Oceania Club Championship 2006

Infobox International Football Competition
year = 2006
dates = February 6 2006 - May 21 2006
num_teams =11
confederations = OFC
champion_other = flagicon|New Zealand Auckland City FC
count = 1
second_other = flagicon|French Polynesia AS Pirae
matches = 22
goals = 96
attendance =
top_scorer = Flagicon|Solomon Islands Benjamin Totori 7 goals

The Oceania Club Championship is organised by the Oceania Football Confederation to ascertain the champions of Oceania. The 2006 event was held in Albany, New Zealand and was the final playing of the tournament before being replaced by the OFC Champions League. The tournament was held from 10-21 May, 2006. The winner of the tournament qualifies for a place in the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup.

Club World Cup qualification confusion

After some deliberation and mind-changing on FIFA's part, the winner of this tournament has earned a direct place in the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup, although this wasn't always going to be the case. In March 2006 it was reported that, due to the restructuring of football in the Oceania region (i.e. Australia leaving to become part of the Asian Football Confederation), the Oceania champions would have to play a Preliminary match against the J. League champions for a place in the main competition. [http://www.oceaniafootball.com/index.cgi?det=1&intArticleID=1901&sID=12] .

However, later that month, it was announced that FIFA president Sepp Blatter had been unable to get the necessary support for the new format and as a result Oceania will retain direct entry to 2006 FIFA Club World Cup. FIFA reviewed the format the following year. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=86&ObjectID=10375292] .

Participants

Match schedule

emifinals

The top two teams from both groups progressed to the semifinals.

Third Place Playoff

Final

Auckland City FC are the 2006 Oceania Club Champions and qualify for the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup.

ee also

*Oceania Club Championship

External links

* [http://www.rsssf.com/tableso/oceacup02.html RSSSF archive of the 2004/5 Oceania Club Championship]
* [http://www.rsssf.com/tableso/oceacup06.html RSSSF archive of the 2006 Oceania Club Championship]