The journey to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ in Brazil has officially been mapped out for Oceania nations following the qualifier draw held in Auckland, New Zealand. For Tonga, the campaign will begin with a crucial first hurdle in Round One later this year.
Due to a drop in the OFC Women’s Rankings after last month’s OFC Women’s Nations Cup in Fiji, where they slipped from 5th to 8th, Tonga has been placed in the opening stage of qualifiers. Ranked 107th in the world, they will join Tahiti (119), Cook Islands (122), and American Samoa (153) in Round One, hosted in Rarotonga, Cook Islands from 28 November to 1 December 2025.
Mataliki will face American Samoa in their opening fixture, while Tahiti takes on the Cook Islands. The winners will then meet in a decisive match, with the victor advancing to Round Two of the qualifiers.
The Round One winner will enter Group A in Round Two, to be staged in the Solomon Islands from 24 February to 7 March 2026. They will face Oceania heavyweights New Zealand (33), Samoa (86), and Solomon Islands (73).
Meanwhile, Group B hosted in Fiji will feature Papua New Guinea (61), Fiji (78), Vanuatu (100), and New Caledonia (101). Matches will be played on February 27, March 2, and March 5, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals.
Round Three, comprising the semi-finals and final, will be played in New Zealand from 7–18 April 2026. The semi-final winners on April 11 will clash in the final on April 14, with the champion securing Oceania’s direct qualification spot to Brazil 2027.
The runner-up, meanwhile, will head to the FIFA Intercontinental Playoff, offering a second pathway to the world’s biggest stage.
For Tonga, the journey is filled with challenges but also opportunity. Starting from Round One is not unfamiliar territory, yet the stakes are higher than ever with the World Cup on the line. The team will need to overcome regional rivals just to earn a shot at facing Oceania’s strongest sides in Round Two.
While New Zealand remains the clear favourite, the unpredictability of Oceania football means Mataliki could surprise, especially with the next generation of players pushing for a place on the international stage.
The road is long, but for Tonga Women’s Football, the dream of reaching the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ begins this November in the Cook Islands.
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