This tournament began in 1973 as the "Oceania Cup". A second edition took place in 1980, then the tournament was discontinued. In the early editions non-FIFA members were allowed to participate such as New Hebrides, which became Vanuatu after gaining independence in 1980. In 1996 it reappeared as the "OFC Nations Cup" and served as a qualifier for the Confederations Cup, as the Oceania Football Confederation had recently become a separate FIFA confederation.