format

The first phase began at the 2007 Pacific Games in Samoa, with the football tournament doubling as an OFC World Cup qualifying competition. The gold, silver, and bronze medallists (New Caledonia, Fiji, and Vanuatu, respectively) advanced to the second phase.

The three medallists joined seeded side New Zealand in a home-and-away round-robin tournament on FIFA match dates in 2007 and 2008, also acting as the 2008 OFC Nations Cup.

There were some confusion as to how the final qualifier for the playoff against an AFC nation would be selected. The FIFA website initially indicated that the top two sides from the round robin would advance to a play-off which would determine the qualifier, but the OFC articles did not include this round (with the round-robin winner advancing automatically). Later FIFA articles confirmed that the round-robin winner would advance automatically. [ [http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=642011.html#a+new+dawn+oceania FIFA.com - A 'new' dawn in Oceania ] ] [ [http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=872581.html#double+delight+new+zealand FIFA.com - Double delight for New Zealand] ]

First Round

The 2007 South Pacific Games held the first round. The draw was held in June 2007. Tuvalu were not members of FIFA and so would have been unable to qualify for the World Cup had they proceeded to the OFC Nations Cup stage. It was not even clear whether Tuvalu would be eligible to advance that far had they finished in a medal position, as the OFC press release for the second stage draw stated that "nine eligible member associations battle it out for the gold, silver and bronze medals that will hand them a berth in a Stage Two round robin home and away playoff with New Zealand" - implying one nation (Tuvalu) would not be eligible. This question was rendered moot, however, as Tuvalu finished last in their table.

Papua New Guinea, having initially entered the 2010 World Cup and indicated their intention to enter the South Pacific Games, were involved in a dispute with their sporting authorities and failed to meet the official accreditation deadline for the South Pacific Games. This meant they were effectively disqualified from the World Cup.

Group stage

Group A

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* Tuvalu were not members of FIFA and so were not eligible to qualify for the World Cup.

Notes on the tie-breaking situation:
*Fiji and New Caledonia are ranked by their overall goal difference.

Group B

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Knockout stage

Round4-with third
tourneylogo=
| fb|SOL | | fb|NCL |
| fb|FIJ | | fb|VAN |
| fb|NCL | | fb|FIJ |
| fb|SOL | | fb|VAN |

The three medallists, New Caledonia, Fiji, and Vanuatu, advanced to the 2008 OFC Nations Cup (together with automatic qualifier New Zealand).

2008 OFC Nations Cup

tandings

New Zealand qualified for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa and the playoff with the AFC representative.

Play-off

The 1st place team, New Zealand, will then play the 5th Place team from the Asian qualifiers in a two-legged play-off; the winner of which will qualify for the 2010 World Cup. The matches are scheduled for 14 November 2009 and 21 November 2009. [cite news |url=http://the-afc.com/eng/articles/viewArticle.jsp_167051315.html |title= FWCQ: Fourth round draw on June 27 |work= AFC |accessdate= 2008-07-05]

The order that the two matches will be played is yet to be determined.

Goalscorers

As of 10 September 2008.

*"flagicon|New Zealand Shane Smeltz (New Zealand) with 8 goals is the current 2008 OFC Nations Cup Topscorer."

Key: — - Bye
X - Eliminated

;1 goal;fb|ASA
*Ramin Ott

;fb|COK
*Thomas La Mouton
*Kunda Tom

;fb|FIJ
*Joasaia Bukalidi
*Maciu Dunadamu
*Peni Finau
*Salesh Kumar
*Valerio Nawutu

;fb|NCL
*Patrick Diaike
*Ramon Djamali
*Ramon Gjamaci
*Jose Hmae
*Mael Kaudre
*Marius Mapou
*Yohann Mercier
*Poulidor Toto

;fb|NZL
*Jeremy Christie
*Ben Sigmund
*Ivan Vicelich

;fb|SAM
*Damien Fonoti
*Junior Michael
*Lionel Taylor

;fb|SOL
*Judd Molea
*Samson Takayama

;fb|TAH
*Temarii Tinorua
*Axel Williams

;fb|TGA
*Unalato Feao
*Lafeale Moala
*Malakai Savieti
*Kaisani Uhatahi

;fb|TUV
*Viliamu Sekifu

;fb|VAN
*Andrew Chichirua
*Maciu Dunadamu
*Derek Malas
*Victor Maleb
*Tom Tomake

;Own goal;fb|COK
*Stephen Willis (for Tuvalu)

References

* [http://www.oceaniafootball.com/index.cgi?det=1&intArticleID=2031&sID=12 OFC - OFC 2010 FIFA World Cup route via Asia]
* [http://www.oceaniafootball.com/index.cgi?det=1&intArticleID=2364&sID=12 OFC - Stage two World Cup draw announced]
* [http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/2010fwc-qualficationformat-oceania-v8-e%5f16466.pdf OFC - 2010 Qualification Format]