The OFC Beach Soccer Men's Nations Cup is played at Aorai Tini Hau in Pirae, Tahiti, from 24 to 31 October, with the winner qualifying for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2027.
Coaches and captains of the four teams with the OFC Beach Soccer Men's Nations Cup trophy at Aorai Tini Hau in Pirae, Tahiti
Source: OFC Media via Phototek
Solomon Islands will chase their first OFC Beach Soccer Men's Nations Cup title in 13 years when the tournament is played at Aorai Tini Hau in Pirae, Tahiti, from 24 to 31 October.
The Oceania Football Confederation said the ninth staging of the tournament comes 20 years after the first edition in 2006. The winner qualifies for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2027.
Following the withdrawal of Papua New Guinea, four teams will play each other once in a round-robin format. The top two will contest the final and the third- and fourth-placed teams will meet in a play-off. All eight matches will be shown live and free on OFC's YouTube channel.
Solomon Islands won the inaugural tournament in 2006 and have four titles in all, equal with Tahiti, but have lost each of the last three finals to the hosts.
"Tahiti is our main target. They are the current champions, and the team we want to finally get past this year," head coach James Naka said.
Naka is the all-time top goalscorer in the tournament's history and has been involved in every edition, seven of them as a player. This is his second as a coach. Fans at home expect the team to win, he said, and the side is in Tahiti to compete for the title.
Tahiti have not lost a match at the tournament since 2011 and have won the last three titles. The Tiki Toa are chasing a fifth continental crown and qualification for a ninth World Cup, having reached the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup final twice.
Head coach Raimana Li Fung Kuee said every team would raise its game against Tahiti and that there were no easy opponents, with the first match the biggest challenge from the start.
New Caledonia return for the first time since 2019 and have finished in the top three in both of their previous appearances. Coach Ludovic Wakanumune said the squad's greatest strength was its unity and belief, and that the biggest challenge was trying to win the tournament without a beach soccer competition at home.
Germain Haewegene is one of three national team football representatives in the New Caledonia squad and plays for OFC Pro League club Tahiti United.
Vanuatu were finalists in each of the first three editions but have not played international beach soccer for seven years. Head coach Terry Malapa said preparation did not go to plan with many players involved in other competitions, but a team had been put together.
Malapa has picked players from 11-a-side football and futsal, many of whom have represented Vanuatu at other OFC and regional tournaments.
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