Pacific's next football stars set for PNG and Solomons as OFC U16 draws are locked in

The road to Oceania football glory is set, with the draws confirmed for the 2026 OFC Under-16 men’s and women’s championships, and the Pacific will be centre stage.

The Oceania Football Confederation has locked in the groups at its Home of Football in Auckland, confirming Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Solomon Islands as hosts for the main tournaments later this year.

For the boys, PNG will welcome the region from 12-25 July for the 23rd edition of the championship that has been running since 1983.

Defending champions New Zealand headline Group B alongside the Solomons, Tahiti, and the winner of March’s qualifying event.

Group A shapes as a strong Pacific contest, with hosts PNG drawn with 2025 runners-up New Caledonia, Fiji, and Sāmoa.

Before that, Tonga will host the men’s qualifying tournament from 25-31 March. Tonga, Vanuatu, the Cook Islands, and American Sāmoa will play each other once, with the winner moving into Group B for July.

Photo/OFC Media

Photo/OFC Media

The women’s competition will bring more top-level youth football to the islands, with the main tournament set for Solomon Islands from 6-19 September.

The hosts face a tough Group A draw. They will line up against defending champions New Zealand, Fiji, and the winner of April’s qualifying event.

Group B sees 2025 finalists Sāmoa up against Tonga, New Caledonia, and Tahiti in what promises to be an open battle for the semi-final spots.

Photo/OFC Media

Photo/OFC Media

The women’s qualifying will be held in Papua New Guinea from 18-24 April. American Sāmoa, PNG, and Cook Islands will meet in a round-robin format, with only the winner progressing to the main event.

For many of these young players, these tournaments are more than just regional titles.

The OFC Under-16 championships have long been a launch pad for higher honours, including age-group World Cups and senior national teams.

From Port Moresby to Honiara, the spotlight will be firmly on the Pacific. Hosting both the men’s and women’s events across Melanesia is a major moment for the region, giving local fans the chance to see the next generation of talent on home soil.

With traditional heavyweights like Aotearoa in the mix, and rising Pacific sides such as Sāmoa, Fiji, and New Caledonia pushing hard, the path to the trophy will not be easy.

But one thing is certain: the future of Oceania football will be on full display in PNG and Solomon Islands in 2026.

In other regional soccer news, round three of the OFC Pro League kicks off this weekend in Melbourne, while round two of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 Oceania qualifiers start next week in Fiji and the Solomon Islands.