Four of New Zealand’s FIFA World Cup 2026 rivals are prepared to start their succeeding campaigns with differing trials during their training. Two go into the FIFA 2026 Oceania contestants with newly-appointed trainers, while one team had to pull out of the OFC Men’s States Cup due to civil unrest in their republic. Round One of the OFC Football World Cup qualifying series was completed when Samoa won the four-team initial tournament to join seven more republics in Round Two.
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Round Two is split into two groups
Group A: Fiji, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea
Group B: Vanuatu, New Zealand, Tahiti, Samoa
New Caledonia
New Caledonia originated in Round Two of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Oceania finalists perhaps a little undercooked compared to their Group A enemies. Due to civil unrest in the republic, the team could not contribute to the OFC Men’s States Cup earlier this year in Fiji, logic their last competitive action was back at the Pacific Sports in Honiara in November 2023.
That did, however, prove to be an optimistic campaign. New Caledonia thrashed hosts Solomon Islands in the last on penalties to secure the gold medal, giving trainer Johann Sidaner some positivity to build upon as his side looks to hit the ground successively on game day three.
Two of their three Group A rivals were sides New Caledonia also confronted in qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and they’ll be observing a better consequence than two years ago when they misplaced all three games, the final lowest of their section in Qatar.
Sidaner Eyes Strong Start for New Caledonia
It’s been a positive tenancy for Sidaner since the Frenchman took guardianship in August 2022, with seven victories in 11 matches despite the frequent challenges they have faced. A lack of time composed for his team, however, has proven to be a prevention for the trainer.
“We had a hard time getting everyone together, he says. But roughly speaking, we have up to about 90% of the squad that we could have asked for who is present and who will be able to show up for the qualifiers.”
First up for New Caledonia is Papua New Guinea, with both edges panicky to make a positive jump with the restrictions for mistakes so minor.
“First, we will take the matches one by one, as we usually do to gauge ourselves. First, it is Papua New Guinea that is offered to us. It is already a match with stakes, since over three matches, we know that we do not have much room for error. This first match is important. Getting into the competition is really important and starting it well. We will also closely watch the match between Solomon Islands and Fiji after our fixture,” he said.
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea hopes an alteration of trainers will be the catalyst for an uplift in form fast of the FIFA World Cup 2026 contestants. Warren Moon left the post next to their OFC Men’s Nations Cup campaign, where a win, a draw, and a loss weren’t sufficient to see them advance to the semi-finals, lost out on goal difference to Tahiti.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Felipe Vega-Arango is today in custody and has a squad with no lack of worldwide knowledge at his disposal. As well as the OFC Men’s States Cup in June, Papua New Guinea also played in the Pacific Game in Honiara late last year, failing to make the semi-finals.
The newly-created FIFA 2026 Series was an added opportunity for global knowledge outside of the Oceania district of Papua New Guinea. A credible 0-0 draw with Sr Lanka was trailed by a 4-0 defeat to Central African State, both fixtures being occupied in Colombo.
Vega-Arango trained Solomon Islands and notwithstanding being drawn to face them in the group stage, he isn’t letting his focus shift from their first competition in contradiction of New Caledonia in Suva.
“I am not even thinking about them right now. We have a really difficult match with New Caledonia, in which they are the favorites for the match, Vega-Arango says. So the only thing that I have in my mind right now is to have a team ready to compete against New Caledonia. The Solomon Islands game is too far away from me right now.”
PNG Gears Up for Tough FIFA 2026 Qualifiers
Papua New Guinea was unfulfilled not to advance past the group stage in the OFC Men’s Nations Cup earlier this year in Fiji and the trainer is aware his side has a tough test ahead if they are to progress to the semi-finals. The three squads, Solomon Islands, Fiji, and New Caledonia, recently have been doing much better than us, so I’ve been annoyed to pass that message to the boys that we have to be diffident and we are working to have to compete very hard.
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After the opening sports in Fiji, the Group B schedule changes to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, with the trainer hoping home advantage will deliver his side with a boost in their bid to succeed for a first-ever FIFA World Cup 2026.
