Defending champions Rewa FC will face Labasa FC in the group stage of the 2026 Pacific Community Cup, which will be held in Fiji for the first time in the competition’s history. The tournament will bring together ten teams representing Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, the United States and Canada from November 25 to 29 at Four R Stadium, Govind Park, in Ba.
The draw, conducted at the Fiji Football Association headquarters in Vatuwaqa on Wednesday, October 28, placed Rewa and Labasa in Pool A alongside Canada All Stars, AUFFI All Stars and NZFFI Auckland All Stars.
Hosts Ba FC were drawn in Pool B with Navua FC, USA All Stars, AUFFI Australia All Stars and NZFFI Manukau, completing the ten-team competition.
Rewa enter the tournament as defending champions after claiming their maiden Pacific Community Cup title in Auckland last November. The Delta Tigers defeated NZFFI Auckland All Stars 7-6 in a penalty shootout following a goalless final, with goalkeeper Samuela Navasa playing an important role in their success.
Their latest campaign will begin with the challenge of facing Labasa, one of Fiji’s traditional football powers, as well as three teams representing Fijian communities overseas. Meanwhile, Ba will have the opportunity to compete in front of their home supporters as the tournament makes its long-awaited debut on Fijian soil.
Established in 2012, the Pacific Community Cup has developed into an important competition connecting footballers and communities of Fijian heritage living abroad with the sport in their country of origin. Its previous editions have been staged overseas, particularly in countries with established Fijian communities.
The 2026 edition will also introduce expanded opportunities for younger and older players, with boys’ and girls’ Under-16 competitions and an Over-50 veterans’ tournament included in the programme.
The youth categories will feature teams representing Fiji and Fijian communities in Australia, New Zealand and North America. Their participation provides an opportunity for overseas-based players of Fijian heritage to compete against teams from Fiji, while potentially attracting the attention of national team selectors.
According to Fiji FA chief executive Mohammed Yusuf, the tournament will feature matches lasting 60 minutes, creating a compact schedule with several fixtures played each day. The veterans’ competition is expected to begin on November 27.
The introduction of youth competitions is particularly significant for Fiji football, as the country continues to identify eligible players developing in overseas football environments. Community tournaments provide another opportunity to strengthen those connections and potentially uncover players who could represent Fiji at international level.
With four established Fijian clubs competing against six overseas-based teams, the 2026 Pacific Community Cup will offer a different competitive environment from the country’s domestic tournaments. For supporters in Ba, it will also be the first opportunity to watch the event without travelling overseas.
The competition begins on November 25, with Rewa looking to defend their title and the other nine teams attempting to claim the trophy when the final is played on November 29.
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