Tahiti tournament first step in New Zealand’s path to FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup

New Zealand are about to start their quest to qualify for next year’s FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup.

The national age group team are one of eight gathering in Tahiti for the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship in Tahiti which runs from July 28-August 10, 2024.

The winners, runners-up and third-placed team from the tournament will qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup to be played in Qatar.

It’s the first time three teams from OFC will qualify for a World Cup at any level.

There are two groups of four teams in Papeete with New Zealand, Vanuatu, Fiji and Cook Islands in Group A and New Caledonia, Samoa, Tahiti and Solomon Islands contesting Group B.

The Group A winners will meet the Group B runners-up, and the Group B winners will meet the Group A runners-up in the semi-finals.

While the two finalists can book their tickets to Qatar next year, the play-off for 3rd place will have an extra edge, with both teams knowing the winner of that match will also be on the flight to the World Cup.

Qualification for the FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup

The FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup will be expanded to 48 teams from 2025 and be held annually rather than biennially, as part of the governing body’s plan to provide more international competition for youth teams.

The next five editions of the competition, starting in 2025, will take place in Qatar.

READ MORE: New Zealand’s pathway to future FIFA U-17 World Cups gets easier >>>>

Head coach Martin Bullock’s squad features 17 players based in Aotearoa New Zealand, and six playing overseas in Australia, England and Germany.

New Zealand squad

Pedro Botica (Auckland United, New Zealand)
William Britton (Western Springs, New Zealand)
Luke Brooke-Smith (Hamilton Wanderers, New Zealand)
Hunter Cadman (Northern Rovers, New Zealand)
Justin Cardozo (Machado Sydney, Australia)
Aaron Cartwright (Melbourne City, Australia)
Joseph Chalabi (Christchurch United, New Zealand)
Ethan Dyer (Sydney, Australia)
Van Fitzharris (Tauranga City, New Zealand)
Joseph Kalume Banza (Western Sydney Wanderers, Australia)
Damion Kim (East Coast Bays, New Zealand)
Alexander Lienard (Sunderland, United Kingdom)
Nathan Martin (Fencibles United, New Zealand)
Joe Mcintyre (Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand)
Henry Murfitt (Selwyn United, New Zealand)
Daniel Nelson (Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand)
Benjamin Perez Baldoni (Ellerslie, New Zealand)
Jack Perniskie (Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand)
Connor Smith (FC Hennef 05, Germany)
Louis Spillane (Western Springs, New Zealand)
Rakshan Suresh (Western Suburbs, New Zealand)
Luka Vicelich (Auckland City, New Zealand)
Michael Wong (Auckland United, New Zealand)

The OFC U-16 Men’s Championship

The format of the tournament will consist of two round-robin groups, with the two top teams in the groups meeting in knockout semi-finals.

Fixtures

Game to be played on July 29, 2024 (NZT)

New Zealand v Vanuatu
Stade Pater, Papeete, Tahiti, 10am (NZT)

Game to be played on August 1, 2024 (NZT)

New Zealand v Fiji
Stade Pater, Papeete, Tahiti, 10am (NZT)

Game to be played on August 4, 2024 (NZT)

New Zealand v Cook Islands
Stade Pater, Papeete, Tahiti, 10am (NZT)

This story was first published on July 27, 2024.

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