2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – OFC First Round

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Loto-Tonga Soka Centre
21°8′S 175°12′W / 21.133°S 175.200°W / -21.133; -175.200

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

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.

The winner advanced to the 2016 OFC Nations Cup, scheduled for 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 will represent the OFC at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. Moreover, the OFC Nations Cup will serve 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

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]
 American Samoa 200
 Cook Islands 206
 Samoa 197
 Tonga 198

Squads

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Samoa 3 2 0 1 6 3 +3 6 Advance to 2016 OFC Nations Cup/second round — 3–2 — —
2  American Samoa 3 2 0 1 6 4 +2 6 — — 2–0 —
3  Cook Islands 3 2 0 1 4 2 +2 6 1–0 — — —
4  Tonga (H) 3 0 0 3 1 8 −7 0 0–3 1–2 0–3 —
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Host.

Matches

The match schedule was revealed on July 30 2015, following a draw held at OFC Headquarters in Auckland, New Zealand.[7] All times are local, UTC+13.

31 August 2015 (2015-08-31)
13:00
Tonga  0–3  Cook Islands
Report (FIFA)
Report (OFC) 		Saghabi  38', 53', 59'
Loto-Tonga Soka Centre (Field 1), Nuku'alofa
Attendance: 400[8]
Referee: Ravitesh Behari (Fiji)

31 August 2015 (2015-08-31)
15:30
Samoa  3–2  American Samoa
Fa'aiuaso  4'
Hamilton-Pama  18'
Mobberly  26' 		Report (FIFA)
Report (OFC) 		Beauchamp  38', 86'
Loto-Tonga Soka Centre (Field 1), Nuku'alofa
Attendance: 200[9]
Referee: Nelson Sogo (Solomon Islands)

2 September 2015 (2015-09-02)
13:00
Cook Islands  1–0  Samoa
Saghabi  39' Report (FIFA)
Report (OFC)
Loto-Tonga Soka Centre (Field 1), Nuku'alofa
Attendance: 150[10]
Referee: Robinson Banga (Vanuatu)

2 September 2015 (2015-09-02)
15:30
Tonga  1–2  American Samoa
S. Uhatahi  47' Report (FIFA)
Report (OFC) 		J. Manao  49'
Ott  51'
Loto-Tonga Soka Centre (Field 1), Nuku'alofa
Attendance: 200[11]
Referee: Salesh Chand (Fiji)

4 September 2015 (2015-09-04)
13:00[note 1]
Tonga  0–3  Samoa
Report (FIFA)
Report (OFC) 		Mobberly  9'
Hall  22', 77'
Loto-Tonga Soka Centre (Field 2), Nuku'alofa
Attendance: 250[13]
Referee: Averii Jacques (Tahiti)

4 September 2015 (2015-09-04)
15:30[note 1]
American Samoa  2–0  Cook Islands
Mitchell  57'
J. Manao  67' 		Report (FIFA)
Report (OFC)
Loto-Tonga Soka Centre (Field 1), Nuku'alofa
Attendance: 250[14]
Referee: Ravitesh Behari (Fiji)

Goalscorers

There were 17 goals scored in 6 matches, for an average of 2.83 goals per match.

4 goals
2 goals
1 goal

Notes

  1. 1 2 The final round matches were originally scheduled to be played simultaneously at 15:00, but were changed by the OFC to be played consecutively one day before the matches.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 "Preliminary Draw procedures outlined". fifa.com. 9 July 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  2. ↑ "Draw Procedures – Oceanian Zone" (PDF). FIFA.com.
  3. 1 2 "OFC Executive Committee decisions". OFC. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  4. ↑ "Preliminary competition format outlined". Oceania Football Confederation. 10 July 2015.
  5. ↑ "FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking – August 2015 (CAF)". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 6 August 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  6. ↑ "Regulations – 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia" (PDF). FIFA.com.
  7. ↑ "Stage 1 draw revealed". OFC. 30 July 2015.
  8. ↑ "Match Summary: Cook Islands – Tonga" (PDF). OFC.
  9. ↑ "Match Summary: Samoa – American Samoa" (PDF). OFC.
  10. ↑ "Match Summary: Cook Islands – Samoa" (PDF). OFC.
  11. ↑ "Match Summary: American Samoa – Tonga" (PDF). OFC.
  12. ↑ "Kick-off changes for MD3". Oceania Football Confederation. 3 September 2015.
  13. ↑ "Match Summary: Tonga – Samoa" (PDF). OFC.
  14. ↑ "Match Summary: American Samoa – Cook Islands" (PDF). OFC.

External links

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