Seven Oceania clubs have earned the right to contest this year’s OFC Champions League with either Auckland City or Wellington Olympic.
A series of national play-offs has decided the clubs that will represent Oceania member nations at the OFC Champions League tournament to be held between May 14-27.
The eighth team at the tournament will be the winner of Auckland City and Wellington Olympic who play a two-legged tie to decide which club will represent New Zealand.
The seven teams already qualified are:
- Suva FC (runners-up 2022 Fiji National League)
- AS Tiga Sport (2022 New Caledonia Super Ligue champions)
- Hekari United (runners-up 2022 Papua New Guinea National League)
- Lupe Ole Soaga (third place Samoa National League)
- Solomon Warriors (2022-23 Solomon Islands S-League champions)
- AS Pirae (2021-22 Tahiti Ligue 1 champions)
- Ifira Black Bird (2022 Vanuatu VFF National Super League champions)
Tournament draw
The OFC Champions League tournament will split the eight teams into two groups of four.
After each group has completed a round-robin, the two top teams from each go into semi-finals, to produce the finalists.
The draw for the tournament will take place on March 22.
The tournament will take place in Vanuatu from May 14-27, 2023.
The winner of the eight-team tournament will qualify to represent OFC at the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia (December 12-22).
The New Zealand qualifiers
Wellington Olympic host the first leg on March 11 after warming up with three wins at the local Hilton Petone pre-season tournament.
They have beaten Wellington Phoenix 3rd team 4-1, Western Suburbs 3-2 and Waterside Karori 2-1 in the Petone competition.
Meanwhile, Auckland City had a short break following their FIFA Club World Cup campaign in Morocco but will be ready for the two-game play-off.
City and Olympic qualified for the OFC Champions League play-off by reaching the grand final of the 2022 Men’s National League, a final won 3-2 by Auckland City.
READ MORE: Auckland City land historic quadruple after winning five-goal Grand Final >>>>
Fixtures
Game to be played on Saturday March 11, 2023
First leg
Wellington Olympic v Auckland City
Martin Luckie Park, Wellington, 2pm (NZT)
Game to be played on Saturday March 18, 2023
Second leg
Auckland City v Wellington Olympic
Kiwitea St, Sandringham, 3.30pm (NZT)
More information
The Oceania Football Confederation plans to launch a professional men’s league in 2025, a competition that will replace the current OFC Champions League.
READ MORE: FIFA president pledges support for launch of professional league in Oceania >>>>
READ MORE: Our previous stories about the OFC Champions League >>>>
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