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 |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 2 |  Solomon Islands |
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 |  Vanuatu |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 1 |
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 |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| 2 |  Western Samoa |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 |  Cook Islands |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 0 |
Tonga advanced to the First Round Play-off.
Play-off
1 March 1997 |
| 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 |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 2 | 24 | 12 |
| 2 | Solomon Islands |
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 21 | -14 | 4 |
| 3 |  Tahiti |
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 12 | -10 | 1 |
11 June 1997 |
| 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' |
17 June 1997 |
| 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.) |
Australia advanced to the Final Round.
Group 2
| Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  New Zealand |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 12 | 9 |
| 2 |  Fiji |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 6 |
| 3 | Papua New Guinea |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 11 | -9 | 3 |
11 June 1997 |
| New Zealand |
7 – 0 | Papua New Guinea |
|---|---|---|
| Coveny 10', 13', 67' Rufer 22', 31' Elliott 40' Stevens 80' |
(report) |
18 June 1997 |
| New Zealand |
5 – 0 | Fiji |
|---|---|---|
| Rufer 17', 77' Coveny 63' Viljoen 80' van Steeden 85' |
(report) | Lomu 51' |
New Zealand advanced to the Final Round.
Final round
Australia advanced to the AFC / OFC Intercontinental Play-off by the aggregate score of 5-0.
Goalscorers
- 7 goals
- Noel Berry
- 6 goals
- 5 goals
|
- 4 goals
- 3 goals
- 2 goals
|
|
- 1 goals
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|
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- 1 own goal
- Jimmy Kaierea (playing against Australia)
External links
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