OFC U-20 Championship 2014

The 20th edition of the OFC U-20 Championship took place in 2014 and doubled as qualification for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup™ in New Zealand. The tournament was hosted in Suva, Fiji, with all matches played at ANZ Stadium, and was contested between six nations.

CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND – JUNE 04: Saula Waqa of Fiji celebrates his goal during the FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015 Group F match between Honduras and Fiji at the Christchurch Stadium on June 4, 2015 in Christchurch, (Photo by Jamie McDonald – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Despite the competition name remaining the same, it was also the first tournament to be played exclusively by under-19 players, in order to allow the winner of the competition to develop and prepare for up-and-coming World Cup’s at under-20 level. Fiji finished as the only unbeaten nation, securing their maiden OFC U-20 Championship title and qualifying for a first-ever FIFA U-20 World Cup™.

As tournament hosts, New Zealand became only the second OFC nation to progress past the group stage at a FIFA U-20 World Cup™, beating Myanmar 5-1 and drawing 0-0 with Ukraine to qualify as one the best third-placed teams. Their run came to an end against Portugal in the round of sixteen though, suffering a 1-2 defeat in Hamilton.

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND – JUNE 05: Joel Stevens of New Zealand (C) celebrates his team’s third goal with team mates during the FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015 Group A match between Myanmar and new Zealand at Wellington Regional Stadium on June 5, 2015 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Alex Grimm – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Fiji also became the first OFC nation outside of Australia and New Zealand to win a match in the competition, defeating Honduras 3-0 in a group stage game in Christchurch.