Honiara is getting ready to welcome some of the best young women footballers in the Pacific when Solomon Islands hosts the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship from September 6 to 19.
The two-week tournament will be played at the National Stadium at King George, bringing international youth football back to the capital.
Eight teams will compete for the Oceania title, but there is an even bigger prize. The winner and runner-up will qualify for the 2027 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
For the young Solomon Islands players, the tournament is a special chance to play at home in front of family, friends and local supporters.
Solomon Islands has been placed in Group A with defending champions New Zealand, Fiji and the winner of the qualifying competition.
New Zealand will arrive as the team to beat after winning the previous championship.
Group B includes 2025 finalists Samoa, along with Tonga, New Caledonia and Tahiti.
Playing against strong teams will give the Solomon Islands squad valuable experience and a chance to show its ability on the regional stage.
The home tournament also gives the young players something many footballers dream of — the opportunity to represent their country in front of their own people.
The championship is now less than two weeks away, and preparations are entering their final stage.
For Solomon Islands, the goal is bigger than simply taking part.
The young players will be chasing regional glory while hoping to make history by securing a place at the 2027 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
With the National Stadium as the only venue, local supporters will have the chance to follow the action closely and cheer on the country’s next generation of women football stars.
