CommBank Joeys Head Coach Carl Veart named his 24-player squad to represent Australia against the U-19 national teams of Fiji and Solomon Islands in a three-match international series supported by the Australian Government through PacificAus Sports.
The Solomon Islands and American Samoa (+ an as yet unnamed womens team) will be part of the expanded FIFA Series for the upcoming international window.
Mens 🇧🇬 🇮🇩 🇸🇧 🇰🇳 in Indonesia 🇦🇸 🇬🇺 🇵🇷 🇻🇮 in Puerto Rico
Womens 🇨🇩 🇳🇵 🇹🇭 ? in Thailand
💥FIFA announces line-up for expanded FIFA Series 2026™
⚽️Forty-eight national teams from all six FIFA confederations set to compete, representing almost a quarter of global football community ⚽️Eleven FIFA Member Associations to host 12 groups engaging both men’s and women’s… pic.twitter.com/PTiwPRn7qN
Following the announcement of the expanded format in November 2025, the FIFA Series 2026 will feature 48 national teams competing in 12 groups of four teams each during the international match window in March and April. With 48 participating teams, representing almost 25% of FIFA’s 211 Member Associations, nearly a quarter of the global football community will take part in the FIFA Series.
The confirmed hosts for the men’s groups are Australia, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Rwanda and Uzbekistan. The women’s contests will take place in Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire and Thailand.
From OFC, New Zealand will host Finland, Chile and Cape Verde.
The Solomon Islands will compete in a group with Bulgaria, St Kitts and Nevis and hosts Indonesia.
American Samoa will play in a group with hosts Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands and fellow Pacific nation Guam.
One unnamed OFC women’s team will be competing in a group with hosts Thailand, Nepal and Congo DR.
Nice to see NZF doing a bit to help the other OFC countries.
Wright is a Kiwi and maybe an up & coming NZ coach to watch. Though he may be more always a DOF type guy than a head coach??
He worked for Fulham and Brentford in the UK, plus coached the U-20s at Melbourne Victory. As well as his role at OFC, he's also director of coaching at Birkenhead United, and head coach of the Westlake Boys first team.
As New Zealand Football ramps up preparations for the FIFA World Cup™ 2026, OFC has supported the All Whites campaign with the secondment of OFC High Performance Consultant Dave Wright for the past three international camps to both assist and learn from the programme.
With a view to supporting other OFC Member Associations (MAs) in the region to prepare for a FIFA World Cup™, Wright was seconded into the All Whites environment in a Technical Support role travelling to Australia, Europe, and the USA.
OFC High Performance Consultant Dave Wright said:
“The chance to integrate and support the All Whites technical team and wider staff has been a great learning opportunity. The knowledge I’ve gained on how the All Whites campaign plan is being brought to life and how the staff are preparing the team for the tournament has been incredibly valuable.
“I’m looking forward to sharing insights with member associations in the region as they continue to develop their National Academy and National Teams programmes.”
Throughout the secondment, Wright – an OFC Pro Licensed coach – supported in a variety of roles on and off pitch, including supporting training sessions, match preparation and the consistent review of systems linked to the All Whites internal learning processes.
Photo Credit: NZF Media
All Whites Assistant Coach Tony Readings said:
“It has been really valuable to have Dave join the programme over the past few months to both support and contribute to our preparations, as well as have oversight on what we have been doing to hopefully assist other OFC nations.
“Continuing to develop the game in Oceania is really important, so when opportunities like this are available, we are really keen to share knowledge as well as learn ourselves.
“Thanks to Dave for all his work over the past few months and we look forward to continue to work closely with OFC going forward.”
Through this collaboration, New Zealand Football has continued to make clear its desire to enhance competitiveness in the region.
In addition to Wright’s secondment, the All Whites welcomed New Caledonia Head Coach, Johan Sidaner into camp for the September match against Australia in Auckland, and supported with a recent study visit of Tahitian coaches to New Zealand.
The New Caledonian domestic league remains suspended due to civil unrest. A massive handicap as they prepare to face Jamaica in Mexico.
Really NC did amazingly well in OFC qualifying, incl giving the AWs a fright at Eden Park - given the problems they have at home.
See that Germain Haewegene is playing with Tahiti United in the OFC Pro League.
Good luck to them in Mexico. Hopefully FIFA helps secure them some warmup games leading in to at least give themselves some decent prep, and a fair shot at upsetting the Reggae Boyz.
Les Cagous stars Mathelon, Ranchain and Haewegene speak to FIFA as the Play-Off Tournament draws ever nearer.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Play-off Tournament will take place from 26–31 March in Mexico
New Caledonia are aiming to secure one of the remaining spots in the global finals
Jamaica and DR Congo stand between Les Cagous and a first World Cup appearance
In just a matter of weeks, New Caledonian football could experience one of its greatest ever moments. Johann Sidaner’s men stand only two matches away from a historic qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026™. To qualify, they must first defeat Jamaica and then DR Congo at the FIFA Play-off Tournament, staged in Mexico from 26 to 31 March. It will be a tough ask for the New Caledonia side. They will need to overcome two nations that are firmly established on the international stage, while their own squad is composed largely of amateur players.
