New Zealand’s potential quarter-final opponents appear to have been listed as 3-0 losers by default in their opening games at the OFC U-19 Championship in Tahiti.
Though no statement has yet been made public by the Oceania Football Confederation, the official website for the tournament shows 3-0 losses for Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu.
Both teams said they were “unable to play” their opening group games against Fiji and New Caledonia, and no further explanations have been made.
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The apparent decision to treat the fixtures as defaults means both countries are third in their groups.
If New Zealand wins their Group A, they’ll face the best-performing third-placed team from either Group B or Group C in the quarter-finals.
If New Zealand finishes runners-up in Group B, they’ll play the team that tops Group C.
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Main photo: Stade Fautaua in Tahiti is hosting all the tournament games.
Standings
Group A
Group B
Group C
The draw
The group winners and runners-up from each group will progress to the quarter-final stage, as well as the two highest-ranked third-placed teams.
Quarterfinals
Q1: Winner Group A v Best performed 3rd team from B/C
Q2: Winner Group B v Best performed 3rd team from A/C
Q3: Winner Group C v Runners-up Group A
Q4: Runners-up Group B v Runners-up Group C
Semi-finals
Winners Q1 v Winners Q2
Winners Q3 v Winners Q4
About the OFC U-19 Championship
New Zealand have won the championship at seven of the 22 previous tournaments.
New Zealand are the current title holders, having won in 2018, the last time the championship was held.