Dates have been set for the two-legged OFC Champions League showdown between New Zealand’s top two men’s teams, Wellington Olympic and Auckland City.
In a replay of November’s Men’s National League Grand Final, won 2-0 by Olympic, the sides will play over consecutive weekends in March to determine which club represents New Zealand at the OFC Champions League tournament in Tahiti from May 11-24, 2024.
The winner will play in Group A of the eight-club competition, for which the draw has already been made.
READ MORE: Draw made for eight-club OFC Men’s Champions League tournament >>>>
Results at the OFC Champions League over a four-year cycle decide which club will represent Oceania at future FIFA Club World Cups, which will move to an expanded 32-team format starting in 2025.
Auckland City have already qualified for that tournament, based on results from the past three years.
The winner of this year’s OFC Champions League will automatically qualify for a new annual FIFA club competition, the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
The first staging of the six-club tournament will be in December.
READ MORE: Pathway confirmed for New Zealand clubs in new annual FIFA competition >>>>
Main photo credit: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
Fixtures
OFC Men’s Champions League
National play-offs — first leg
Game to be played on Saturday March 9, 2024
Auckland City v Wellington Olympic
Kiwitea St, Auckland, 2pm
National play-offs — second leg
Game to be played on Saturday March 16, 2024
Wellington Olympic v Auckland City
Martin Luckie Park, Wellington, 2pm
More fixtures
READ MORE: Schedule of fixtures for OFC Men’s Champions League national play-offs >>>>
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