To understand how the team are preparing for this decisive test, FIFA spoke with three internationals whose paths reflect the diversity within the squad: Morgan Mathelon, Fonzy Ranchain and Germain Haewegene. Despite being scattered across different islands and continents, and facing various challenges – from a suspended domestic league to playing in mainland France and the newly formed OFC Pro League – they are all united by one common goal.
Having never previously left his home island, Haewegene took a major step in January by signing his first professional contract with Tahiti United in the newly launched OFC Pro League. Since the competition’s inaugural season kicked off in 2026, the forward has embraced the challenge. “The level is high, especially with Auckland FC. We played them and lost 4-0, but we knew the defeat came from our own individual mistakes and we learned a lot," he said.
Back on “Le Caillou”, as New Caledonia is affectionately known, the situation has been very different. “We haven’t had an official match on the island since September as the league was suspended following nationwide events (large-scale riots took place in 2024, plunging the country into crisis),” explained Mathelon, who plays for AS Tiga Sports while also working as a physical education teacher. Although friendly matches have been organised between clubs, the players are feeling the impact of the lack of regular competition. “For the past few weeks, I’ve been thinking about the play-offs every day. We know why we train, but it’s not easy without competition and without seeing the boys regularly.”
Ranchain chose another route to pursue his football, moving to mainland France to join USSA Vertou in the fifth tier of French football in order to improve his game ahead of March’s decisive fixtures. “I had to adapt to the climate, but I was welcomed very well. Playing here allows me to regularly compete at a high level, and I hope I can bring that experience back to the group.”
The squad’s focus is now firmly fixed on the next obstacle between them and the World Cup: Jamaica. A side accustomed to international competition and boasting players from a number of competitive professional leagues, the Reggae Boyz present a daunting test.
“On paper, they’re superior to us,” admitted Mathelon. “We’ll have to be extremely well organised when we don’t have the ball and work hard for each other. And when we do have the ball, we need to play our football without putting pressure on ourselves.” The experienced midfielder knows that in matches of this magnitude, a small amount of luck can go a long way in helping the underdogs to come out on top.
Haewegene has already begun his tactical preparations for the play-offs, watching several Jamaica matches at the request of the coaching staff. “They’re a great team, very solid and compact. We’ll need patience, especially as attackers. Our chances will be limited.” The assessment is realistic, but not defeatist. “If we want to create something special, we’ll have to give everything we have.”
Ranchain shares that pragmatic approach. “They’re very physical and very fast,” the defender noted, while stressing the importance of focusing on their own preparation. “We’re working more on ourselves than on the opponent. We want to be mentally and physically ready, no matter who we face.”
Should New Caledonia overcome Jamaica, DR Congo would await – and beyond that, bigger matches beckon. As the tournament draws closer, the dream feels all the more within reach. Mathelon shared his excitement at the prospect of facing players who compete at the highest levels in Europe. “I don’t know all their names, but I’ve seen that some Congolese players are in Serie A. It’s incredible to think we might face players we usually watch on TV.”
Ranchain also allows himself to think ahead. “If we qualify, we’d be in Portugal’s group. It would be incredible to see those great players. Cristiano Ronaldo… he’s older now, but he’s still there! There are so many top players in that team. But first, we have to get through the play-offs before we can dream bigger.”
In the coming weeks, the squad are expected to reunite in Guadalajara for the final stretch of preparation. But even while they are apart, their bond has never wavered. Across time zones and continents, daily messages, videos and words of encouragement on their WhatsApp group keep the spirit alive. “We’re not just team-mates,” Ranchain said. “We’ve known each other for a long time. We’re like a family.”
Les Cagous will not travel to North America as tourists. They go with ambition, and the hope of returning in June to represent their island, their communities and their families at the FIFA World Cup™ itself, and to write a chapter that, only a few years ago, few would have dared to dream about.
A new era begins for the American Samoa men’s national team this week when they make history by competing in an international match outside of the OFC region for the first time, with a new manager at the helm.
36-year-old Spaniard Diego Gomez has joined as the nation’s new head coach for their history-making FIFA Series campaign in Puerto Rico – one of a series of mini-tournaments being played around the world, created by FIFA to bring national teams from all six confederations together for international matches.
American Samoa will play the US Virgin Islands first, before either hosts Puerto Rico, or Guam, in the knockout-style tournament being played in Bayamón.
Four Oceania national teams — including New Zealand’s All Whites — will face testing matches during the first international window of 2026.
New Caledonia, American Samoa, Solomon Islands and the All Whites will all play national squads from outside of Oceania, providing them with the chance to move up the FIFA men’s world rankings.
