NEWS FLASH: Next Oceania qualifying for FIFA U-17 World Cup to be an u-16 event.
Decision at OFC Executive meeting last weekend:
• Agreed that the OFC qualifying format for future FIFA age group World Cups will be:
o Changed from U-17 and U-20 Championships to U-16 and U-19 Championships to allow successful teams at least one year to prepare for the World Cup.
o The new age-group format to begin for the OFC U-19 Men’s Championship from May 22 to 30, 2014.
How is this different to what already exists? Still be kids of the same ages competing against each other; ie 2014 U16 OFC is same age bracket (1998-1999) as 2015 U17 World Cup etc