2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC)

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.

First round

Main article: Football at the 2007 South Pacific Games – Men's tournament

The 2007 South Pacific Games held the first round. The draw was held on 12 June 2007 in Auckland, New Zealand. 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

Group B

Knockout stage

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

Second round

Main article: 2008 OFC Nations Cup

New Zealand qualified for the play-off against the AFC playoff winner, as well as the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa.

Inter-confederation play-offs

Main article: 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC–OFC play-off)

The Oceania champion (New Zealand) played the AFC playoff winner, Bahrain, in a two-legged play-off; New Zealand beat Bahrain to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

The draw for the order in which the two matches would be played was held on 2 June 2009 during the FIFA Congress in Nassau, the Bahamas.

Qualified teams

The following team from OFC qualified for the final tournament.

:1 Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.

Top goalscorers

• Osea Vakatalesau

• Seule Soromon

• Shane Smeltz

• Commins Menapi

• Roy Krishna

• François Sakama

• Michel Hmaé

• Iamel Kabeu

• Etienne Mermer

• Pierre Wajoka

• Henry Fa'arodo

• Benjamin Totori

• Pita Baleitoga

• Pita Rabo

• David Mulligan

Below are full goalscorer lists for each round:

• First round
• Second round

References

References

1. [https://web.archive.org/web/20071122202012/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=642011.html#a+new+dawn+oceania FIFA.com - A 'new' dawn in Oceania]
2. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080906190138/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=872581.html#double+delight+new+zealand FIFA.com - Double delight for New Zealand]
3. link. (2009-06-14)