Vanuatu national football team

The Vanuatu men's national football team () 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.

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.

Vanuatu then won the 2025 MSG Prime Minister's Cup.

Team image

Kit sponsorship Kit provider Period Lotto 2011–2012 Veto 2013 Nike2014 Best Promotions 2015 Pasifika2016–2019 KPI Sports2019–2022 Macron2022–2023 Lotto2023–2024 Cikers 2024–

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

2025

2026

Coaching staff PositionName Head coach Lars Hopp Assistant coach Pinto Duro Assistant coach François Sakama Team Manager Peter Takaro Goalkeeper coach Jimmy Obed Assistant Goalkeeper coach Jean Yves Galinie Physio Albert Lata

Coaching history

New Hebrides Pierre Reichert (1973–1987) Vanuatu

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

Players Current squad The following 23 players were called up for the PacificAus Sports Football Series in September 2024.

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.

Player records

Players in bold are still active with Vanuatu.

Most appearances

RankNameCapsGoalsCareer1Kensi Tangis3892011–present2Richard Iwai34202000–20113Etienne Mermer33151998–20084Brian Kaltak3252011–present 5Bong Kalo3142015–present6Alex Saniel3032017–presentFedy Vava3022000–20128John Alick2922017–presentLexa Bibi2922000–2004Seimata Chilia2992000–2011

Top goalscorers

RankNameGoalsCapsRatioCareer1Richard Iwai2034 2000–20112Tony Kaltack1516 2016–2019Etienne Mermer1533 1998–20084Seule Soromon1010 2007–2011Jean Kaltack1011 2011–present Azariah Soromon1024 2017–present7Seimata Chilia929 2000–2011Kensi Tangis938 2011–present9Bill Nicholls68 2015–2019Mitch Cooper610 2019–presentFrançois Sakama612 2007–2015Robert Tasso612 2011–2016

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup FIFA World Cup recordFIFA World Cup qualification record Year Host Result Position 1930 to 1986Not a FIFA memberNot a FIFA member1990 Did not enterDid not enter1994 Did not qualify400411819982011232002 410311212006 941421112010125163019201431028920183102382022WithdrewWithdrew2026Did not qualify31025112030To be determinedTo be determined2034Total401332481100

OFC Nations Cup Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup recordQualification recordYearRoundPositionSquadas 1973Fourth place4th5113510SquadNo qualification 1980Group stage7th300369as 1996Did not qualify4013512 1998Group stage5th2002213Squad421186 2000Fourth place4th410358Squad4202127 2002Fourth place4th520326SquadQualified automatically 2004Group stage6th510459Squad43101622008Fourth place4th6114513Squad6402256 2012Group stage5th310289SquadQualified automatically 20167th310238Squad 2024Runners-up2nd420238SquadTotalRunners-up10/1140102284493—2211386633

Pacific Games Pacific Games recordYearRoundPosition*as 1963Group stage6th100136 1966Bronze medal3rd4121914 1969Group stage5th51131313 1971Silver medal2nd4211912 1975Group stage5th200216 1979Fifth place5th6402196as 1983Group stage6th100106 1987Fourth place4th62131613 1991Fourth place4th520398 1995Fourth place4th5203109 2003Bronze medal3rd6330233 2007Bronze medal 3rd6402256 2011Group stage6th5401187 2015See Vanuatu national under-23 football team 2019Group stage5th4211252 2023Semi-finals4th411296Total15/150 Titles64281026189117

Melanesia Cup Melanesia Cup recordYearRoundPosition* 1988Third place3rd4103219 1989Fifth place5th4004212 1990Champions1st422042 1992Fourth place4th300316 1994Fifth place5th4013512 1998Runners-up2nd421186 2000Third place3rd4202127MSG Prime Minister's Cup 2022Group stage5th201123 2023Third place3rd310215 2024Fourth place4th411268 2025Champions1st422074Total11/112 Titles40118215084

Wantok Cup Wantok Cup recordYearRoundPosition* 2008Runners-up2nd210133 2011 (Informal) Runners-up2nd201112 2011 (Informal)Champions1st211020Total3/31 Title622265

Head-to-head record Up to matches played on 23 September 2026.

Honours Continental OFC Nations Cup Runners-up (1): 2024

Regional Pacific Games Silver medal (1): 1971 Bronze medal (3): 1966, 2003, 2007 Melanesia Cup / MSG Prime Minister's Cup Champions (2): 1990, 2025 Runners-up (1): 1998 Third place (3): 1988, 2000, 2023 Wantok Cup Runners-up (1): 2008

Summary Competition TotalOFC Nations Cup0101Total0101

Historical kits

Sources:

Vanuatu national football team

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