The 2004 OFC Nations Cup served as the Oceania qualifying tournament for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and determined the region's Confederations Cup representative.
Key Facts
- Tournament role
- OFC Nations Cup and 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier
- Seeded teams
- Australia and New Zealand seeded into Final Stage
- Champion
- Australia
- Confederations Cup berth
- Australia qualified for 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup
- World Cup playoff
- Australia vs Solomon Islands playoff held September 2005
By the Numbers
Cause → Event → Consequence
The OFC required both a regional championship and a World Cup qualifying mechanism for its member nations. The 2004 edition was structured to fulfill both roles simultaneously, with a two-group-stage format designed to accommodate the region's varying competitive levels.
The 2004 OFC Nations Cup was contested in two stages: a qualifying group stage open to all entrants, and a final stage into which Australia and New Zealand were seeded. The tournament determined the Oceania champion and served as the primary qualifying competition for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Australia won the tournament, earning a place at the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup. For World Cup qualification, a separate two-legged playoff between Australia and Solomon Islands was held in September 2005, extending the qualifying process beyond the tournament itself.