AAP: NEW Zealand, New Caledonia, Fiji and Tahiti have progressed in Oceania’s FIFA World Cup race, with the region guaranteed a 2026 place for the first time.
Tahiti have won through to the final four in qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, denying fellow Oceania underdogs Vanuatu a shot at glory.
The main island of French Polynesia – the overseas collectivity of France – defeated Vanuatu 2-0 in Auckland on Monday in a crunch qualifier.
Benoit Mathon made sure of of progression with a second-half penalty after Jonathon Spokeyjack’s earlier own goal.
The loss ends the World Cup dream for defender Brian Kaltak, the Central Coast title-winner and highest-profile Pacific player in the A-Leagues.
Tahiti, the tiny island of just 190,000 people, would be the smallest to ever qualify to a World Cup – and they are just two wins away from doing so.
Changes to qualification because of the 2026 tournament’s expansion to 48 teams means one Oceania (OFC) member will qualify directly for the first time.
The red-hot favourite to do so is New Zealand, who have already locked up progression and will play Fiji in a semi-final next March in Wellington.
Tahiti’s prize for winning through to the last four is a date with fellow French outpost New Caledonia, who topped Group A ahead of Fiji.
The winners of those two semi-finals will meet at Auckland’s Eden Park in a single-match shoot-out to get to the 2026 tournament.
The loser of the final could also still qualify for the USA-Canada-Mexico hosted event, joining a six-nation inter-confederation play-off.
