2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – OFC first round
The first round of OFC matches for 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification (and 2016 OFC Nations Cup qualification) was played from 31 August to 4 September 2015 in Tonga.[1][2]
Format
[edit]In this round, four teams, as determined by the OFC in March 2014,[3] played a single round-robin tournament held in a single country which was later decided to be in Tonga.[1] All matches were held at the Loto-Tonga Soka Centre in Nuku'alofa.
Samoa, the winner, advanced to the 2016 OFC Nations Cup, held from 28 May – 12 June 2016, to join the other seven teams which received a bye into the group stage. The winner of the OFC Nations Cup, New Zealand, represented the OFC at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. Moreover, the OFC Nations Cup served as the second round of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, with the top six teams advancing to the third round of FIFA World Cup qualifying.[4]
Participating teams
[edit]In April 2014 the OFC announced its executive's decision on the teams to compete in the tournament. The four lowest ranked teams (based on FIFA World Ranking and sporting reasons) among the 11 OFC entrants entered the first round:[3]
Note: Bolded team qualified for the 2016 OFC Nations Cup.
Team | FIFA ranking at start of event[5] |
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200 |
![]() |
206 |
![]() |
197 |
![]() |
198 |
Venue
[edit]All matches were held at the Loto-Tonga Soka Centre in Nuku'alofa
Loto-Tonga Soka Centre |
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21°8′S 175°12′W / 21.133°S 175.200°W |
Capacity: 1,500 |
Standings
[edit]2018 FIFA World Cup qualification tiebreakers |
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In league format, the ranking of teams in each group was based on the following criteria (regulations Articles 20.6 and 20.7):[6]
|
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ![]() |
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 6 | Advance to 2016 OFC Nations Cup/second round | — | 3–2 | — | — | |
2 | ![]() |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 6 | — | — | 2–0 | 2–1 | ||
3 | ![]() |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 6 | 1–0 | — | — | 3–0 | ||
4 | ![]() |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | −7 | 0 | 0–3 | — | — | — |
Matches
[edit]The match schedule was revealed on 30 July 2015, following a draw held at OFC Headquarters in Auckland, New Zealand.[7] All times are local, UTC+13.
Cook Islands ![]() | 3–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
|
Report (FIFA) Report (OFC) |
Samoa ![]() | 3–2 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
|
Report (FIFA) Report (OFC) |
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Goalscorers
[edit]There were 17 goals scored in 6 matches, for an average of 2.83 goals per match.
4 goals
2 goals
Demetrius Beauchamp
Justin Manao
Johnny Hall
Andrew Mobberley
1 goal
Ryan Aloali'i Mitchell
Ramin Ott
Desmond Fa'aiuaso
Faitalia Hamilton-Pama
Sione Uhatahi
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Preliminary Draw procedures outlined". FIFA.com. 9 July 2015. Archived from the original on July 12, 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
- ^ "Draw Procedures – Oceanian Zone" (PDF). FIFA.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 24, 2015.
- ^ a b "OFC Executive Committee decisions". OFC. Archived from the original on 13 September 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
- ^ "Preliminary competition format outlined". Oceania Football Confederation. 10 July 2015. Archived from the original on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
- ^ "FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking – August 2015 (CAF)". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 6 August 2015. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
- ^ "Regulations – 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia" (PDF). FIFA.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2016.
- ^ "Stage 1 draw revealed". OFC. 30 July 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-07-30.
- ^ "Kick-off changes for MD3". Oceania Football Confederation. 3 September 2015. Archived from the original on 14 September 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
External links
[edit]- Official FIFA World Cup website
- Qualifiers – Oceania: Round 1, FIFA.com
- Stage 1 Qualifiers, oceaniafootball.com