New Zealand Men's U-17s

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/08/17/fiji-make-winning-start-at-ofc-u-16-mens-championship-in-honiara/

Fiji have gone to the top of their group after getting off to a winning start at the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship in the Solomon Islands.

The Fijians beat Tahiti 2-1 while the Cook Islands and Papua New Guinea played out a 1-1 draw at the eight-team tournament in Honiara.

New Zealand play their first game, against Samoa, on Monday.

FIFA + link for NZ v Samoa
https://www.plus.fifa.com/en/content/new-zealand-v-samoa-group-stage-ofc-u-16-men-s-championship-2025-2025/dc68507c-d10a-4192-805c-94bf8eef9411

5-0 win over Samoa. Tougher pool games ahead.

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/new-zealand-outclass-samoa-to-open-ofc-u-16-mens-title-defence-in-style-in-honiara/

New Zealand now turns their attention to New Caledonia on Thursday, while Samoa will look to bounce back against hosts Solomon Islands.

Replay
https://www.plus.fifa.com/en/content/new-zealand-v-samoa-group-stage-ofc-u-16-men-s-championship-2025-2025/dc68507c-d10a-4192-805c-94bf8eef9411

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Surprised to see we drew 0-0 against New Caledonia.  Watching the highlights they had a few good chances, we had a lot more but didn't put them away. 

You feel the 3 best teams - NZ, New Caledonia & host Solomons could all be in the same pool.

NC beat Solomons 5-2 in their first pool game. SI are often strong at this U16/U17 level. They thrashed NZ 5-0 a few years back in a pool game, Raphael Le'ai running riot.

Things a bit dicey now, after that 0-0 draw. Solomons beat Samoa 4-0 today in the other result.

Presuming NC (4 pts) get an easy win over Samoa, then it's straight out battle between NZ (4 pts) & SI (3 pts) for the 2nd spot in the semis. NZ need to avoid a loss.

But playing a desperate Solomons in the awful heat & humidity, in front of their passionate fans ain't going to be easy.

After this U16 cohort doing so well at that tourney in Switzerland earlier this year, missing out on going to the U17WC next year, ain't that fanciful. Martin Bullock will be a nervous chap the next few days.

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/new-caledonia-hold-defending-champions-new-zealand-to-a-draw-in-honiara/

Big game today for the U16s. Kicks off in one hour.

They lose against hosts Solomons and they are won't make the semis, and no U17 WC next year. Would put Martin Bullock's position as U17s coach under heavy scrutiny with the now annual U17 WC in Qatar later this year.

Good news is I think the game is at the flast new stdium in Honiara which hopefiully has a good surafec.

Not the old bumpy Lawson Tama stadium with that grass banked amphitheatre that so many Kiwi teams hated visiting.

https://www.plus.fifa.com/en/content/solomon-islands-v-new-zealand-group-stage-ofc-u-16-men-s-championship-2025-2025/8f90f6a2-d023-4be3-ad0d-eb30494eb186?gl=au

This stadium looks nice.  We are leading one nil...only started watching so not sure when or who scored 

Penalty! We're up to 3 nil now.  41 mins gone.  We need to win by 4 + goals to top the group. 

That's 4 now. That was a good one.

And another one.  5 nil. Sorry i have no idea who the goal scorers are.

The main striker looks very lively and #22 in the middle has been impressive, not so much on the ball but his reading of the game. He has made a load of interceptions.

6 now...bit of a comical one but we'll take it.

Real statement performance this after the draw against New Caledonia. The Solomons federation will be far from happy with their tournament and the unraveling we're seeing today

Well that could have been an embarrassing goal for NZ to concede.  Luckily it went wide.  

Nice goal to make it 7.  Hattrick for Woldegiorgis.  

8 in the 82nd minute.  Des tombe from the Nix..

Solomons coming oh so close to scoring, but the pesky post got in the way

Finished 8 nil. They'll be pleased with that result.

Great turnaround from the NC game. Sounds like it was a bit of cakewalk

And yeah SI won’t be happy. They have FIFA standard Academy there now, so would be expecting to do much better esp at home

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/08/26/world-cup-berths-on-the-line-in-ofc-u-16-mens-championship-semi-finals/

Four teams — including New Zealand — are left in the race to claim Oceania’s three qualifying spots at next year’s FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup in Qatar.

They meet on Wednesday in the semi-finals of the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship in the Solomon Islands.

The first semi-final pits Group A winners Fiji against New Caledonia before defending champions New Zealand meet Papua New Guinea in the second semi-final.

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/how-to-watch-ofc-u-16-mens-championship-2025/

Wednesday August 27
Semi-final 1, Fiji v New Caledonia, 1:30pm |WATCH LIVE

Semi-final 2, New Zealand v Papua New Guinea, 5:00pm |WATCH LIVE

Fiji and New Caledonia end the game 1-1.  Penalty shoot out won by New Caledonia 4-5.  

They're the first team to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar. Well done them. 

NZ v Fiji, still 0-0 after 30 mins at the drinks break.

Halftime 0-0 between NZ and Papua New Guinea.  Hope there are some goals coming 

57 mins & still 0-0. 

If it was a shock loss for NZ, they would still get a chance of WC qualification in the 3rd/4th playoff against Fiji.

Only watching glimpses. Baldoni seems the main NZ goal threat.

Not a bad way to break the deadlock

Great goal, lets have some more

All over, we're off to Qatar. 2 nil to us.  Good luck to PNG and NC for the 3rd place play off.

Pretty comfortable second half... we lacked a middle in this game, too stretched at times to connect with our attackers.

Nice to see a bit of flair in the team up top though... backs are big, but a little immobile, so might struggle against better teams who can pass through the lines and get in behind etc.

Ref has been poor - gave us 1 pen, but should of had another a few mins before etc.

Still, another WC qualified for so job done.

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/08/30/new-zealand-coach-wants-tough-ofc-u-16-mens-championship-final/

3rd Place Play-Off, Fiji v Papua New Guinea 1:30pm | WATCH LIVE

Final, 5:00pm, New Zealand v New Caledonia | WATCH LIVE

Fiji are leading 1 nil, 71 mins gone

All over Fiji win and are also off to Qatar.  

Our game kicks off at 6pm NZ time.

A goal before halftime for us. Hope we can get a couple more

Finishing is letting us down

Great goal 2 nil

All over, wasn't easy. Congratulations young all whites

Edit, goal for Nix academy player Jack Clegg - any relation to Milly?
And assist for another Nix academy player Trenberth.  So a couple of positives for us. 

Was 8 Nix kids in this squad, which is promising if they stay around.

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/09/01/new-zealand-duo-win-individual-awards-at-ofc-u-16-mens-championship/

Piney reporting on his podcast today that LBS doesn't want to go to the u17 World Cup, wants to focus on establishing himself at A-League level instead.

I am disappointed about this. Selfishly I'd have liked to see him absolutely boss it and potentially help NZ to emulate the u17 girls from the other year. But it would be the wrong move for his career.

imanixsupporter

Piney reporting on his podcast today that LBS doesn't want to go to the u17 World Cup, wants to focus on establishing himself at A-League level instead.

I am disappointed about this. Selfishly I'd have liked to see him absolutely boss it and potentially help NZ to emulate the u17 girls from the other year. But it would be the wrong move for his career.

It all depends on how much Chief expects to play him. If he is a bench warmer, likely to only get a few minutes here or there, then maybe going is the right move for him?

Also, as his employer - what does the NIX want. Arguably getting him in the shop window is good for them. If he has a big tournament, the noise around him will only grow and increase his value. If he has a bad tournament - they don't lost much.