Vanuatu national football team

{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox national football team with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 2ndRegional cup apps | 2ndRegional cup best | 2ndRegional cup first | 2ndRegional name | 3rdRegional cup apps | 3rdRegional cup best | 3rdRegional cup first | 3rdRegional name | 4thRegional cup apps | 4thRegional cup best | 4thRegional cup first | 4thRegional name | American | Association | Badge | Badge_size | body1 | body2 | body3 | BSWW Rank | Captain | Coach | Confederation | Confederations cup apps | Confederations cup best | Confederations cup first | Current | date | Elo max | Elo max date | Elo max year | Elo min | Elo min date | Elo min year | Elo Rank | FIFA max | FIFA max date | FIFA max year | FIFA min | FIFA min date | FIFA min year | FIFA Rank | FIFA Trigramme | filetype | filetype1 | filetype2 | filetype3 | First game | Home Stadium | Largest loss | Largest win | Last game | leftarm1 | leftarm2 | leftarm3 | medaltemplates | medaltemplates-expand | Most caps | Name | Nickname | Only game | Other-affiliation | pattern_b1 | pattern_b2 | pattern_b3 | pattern_la1 | pattern_la2 | pattern_la3 | pattern_name1 | pattern_name2 | pattern_name3 | pattern_ra1 | pattern_ra2 | pattern_ra3 | pattern_sh1 | pattern_sh2 | pattern_sh3 | pattern_so1 | pattern_so2 | pattern_so3 | Regional cup apps | Regional cup best | Regional cup first | Regional name | rightarm1 | rightarm2 | rightarm3 | shorts1 | shorts2 | shorts3 | socks1 | socks2 | socks3 | Sub-confederation | Top scorer | Type | type | U17WC apps | U17WC best | U17WC first | U20WC apps | U20WC best | U20WC first | UEFAu21Champ apps | UEFAu21Champ best | UEFAu21Champ first | Upright |website | World cup apps | World cup best | World cup first }} The Vanuatu men's national football team (Template:Langx) represents Vanuatu in men's international football competitions. The team is governed by the Vanuatu Football Federation, which is currently a member of FIFA and the Oceania Football Confederation.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

History

Early years (1951–2022)

It was known as the New Hebrides until the New Hebrides became Republic of Vanuatu in 1980. It finished fourth in the OFC Nations Cup in 1973, 2000, and 2002. In the 2004 Oceania Nations Cup, Vanuatu beat New Zealand 4–2, preventing the regional powerhouse from making the final and, consequently, the running for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Vanuatu caused another shock in the 2007 South Pacific Games by knocking out the Solomon Islands for bronze medal and also enable to enter the second stage of qualification for the OFC Nations Cup and consequently a chance with a playoff for the 2010 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa. The last time they had won against Solomon Islands was back in 1998 and had since been on the receiving side of many losses save for one draw against them. In July 2008, Vanuatu faced two national teams from the Solomon Islands during the inaugural edition of the Wantok Cup. Vanuatu lost 1–2 to the Solomons' team A, but defeated their team B by two goals to one.

Recognition of the team efforts (2023–present)

In 2023, Vanuatu was invited for the 2023 Intercontinental Cup tournament held in India which is the team first tournament outside Oceania. In the first match on 9 June 2023, they would face Lebanon but suffered a 3–1 defeat. In the next match, Vanuatu conceded a late goal losing to host India on a narrow 1–0 lost. On 15 June 2023, Vanuatu found themselves with a bright smiles as they would go on to win Mongolia 1–0 thus earning them the 3 points and finishing in third place.

FIFA Series tournament

In 2024, FIFA invited Vanuatu to the 2024 FIFA Series tournament held from 21 to 26 March 2024 in Jeddah where they would face Guinea (CAF) and Brunei (AFC). On 21 March, Vanuatu faced their first ever opponent from the Africa continent, Guinea in a 6–0 lost.

First Oceanian final

Vanuatu progressed to the final of the OFC Nations Cup for the first time in 2024 and finished as runners-up of the tournament on 30 June 2024 after losing to New Zealand with a 3–0 scoreline.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead link</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Team image

Kit sponsorship

citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Period
Template:Flagicon Lotto	2011–2012
Template:Flagicon Veto	2013
Template:Flagicon Nike	2014
Template:Flagicon Best Promotions	2015
Template:Flagicon Pasifika	2016–2019
Template:Flagicon KPI Sports	2019–2022
Template:Flagicon Macron	2022–2023
Template:Flagicon Lotto	2023–2024
Template:Flagicon Cikers	2024–

