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 (Melanesia Cup 1996)

September 16, 1996, Lae, Papua New Guinea - fb|PNG 1 - 1 fb-rt|SOL

September 18, 1996, Lae, Papua New Guinea - fb|SOL 1 - 1 fb-rt|VAN

September 20, 1996, Lae, Papua New Guinea - fb|PNG 2 - 1 fb-rt|VAN

"Australia" advanced to the Final Round.

Group 2

May 31, 1997, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea - fb|PNG 1 - 0 fb-rt|NZL

June 7, 1997, Ba, Fiji - fb|FIJ 0 - 1 fb-rt|NZL

June 11, 1997, Auckland, New Zealand - fb|NZL 7 - 0 fb-rt|PNG

June 15, 1997, Suva, Fiji - fb|FIJ 3 - 1 fb-rt|PNG

June 18, 1997, Auckland, New Zealand - fb|NZL 5 - 0 fb-rt|FIJ

June 21, 1997, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea - fb|PNG 0 - 1 fb-rt|FIJ

"New Zealand" advanced to the Final Round.

Final Round

June 28, 1997, Auckland, New Zealand - fb|NZL 0 - 3 fb-rt|AUS

July 5, 1997, Sydney, Australia - fb|AUS 2 - 0 fb-rt|NZL

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

ee also

*1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
*1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)
*1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)
*1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)
*1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)