After two months of the new OFC Pro League, the chance to play full internationals provides Oceania’s players and fans with more high-profile action.
Much attention will be on New Caledonia’s participation in the inter-confederation play-offs in Mexico, with places in the FIFA Men’s World Cup on the line for them and the other five teams involved.
Meanwhile, New Zealand football supporters will have the chance to see the All Whites for two home games at Eden Park, where they’ll take on Finland and Chile as part of the FIFA Series, with both opponents also facing Cape Verde Islands at the same ground.
American Samoa and the Solomon Islands are the other OFC members facing unfamiliar opposition and enjoying new opportunities in the FIFA Series, with American Samoa set to face two other US territories in Puerto Rico, while Solomon Islands head to Indonesia.
FIFA have announced that the March window will be the first in which results will change world rankings in real-time.
Very credible performance from New Caledonia, and quite a good watch for the neutral. I was quite impressed with their play overall, they defended stoutly and did even manage to look threatening on attack as well. That Angelo Fulgini is a magnificent pick up for them too - Absolute quality. Hopefully he continues to turn out for them going forward and this isn't just a one and done type situation.
Jamaica the better team overall, but that was what I wanted to see - A battle.
Safe travels back home for the New Caledonia squad.
20260327_163715.jpg4.14 MB I have a really big sense of annoyance at this opportunity here too. A huge chance squandered.
Gope-Fenepej wins the ball off the Jamaican defender and is clean through on goal at this point...
From here he doesn't leg it towards the 18 yard box and attempt to get into a better position for a higher percentage effort on goal. Instead he goes and tries to lob a pretty well placed keeper from 40 yards. Easily saved.
If that were a Phoenix or NZ player in that position, and they ended up doing that I'd want them shot!
Yeah I remember thinking the same thing, but then remembered Gope-Fenepej is 37 years young, and likely didn't back his legs to get close to goal before being shut down. Maybe he thought the opposition were eleven Usain Bolts.
The long range keeper lob was really NC's go to, goal scoring threat this game. They tried it at least 3 times, and all close enough to not discourage them from trying again. But Jamaica's keeper Andre Blake is no slouch with over 290 games in the MLS.
NC were always going to need some sort of against the odds moment to score. The Reggae Boyz were bringing EPL guys like Bailey off the pine.
coochiee wrote: Yeah I remember thinking the same thing, but then remembered Gope-Fenepej is 37 years young, and likely didn't back his legs to get close to goal before being shut down. Maybe he thought the opposition were eleven Usain Bolts.
The long range keeper lob was really NC's go to, goal scoring threat this game. They tried it at least 3 times, and all close enough to not discourage them from trying again. But Jamaica's keeper Andre Blake is no slouch with over 290 games in the MLS.
NC were always going to need some sort of against the odds moment to score. The Reggae Boyz were bringing EPL guys like Bailey off the pine.
He had the legs to snipe in and steal that ball from their CB though.
Really needed to do better there. Was a huge moment, bigger than what was made of it anyway. More likely a lack of composure than a lack of legs methinks.
Didn't help that he spurred another chance in the 2nd half when Fulgini whipped in a ball from the right, cut out all the defenders, and a lack of control sees it hit him and bobble out for a goalkick.
Solomons got spanked 10-2 by Bulgaria in their first FIFA Series match!! No Bozhidar Kraev for Bulgaria, but looks like his younger brother started.
Lea'ai with both SI's goals. They should do better in their 2nd game verus Saint Kitts and Nevis. Series is in Indonesia. Jon Herdman is the Indonesian coach, they beat Saint Kitts and Nevis 4-0.
The Solomon Islands first match against European opposition has also ended in defeat, losing 10-2 to Bulgaria in their FIFA Series™ match at the Galora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Two goals from Raphael Lea’i were bright moments on an otherwise chastening night, as new head coach Ben Cahn marked the start of his tenure in charge of the national team with a heavy defeat.
The Solomon Islands struggled to stem the flow of goals throughout, leaking five in either half – Vladimir Nikolov highlighting the scoring for Bulgaria with a hat-trick. Marin Petkov and Filip Krastev were the others to score more than once for Bulgaria, both grabbing a brace.
After conceding twice inside the first 13 minutes, Raphael Lea’i scored the first of his two goals for the Solomon Islands in the 29th minute from the penalty spot – halving the deficit and briefly giving the Melanesian side some hope.
Lea’i’s second goal in the 70th minute was arguably one of the best of the night – blasting a long range effort into the left-hand side of the net from outside the box to take his international goal-scoring tally to 14.
Petkov and Krastev both completed their doubles before the half-time break though, before Nikolov got in on the act with a hat-trick in the second half as Bulgaria cruised to their biggest win since 1968.
Whilst it isn’t a result they’ll look back fondly on, the contest provided invaluable experience for the Solomon Islands against European opposition.
They’ll return to action for their second FIFA Series match against St Kitts & Nevis at the same stadium on Monday night.