“Let’s be honest, in football, playing in the home ground is always, I believe, an advantage and it’s always positive, so I am happy but I am thinking a lot more about the New Caledonia game. That’s the only thing that I have in my mind at the moment, said by Vega-Arango”
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands resulting within 90 minutes of proceeding to the OFC-CONCACAF game for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will hunger to go one better this while. After beating Tahiti in the group period, they overwhelmed Papua New Guinea in an epic semi-final before eventually succumbing to New Zealand in the conclusion.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Much has changed since 2022 and a new trainer and fresh group of players will look to make an optimistic impact when Group A action gets happening in Suva this week. Australian Josh Smith is responsible for Solomon Islands and he’s tasked with purifying upon an unsatisfactory presentation in the OFC Men’s States Cup this year, when they lost both group stage games en route to a first-round removal.
It won’t be easy with their first group stage match seeing them face Fiji in Suva, with what will no hesitation be a fervent home crowd in attendance. Navigate that test unscathed and fixtures against New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea in November will choose their fate. Maarten Paes Embracing Indonesian Roots and FIFA World Cup 2026 Dream
Their fixture in contradiction of New Caledonia on November 14 is one to watch. As well as presence key in defining the outcome of Group A, it’s also a replay of the gold award final at last year’s Pacific Game in Honiara, where the Solomon Islands lost on penalties to New Caledonia in distressing fashion.
Smith Focuses on Long-Term Goals for the Solomon Islands
Smith hasn’t been in the hot chair long, so has had little time to regulate to the new role as he begins arrangements for a pivotal few weeks.
“I’ve been in the Solomon Islands for two weeks now. This is our second full week together, but it’s been challenging due to a lot of local games that need to still be played and catch-up matches midweek. You know, this is part of the challenge of being a national team coach. So pretty interrupted, but, you know, we’ll do the best that we possibly can to prepare the boys and make sure they’re ready for the 10th of October,” Smith said.
FIFA World Cup 2026: With just under a month amid the first match in Suva and the additional and third fixtures in Papua New Guinea in November, Smith is possession an eye on what’s to come after his side expresses the challenge of Fiji.
“Look, to be honest, I think if I was to come in here and say that I’m only focused on this first game against Fiji, I wouldn’t be telling you the truth,” Smith said. My idea for this whole project is to create better players and better pathways for players that join Australian leagues and New Zealand leagues. For me, this is the piece of the puzzle that’s missing in the development of long-term success for the Solomon Islands. Yes, the first game is super important but I’m excited about having three weeks with the team after that when we come back uninterrupted before we go to play against Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia.”
Fiji
Fiji aims to make the greatest of home benefit on match day three when succeeding in the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Suva. Trainer Rob Sherman’s squad is sure to be supported by a noisy and fervent home crowd at HFC Bank Arena, with prospects high that they will be before the semi-final platform in NZ in primary 2025.
The increase from 32 to 48 squads for the FIFA World Cup 2026 means that there is a greater chance than ever before for those states looking to make their debut on the biggest stage of the global football World Cup.
Fiji’s 2022 succeeding campaign was dissatisfaction, finishing third in their group in Qatar. An initial match conquest over New Caledonia gave Fiji confidence but following conquests to New Zealand and Papua New Guinea over their FIFA World Cup 2026 opinions initial.
Fiji’s OFC Men’s Nations Cup escapade this year was more productive and will hopefully be a basis upon which Rob Sherman can shape. Three wins from three saying they made the semi-final stage before a thin defeat to Vanuatu ended their run. They also unused out by the odd area in the play-off for 3rd place, going depressed 2-1 to Tahiti.
Fiji’s Sherman Prepares for World Cup Qualifiers
The trainer has been fortunate to recall much of the squad he functioned with in June, which he hopes will stand them in good stead for their initial match in Suva.
“We had a couple of friendlies in the September window, so you know, we’ve worked with the team consistently really throughout the year, Sherman said. In terms of building up to the qualifiers, things have gone pretty well, so I‘m reasonably happy with the progress we’ve made.”
With two of their collection rivals having recently changed trainers, there has been an added trial for Sherman and his cross as they work on what to imagine come kick-off.
“Well, this is an element of the unknown because Josh Smith and Felipe Vega-Arango are new there. So ultimately you know, how they’ve played in the past might not be the case moving forward. We’ll prepare for that. We’ll prepare for the what-ifs. We do our analysis, but the game’s passed when those coaches might not have been in place, so it’s a little bit of the unknown, but it is what it is, Sherman said”
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