The New Zealand U-23 men’s team now know the path they must take to earn a place at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo after the official draw for the qualifying tournament was conducted this afternoon.
Oceania Football Confederation headquarters in Auckland provided the stage for the draw for the OFC Men’s Olympic Qualifier Tournament, which will take place between 21 September and 5 October in Fiji.
Top-seeded New Zealand, whose campaign will be led by All Whites Head Coach Fritz Schmid, have been drawn in Group A and will face the fourth-ranked Solomon Islands, as well as Pacific cousins American Samoa and Samoa.
In Group B, second-seeded Fiji will need to overcome third-ranked Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Tonga.
Only one berth is available to Oceania at the Tokyo Olympics, meaning the qualifying tournament will be fiercely contested by the eight member associations taking part.
Oceania Football Confederation Men’s Olympic Qualifier Tournament
Group A
New Zealand
Solomon Islands
American Samoa
Samoa
Group B
Fiji
Vanuatu
Papua New Guinea
Tonga
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