Results and fixtures

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Coaching staff

Position	Name
Head coach	Template:Flagicon Joel Rarua
Assistant coach	Template:Flagicon Pinto Duro
Assistant coach	Template:Flagicon François Sakama
Team Manager	Template:Flagicon Peter Takaro
Goalkeeper coach	Template:Flagicon Jimmy Obed
Assistant Goalkeeper coach	Template:Flagicon Jean Yves Galinie
Physio	Template:Flagicon Albert Lata

Coaching history

New Hebrides

• P. Reichert (1973–1987)

Vanuatu Template:Div col

• Template:Flagicon Terry O'Donnell (1987–1993)
• Template:Flagicon Saby Natonga (1996)
• Template:Flagicon Alwyn Job (1998)
• Template:Flagicon Juan Carlos Buzzetti (2000–2004)
• Template:Flagicon Joe Szekeres (2004–2007)
• Template:Flagicon Robert Calvo (2007–2008)
• Template:Flagicon Willian Malas (2008)
• Template:Flagicon Jorge Añón (2009)
• Template:Flagicon Saby Natonga (2011–2012)
• Template:Flagicon Percy Avock (2012–2015)
• Template:Flagicon Moise Poida (2015–2017)
• Template:Flagicon Etienne Mermer (2017–2018)
• Template:Flagicon Paul Munster (2019)
• Template:Flagicon Etienne Mermer (2019–2022)
• Template:Flagicon George Amos (2022)
• Template:Flagicon Juan Carlos Buzzetti (2022)
• Template:Flagicon Emerson Alcântara (2022)
• Template:Flagicon Etienne Mermer (2022–2023)
• Template:Flagicon Emerson Alcântara (2023–2024)
• Template:Flagicon Juliano Schmeling (2024–2025)
• Template:Flagicon Joel Rarua (2025)
• Template:Flagicon Richard Iwai (2025)

Players

Current squad

The following 23 players were called up for the PacificAus Sports Football Series in September 2024.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Caps and goals are correct as of 30 June 2024, after the match against New Zealand.

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the national squad in the last twelve months. Template:Nat fs r start Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs end

Player records

Template:Updated<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Players in bold are still active with Vanuatu.

Most appearances

Rank	Name	Caps	Goals	Career
1	Kensi Tangis	39	9	2011–present
2	Richard Iwai	34	20	2000–2011
3	Etienne Mermer	33	15	1998–2008
	Brian Kaltak	33	5	2011–present
	Bong Kalo	33	5	2015–present
6	Fedy Vava	30	2	2000–2012
	John Alick	30	2	2017–present
8	Lexa Bibi	29	2	2000–2004
	Seimata Chilia	29	9	2000–2011
10	Pita David Maki	28	2	2000–2008

Top goalscorers

Rank	Name	Goals	Caps	Ratio	Career
1	Richard Iwai	20	34	{{#expr:20/34 round 2}}	2000–2011
2	Tony Kaltack	15	16	{{#expr:15/16 round 2}}	2016–2019
	Etienne Mermer	15	33	{{#expr:15/33 round 2}}	1998–2008
4	Seule Soromon	10	10	{{#expr:10/10 round 2}}	2007–2011
	Jean Kaltack	10	11	{{#expr:10/11 round 2}}	2011–present
	Azariah Soromon	10	26	{{#expr:10/26 round 2}}	2017–present
7	Seimata Chilia	9	29	{{#expr:9/29 round 2}}	2000–2011
	Kensi Tangis	9	39	{{#expr:9/39 round 2}}	2011–present
9	Bill Nicholls	6	8	{{#expr:6/8 round 2}}	2015–2019
	François Sakama	6	12	{{#expr:6/12 round 2}}	2007–2015
	Robert Tasso	6	12	{{#expr:6/12 round 2}}	2011–2016
	Mitch Cooper	6	12	{{#expr:6/12 round 2}}	2019–present

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record											FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year	Host	Result	Position	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip		Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip
1930 to 1986		Not a FIFA member									Not a FIFA member
1990	Template:Flag	Did not enter									Did not enter
1994	Template:Flag	Did not qualify									4	0	0	4	1	18
1998	Template:Flag										2	0	1	1	2	3
2002	Template:Flag Template:Flag										4	1	0	3	11	21
2006	Template:Flag										9	4	1	4	21	11
2010	Template:Flag										12	5	1	6	30	19
2014	Template:Flag										3	1	0	2	8	9
2018	Template:Flag										3	1	0	2	3	8
2022	Template:Flag	Withdrew									Withdrew
2026	Template:Flag Template:Flag Template:Flag	Did not qualify									3	1	0	2	5	11
2030	Template:Flag Template:Flag Template:Flag	To be determined									To be determined
2034	Template:Flag
Total			Template:Tooltip								40	13	3	24	81	100

