PNG confirmed for Nations Cup

THE national team will by next Tuesday know what pool they are in when the draw for the Oceania Football Confederation Women’s Nations Cup takes place.
The Nations Cup has been confirmed to take place in Fiji from July 13-30, with nine member associations looking to earn qualification to next year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Tonga and Vanuatu will play for the chance to join New Zealand – who qualified automatically as the co-hosts – as the Oceania representatives in the World Cup.
American Samoa are unable to take part due to ongoing challenges presented by the Coronavirus pandemic.
The tournament format will see three groups each made up of three nations play each other once, before the top-two sides from each group, as well as the two best third-placed teams from the group stage, advance through to the quarterfinals.
The draw will see competing nations split into three groups based on their Fifa world ranking as of March 25. The quarterfinals, semifinals and final will all be single-leg matches, with the two losing semi-finalists also contesting a third-place playoff.
Papua New Guinea are the defending champions in the Pacific Games and will be campaigning for a spot in the world cup. – OFC