Did you know that the World Cup qualification process is already underway? That Oceania Football Confederation is already in its second round, with New Zealand, Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia fighting for the OFC Championship (including a berth in the 2009 Conferederations Cup and the right to play Asia's 5th place team for a berth in the South Africa World Cup) - beginning today in New Zealand?
Except for politics.
New Zealand refused to issue a visa to Fijian goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau because his future father-in-law is in the Fijian military which seized control of the small island's government earlier this year. Fiji Football leaders Bob Kumar and Juan Carlos Buzzetti protested - and FIFA today postponed the match. Meantime, the New Zealand football federation is worried that its government's stance may cost it the opportunity to host the 2008 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.
RSL fans will remember Fiji's snowy appearance at Rice-Eccles in April - part of their preparation for the OFC tournament (They won the first round of qualifying with a 2-1 goal differential, including a 16-0 squeaker over Tuvalu.) I guess their USA training helped?!
Anyways, fascinating story that will play out in months to come... guess I'll put away my Fiji FA t-shirt until the Wednesday game in Fiji, which has not been postponed. Go Fiji!
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