Vanuatu fotball fans showing their support for Vanuatu at Port Vila Stadium. (file image) Photo: OFC via Phototek
Vanuatu will not host any Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) matches next year.
Vanuatu Daily Post reports the lack of facilities not meeting FIFA standards has worked against Vanuatu Football Federation.
FIFA criteria set for professional-level infrastructure means stadiums must meet strict requirements for the field of play, spectator facilities, safety zones, and media amenities.
OFC matches and events schedule for 2026 include games in New Zealand, Fiji, Cook Islands, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Tahiti and Tonga.
New Zealand have three tournaments, including the first-ever OFC Pro League.
OFC revealed that the OFC Women's Champions League will feature 10 of the 11 OFC member associations, signalling a major milestone for women's football in Oceania.
It kicks off with the qualifying tournament in the Cook Islands, while the championship will return to the Solomon Islands, which last hosted the event in 2024.
On the men's side, Fiji will host the OFC Men's Champions League, while the OFC Beach Soccer Nations Cup returns to Tahiti, the powerhouse nation that has appeared in two FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup finals.
Across the age-grade pathway, tournaments will be spread throughout the Pacific.
OFC said that shows the commitment to accessibility and regional development.
Cook Islands and Tonga will host key qualification events, while Papua New Guinea (Men's) and the Solomon Islands (Women's) will host the OFC Under-16 Championships.
Samoa, which opens the year with the OFC Men's Champions League - Qualifying in late January, will also host the OFC Under-19 Men's Championship in September.
A first for the region will be the Boys and Girls Under-15 Development Tournament, which will be held in the same year, in partnership with UEFA Together.
The Girls' Tournament will take place in Fiji in May, followed by the Boys' Tournament in New Zealand in October, giving young talent across Oceania unprecedented exposure and development opportunities.
Here's the 2026 OFC tournament calendar:
- OFC Men's Champions League - Qualifying - 31 January - 6 February, Samoa
- FIFA Women's World Cup™ 2027 - Oceania Qualifiers Round Two - 24 February - 7 March, Fiji and Solomon Islands
- OFC U-16 Men's Championship - Qualifying - 25 - 31 March, Tonga
- FIFA Women's World Cup™ 2027 - Oceania Qualifiers Round Three - 12 - 15 April, New Zealand
- OFC U-16 Women's Championship - Qualifying - 18 - 24 April, Papua New Guinea
- OFC Women's Champions League - Qualifying - 20 - 26 April, Cook Islands
- OFC U-15 Girls' Youth Development Tournament - 4 - 12 May, Fiji
- OFC U-19 Men's Championship - Qualifying - 6 - 12 June, Cook Islands
- OFC Women's Champions League - 27 June - 10 July, Solomon Islands
- OFC U-16 Men's Championship - 12 - 25 July, Papua New Guinea
- OFC Men's Champions League - 9 - 22 August, Fiji
- OFC U-19 Men's Championship - 1 - 14 September, Samoa
- OFC U-16 Women's Championship - 6 - 19 September, Solomon Islands
- OFC U-15 Boys' Youth Development Tournament - 1 - 9 October, New Zealand
- OFC Beach Soccer Men's Nations Cup - 22 - 31 October, Tahiti