OFC Nations Cup

Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup record											Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Squad		Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip
as Template:Flag
Template:Flagicon 1973	Fourth place	4th	5	1	1	3	5	10	Squad		No qualification
Template:Flagicon 1980	Group stage	7th	3	0	0	3	6	9	Template:N/a
as Template:Flag
1996	Did not qualify										4	0	1	3	5	12
Template:Flagicon 1998	Group stage	5th	2	0	0	2	2	13	Squad		4	2	1	1	8	6
Template:Flagicon 2000	Fourth place	4th	4	1	0	3	5	8	Squad		4	2	0	2	12	7
Template:Flagicon 2002	Fourth place	4th	5	2	0	3	2	6	Squad		Qualified automatically
Template:Flagicon 2004	Group stage	6th	5	1	0	4	5	9	Squad		4	3	1	0	16	2
2008	Fourth place	4th	6	1	1	4	5	13	Squad		6	4	0	2	25	6
Template:Flagicon 2012	Group stage	5th	3	1	0	2	8	9	Squad		Qualified automatically
Template:Flagicon 2016		7th	3	1	0	2	3	8	Squad
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2024	Runners-up	2nd	4	2	0	2	3	8	Squad
Total	Runners-up	10/11	40	10	2	28	44	93	—		22	11	3	8	66	33

Pacific Games

Pacific Games record
Year	Round	Position	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip*	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip
as Template:Flag
Template:Flagicon 1963	Group stage	6th	1	0	0	1	3	6
Template:Flagicon 1966	Bronze medal	3rd	4	1	2	1	9	14
Template:Flagicon 1969	Group stage	5th	5	1	1	3	13	13
Template:Flagicon 1971	Silver medal	2nd	4	2	1	1	9	12
Template:Flagicon 1975	Group stage	5th	2	0	0	2	1	6
Template:Flagicon 1979	Fifth place	5th	6	4	0	2	19	6
as Template:Flag
Template:Flagicon 1983	Group stage	6th	1	0	0	1	0	6
Template:Flagicon 1987	Fourth place	4th	6	2	1	3	16	13
Template:Flagicon 1991	Fourth place	4th	5	2	0	3	9	8
Template:Flagicon 1995	Fourth place	4th	5	2	0	3	10	9
Template:Flagicon 2003	Bronze medal	3rd	6	3	3	0	23	3
Template:Flagicon 2007	Bronze medal	3rd	6	4	0	2	25	6
Template:Flagicon 2011	Group stage	6th	5	4	0	1	18	7
Template:Flagicon 2015	See Vanuatu national under-23 football team
Template:Flagicon 2019	Group stage	5th	4	2	1	1	25	2
Template:Flagicon 2023	Semi-finals	4th	4	1	1	2	9	6
Total	15/15	0 Titles	64	28	10	26	189	117

Melanesia Cup

Melanesia Cup record
Year	Round	Position	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip*	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip
Template:Flagicon 1988	Third place	3rd	4	1	0	3	2	19
Template:Flagicon 1989	Fifth place	5th	4	0	0	4	2	12
Template:Flagicon 1990	Champions	1st	4	2	2	0	4	2
Template:Flagicon 1992	Fourth place	4th	3	0	0	3	1	6
Template:Flagicon 1994	Fifth place	5th	4	0	1	3	5	12
Template:Flagicon 1998	Runners-up	2nd	4	2	1	1	8	6
Template:Flagicon 2000	Third place	3rd	4	2	0	2	12	7
MSG Prime Minister's Cup
Template:Flagicon 2022	Group stage	5th	2	0	1	1	2	3
Template:Flagicon 2023	Third place	3rd	3	1	0	2	1	5
Total	9/9	1 Title	32	8	5	19	37	72

Wantok Cup

Wantok Cup record
Year	Round	Position	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip*	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip
Template:Flagicon 2008	Runners-up	2nd	2	1	0	1	3	3
Template:Flagicon 2011 (Informal)	Runners-up	2nd	2	0	1	1	1	2
Template:Flagicon 2011 (Informal)	Champions	1st	2	1	1	0	2	0
Total	3/3	1 Title	6	2	2	2	6	5

