1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC)

Listed below are the dates and results for the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the Oceanian zone (OFC). For an overview of the qualification rounds, see the article 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification.

A total of 10 teams entered the competition. The Oceanian zone was allocated 0.5 places (out of 32) in the final tournament.

There would be three rounds of play:

  • First Round: Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tahiti, the four best ranked teams according to FIFA, received byes and advanced to the Second Round directly. The remaining 6 teams were divided into 2 groups of 3 teams each, namely the Melanesian Group and the Polynesian Group, based on geographical considerations. The teams played against each other once. The winner of the Melanesian Group would advance to the Second Round. The runner-up of the Melanesian Group and the winner of the Polynesian Group would advance to the First Round Play-off. In the Play-off, they played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The winner would advance to the Second Round.
  • Second Round: The 6 teams were divided into 2 groups of 3 teams each. The teams played against each other twice. The group winners would advance to the Final Round.
  • Final Round: The 2 teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The winner would advance to the AFC / OFC Intercontinental Play-off.

First round

Melanesian Group
Rank Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Papua New Guinea 21103214
2  Solomon Islands 20202202
3  Vanuatu 201123-11
Papua New Guinea 1–1 Solomon Islands
Daniel  15' (report) Rukumana  71'
Solomon Islands 1–1 Vanuatu
Berry  16' (Report) Naukoot  37'
Papua New Guinea 2–1 Vanuatu
Furigi  88'
Karang  89'		 (report) Garo  27'

Papua New Guinea advanced to the Second Round. Solomon Islands advanced to the First Round Play-off.

Polynesian Group
Rank Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Tonga 22003036
2  Western Samoa 21012203
3  Cook Islands 200214-30
Tonga 2–0 Cook Islands
Moleni  20', 67' (report)
Western Samoa 2–1 Cook Islands
Tapunuu  10'
Palusami  20'		 (report) Stenter  68'
Tonga 1–0 Western Samoa
Vane  29' (report)

Tonga advanced to the First Round Play-off.

Play-off
Tonga 0–4 Solomon Islands
(report) Kiriau  34'
Seni  73'
Berry  85'
Peli  87'
Solomon Islands 9–0 Tonga
Berry  3', 41', 57'
Rukumana  12'
Wabo  37'
Seni  61', 63', 74'
Kiriau  66'		 (report)

Solomon Islands advanced to the Second Round by the aggregate score of 13–0.

Second round

Group 1
Rank Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Australia 44002622412
2  Solomon Islands 4112721-144
3  Tahiti 4013212-101
Australia 13–0 Solomon Islands
Mori  2', 15', 36', 65', 80'
Aloisi  33', 53', 81', 86', 87'
Foster  68'
Tapai  78'
Bosnich  88' (pen.)		 (report) S.Daudau  52'
Sydney, Australia
Attendance: 3,127
Referee: Bruce Edward Grimshaw (New Zealand)
Australia 5–0 Tahiti
Vidmar  14'
Trimboli  37', 42'
Arnold  47'
Bingley  66'		 (report)
Sydney, Australia
Attendance: 2,869
Referee: Brian Geoffery Precious (New Zealand)
Solomon Islands 4–1 Tahiti
Seni  37'
Berry  39', 80'
Toata  89'		 (report) Ludivion  82'
Sydney, Australia
Attendance: 253
Referee: Neil Fox (New Zealand)
Solomon Islands 2–6 Australia
Rukumana  44'
Peli  59'
Suri  65'
Rukumana  73'		 (report) Slater  15'
Arnold  17'
Kaierea  38' (o.g.)
Tapai  47', 51'
Vidmar  75' (pen.)
Sydney, Australia
Attendance: 2,122
Referee: Brian Geoffery Precious (New Zealand)
Tahiti 0–2 Australia
(report) Zelic  8'
Trimboli  86'
Sydney, Australia
Attendance: 2,918
Referee: Bruce Edward Grimshaw (New Zealand)
Tahiti 1–1 Solomon Islands
Rousseau  38' (report) Kwaomae  43'
A.Peli  50'
Sydney, Australia
Referee: Bruce Edward Grimshaw (New Zealand)

Australia advanced to the Final Round.

Group 2
Rank Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  New Zealand 4301131129
2  Fiji 420247-36
3  Papua New Guinea 4103211-93
Papua New Guinea 1–0 New Zealand
Niakuam  80' (report)
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Nik Ahmad Haji Yaakub (Malaysia)
Fiji 0–1 New Zealand
(report) Jackson  80' (pen.)
Attendance: 5,500
Referee: Eugene Brazzale (Australia)
New Zealand 7–0 Papua New Guinea
Coveny  10', 13', 67'
Rufer  22', 31'
Elliott  40'
Stevens  80'		 (report)
Auckland, New Zealand
Fiji 3–1 Papua New Guinea
Pita  22'
Masinisau  26'
Duguga  89'		 (report) Waiwai  68'
New Zealand 5–0 Fiji
Rufer  17', 77'
Coveny  63'
Viljoen  80'
van Steeden  85'		 (report) Lomu  51'
Auckland, New Zealand
Attendance: 12,033
Referee: Massimo Raveino (Tahiti)
Papua New Guinea 0–1 Fiji
(report) Driu  1'
Referee: Pirom Anprasert (Thailand)

New Zealand advanced to the Final Round.

Final round
New Zealand 0–3 Australia
Jackson  67' (report) Aloisi  18'
Vidmar  42'
Foster  67'
Auckland, New Zealand
Attendance: 23,000
Australia 2–0 New Zealand
Zelić  6'
Arnold  54'		 (report)
Sydney, Australia
Attendance: 14,045

Australia advanced to the AFC / OFC Intercontinental Play-off by the aggregate score of 5-0.

Inter-confederation play-offs
Main article: 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC–OFC play-off)
Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Iran  (a) 3–3  Australia 1–1 2–2

Goalscorers
7 goals
6 goals
5 goals
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goals
1 own goal
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