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The OFC Executive Committee has agreed to further changes to the OFC’s football calendar for the upcoming year 2021.
Due to the uncertain international environment caused by COVID-19 and border restrictions throughout the Pacific, OFC remains unable to operate football tournaments.
The OFC U-20 Championship, that was due to be played in Samoa in January-February, will be postponed indefinitely until confirmation has been received from FIFA about the status of the next edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup that is scheduled for May-June 2021.
Next year’s OFC U-17 Championship, that was due to be played in Fiji in April, has been postponed but is required to be completed by July 5, 2021.
The top two teams from this tournament are scheduled to represent OFC at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru in September 2021 and July 5 is the FIFA deadline for team nominations.
OFC will work with the Fiji Football Association, while taking into account any decisions made by FIFA, to agree on a potential new date and a decision will be made no later than April 30, 2021.
The OFC Futsal Invitational, originally planned for April, will be postponed until further notice but OFC intends to play the tournament before August 21.
This tournament is designed to foster futsal development in our region and provide the Solomon Islands with preparation matches before they attend the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Lithuania in September-October 2021.
The OFC Women’s Nations Cup has been moved and is scheduled to be played in January-February 2022.
It was originally earmarked for July-August 2022 but has been shifted to accommodate changes to the FIFA Women’s International Match Calendar.
Given the uncertainty of international football in the Pacific, the Executive Committee has also agreed to delay confirming the hosts of OFC tournaments that are due to be played in 2022.
OFC General Secretary Franck Castillo said operating football tournaments in the Pacific was still not possible with so many logistical challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
“We thank the Executive Committee for making these decisions and look forward to when our tournaments can return in a safe environment,” Castillo said.
“We are appreciative of the patience shown by our football family throughout the Pacific and wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.”