Head-to-head record

Up to matches played on 15 November 2024. {{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL |show_positions=n |ranking_style=wperc |show_totals=yes |sortable_table=yes

|team1=ASA|name_ASA=Template:Fb |team2=AUS|name_AUS=Template:Fb |team3=BRU|name_BRU=Template:Fb |team4=COK|name_COK=Template:Fb |team5=EST|name_EST=Template:Fb |team6=FIJ|name_FIJ=Template:Fb |team7=GUM|name_GUM=Template:Fb |team8=GUI|name_GUI=Template:Fb |team9=IND|name_IND=Template:Fb |team10=IDN|name_IDN=Template:Fb |team11=KIR|name_KIR=Template:Fb |team12=LIB|name_LIB=Template:Fb |team13=MNG|name_MNG=Template:Fb |team14=NCL|name_NCL=Template:Fb |team15=NZL|name_NZL=Template:Fb |team16=PNG|name_PNG=Template:Fb |team17=SAM|name_SAM=Template:Fb|note_SAM=Includes results as Western Samoa. |team18=SOL|name_SOL=Template:Fb |team19=TAH|name_TAH=Template:Fb |team20=TGA|name_TGA=Template:Fb |team21=TUV|name_TUV=Template:Fb |team22=WAF|name_WAF=Template:Fb

|win_ASA=4|draw_ASA=0|loss_ASA=0 |gf_ASA=39|ga_ASA=1 |win_AUS=0|draw_AUS=0|loss_AUS=4 |gf_AUS=0 |ga_AUS=7 |win_BRU=0|draw_BRU=0|loss_BRU=1 |gf_BRU=2 |ga_BRU=3 |win_COK=1|draw_COK=0|loss_COK=0 |gf_COK=8 |ga_COK=1 |win_EST=0|draw_EST=0|loss_EST=1 |gf_EST=0 |ga_EST=1 |win_FIJ=11|draw_FIJ=7|loss_FIJ=19|gf_FIJ=41|ga_FIJ=83 |win_GUM=3|draw_GUM=0|loss_GUM=0 |gf_GUM=14|ga_GUM=0 |win_GUI=0|draw_GUI=0|loss_GUI=1 |gf_GUI=0|ga_GUI=6 |win_IND=0|draw_IND=0|loss_IND=1 |gf_IND=0 |ga_IND=1 |win_IDN=0|draw_IDN=0|loss_IDN=1 |gf_IDN=0 |ga_IDN=6 |win_KIR=1|draw_KIR=0|loss_KIR=0 |gf_KIR=18|ga_KIR=0 |win_LIB=0|draw_LIB=0|loss_LIB=1 |gf_LIB=1|ga_LIB=3 |win_MNG=1|draw_MNG=0|loss_MNG=0 |gf_MNG=1|ga_MNG=0 |win_NCL=8|draw_NCL=7|loss_NCL=25 |gf_NCL=45|ga_NCL=101 |win_NZL=1|draw_NZL=0|loss_NZL=14 |gf_NZL=11|ga_NZL=73 |win_PNG=9|draw_PNG=5|loss_PNG=9 |gf_PNG=33|ga_PNG=29 |win_SAM=6|draw_SAM=0|loss_SAM=0 |gf_SAM=40|ga_SAM=2 |win_SOL=7|draw_SOL=7|loss_SOL=22 |gf_SOL=38|ga_SOL=78 |win_TAH=5|draw_TAH=3|loss_TAH=18 |gf_TAH=28|ga_TAH=64 |win_TGA=5|draw_TGA=0|loss_TGA=0 |gf_TGA=33|ga_TGA=2 |win_TUV=4|draw_TUV=0|loss_TUV=0 |gf_TUV=22|ga_TUV=1 |win_WAF=2|draw_WAF=0|loss_WAF=0 |gf_WAF=10|ga_WAF=1

|update=complete|source=1951–July 1980 results and July 1980–present results. }}

Honours

Continental

• OFC Nations Cup
  • Template:Silver2 Runners-up (1): 2024

Regional

• Pacific Games
  • Template:Silver2 Silver medal (1): 1971
  • Template:Bronze3 Bronze medal (3): 1966, 2003, 2007
• Melanesia Cup / MSG Prime Minister's Cup
  • Template:Gold1 Champions (1): 1990
  • Template:Silver2 Runners-up (1): 1998
  • Template:Bronze3 Third place (3): 1988, 2000, 2023
• Wantok Cup
  • Template:Silver2 Runners-up (1): 2008

Summary

Competition	Template:Gold1	Template:Silver2	Template:Bronze3	Total
OFC Nations Cup	0	1	0	1
Total	0	1	0	1

Historical kits

Sources:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

• Vanuatu national under-15 football team
• Vanuatu national under-17 football team
• Vanuatu national under-20 football team
• Vanuatu national under-23 football team
• Vanuatu women's national football team
• Vanuatu women's national under-20 football team

External links

• Vanuafoot – Vanuatu Football Federation Official site
• Vanuatu at OFC
• Vanuatu at FIFA
• Vanuatu Football Federation Official Blog site
• VFFFoot.over-nlog.com

Template:Vanuatu national football team Template:Navboxes Template:Football in Vanuatu {{#invoke:Navbox|navbox}} Template:National sports teams of Vanuatu