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Vanuatu national football team

National association football team representing Vanuatu

National association football team representing Vanuatu

FieldValue
NameVanuatu
BadgeVanuatu Football Federation Logo.svg
Badge_size180px
NicknameThe Men in Black and Gold
AssociationVanuatu Football Federation (VFF)
ConfederationOFC (Oceania)
CoachLars Hopp
CaptainBrian Kaltak
Most capsKensi Tangis (39)
Top scorerRichard Iwai (20)
Home StadiumPort Vila Municipal Stadium
FIFA TrigrammeVAN
FIFA Rank
FIFA max131
FIFA max dateOctober 2007
FIFA min201
FIFA min dateOctober–November 2015
Elo Rank
Elo max129
Elo max date2 June 2004
Elo min191
Elo min dateJuly 1994
pattern_la1_lotto_yellow_black
pattern_b1_VAN2024H_fix
pattern_ra1_lotto_yellow_black
pattern_sh1_lotto_logo_white_right
leftarm1FFFF00
body1FFFF00
rightarm1FFFF00
shorts1000000
socks1FFFF00
pattern_b2_lotto_logo_white_detailed
pattern_sh2_lotto_logo_white_right
leftarm21B9E5E
body21B9E5E
rightarm21B9E5E
shorts21B9E5E
socks21B9E5E
First game9–0
(Nouméa, New Caledonia; 4 October 1951)
Largest win0–18
(Lautoka, Fiji; 7 July 2003)
Largest loss9–0
(Nouméa, New Caledonia; 4 October 1951)
Regional nameOFC Nations Cup
Regional cup apps10
Regional cup first1973
Regional cup bestRunners-up (2024)
2ndRegional cup apps152ndRegional name=Pacific Games2ndRegional cup first=19632ndRegional cup best=Runners-up (1971)3rdRegional cup apps=113rdRegional name=Melanesia Cup / MSG Prime Minister's Cup3rdRegional cup first=19883rdRegional cup best=Melanesia Cup: Champions
(1990)
MSG Prime Minister's Cup: Champions<br /> (2025)4thRegional cup apps34thRegional name=Wantok Cup4thRegional cup first=20084thRegional cup best=Champions (2011)
Note

the men's team

(Nouméa, New Caledonia; 4 October 1951) (Lautoka, Fiji; 7 July 2003) (Nouméa, New Caledonia; 4 October 1951) (1990)

MSG Prime Minister's Cup: Champions (2025)|4thRegional cup apps=3|4thRegional name=Wantok Cup|4thRegional cup first=2008|4thRegional cup best=Champions (2011)}} 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 providerPeriod
Italy Lotto2011–2012
Australia Veto2013
United States Nike2014
Vanuatu Best Promotions2015
New Zealand Pasifika2016–2019
Australia KPI Sports2019–2022
Italy Macron2022–2023
Italy Lotto2023–2024
China Cikers2024–

Results and fixtures

Main article: Vanuatu national football team results

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

2025

  • Iawak
  • Loloa
  • Paul
  • L. Tioni

Coaching staff

PositionName
Head coachGER Lars Hopp
Assistant coachVAN Pinto Duro
Assistant coachVAN François Sakama
Team ManagerVAN Peter Takaro
Goalkeeper coachVAN Jimmy Obed
Assistant Goalkeeper coachVAN Jean Yves Galinie
PhysioVAN Albert Lata

Coaching history

New Hebrides

  • P. Reichert (1973–1987) Vanuatu
  • ENG Terry O'Donnell (1987–1993)
  • VAN Saby Natonga (1996)
  • VAN Alwyn Job (1998)
  • URU Juan Carlos Buzzetti (2000–2004)
  • ENG Joe Szekeres (2004–2007)
  • VAN Robert Calvo (2007–2008)
  • VAN Willian Malas (2008)
  • URU Jorge Añón (2009)
  • VAN Saby Natonga (2011–2012)
  • VAN Percy Avock (2012–2015)
  • VAN Moise Poida (2015–2017)
  • VAN Etienne Mermer (2017–2018)
  • NIR Paul Munster (2019)
  • VAN Etienne Mermer (2019–2022)
  • VAN George Amos (2022)
  • URU Juan Carlos Buzzetti (2022)
  • BRA Emerson Alcântara (2022)
  • VAN Etienne Mermer (2022–2023)
  • BRA Emerson Alcântara (2023–2024)
  • BRA Juliano Schmeling (2024–2025)
  • VAN Joel Rarua (2025)
  • VAN Richard Iwai (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

|38 |9

2011–present
2
34
20
2000–2011
-
3
33
15
1998–2008
-
4
32
5
2011–present
-
5
31
4
2015–present
-
30
3
2017–present
-
30
2
2000–2012
-
29
2
2017–present
-
29
2
2000–2004
-
29
9
2000–2011
-
}

Top goalscorers

RankNameGoalsCapsRatioCareer
1Richard Iwai20342000–2011
2Tony Kaltack15162016–2019
Etienne Mermer15331998–2008
4Seule Soromon10102007–2011
Jean Kaltack10112011–present
Azariah Soromon10242017–present
7Seimata Chilia9292000–2011
Kensi Tangis9382011–present
9Bill Nicholls682015–2019
Mitch Cooper6102019–present
François Sakama6122007–2015
Robert Tasso6122011–2016

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup recordFIFA World Cup qualification recordYearHostResultPositionPldWDLGFGAPldWDLGFGATotal0/10401332481100
1930 to 1986Not a FIFA memberNot a FIFA member
1990ItalyDid not enterDid not enter
1994United StatesDid not qualify4004118
1998France201123
2002South Korea
Japan41031121
2006Germany94142111
2010South Africa125163019
2014Brazil310289
2018Russia310238
2022QatarWithdrewWithdrew
2026Canada
Mexico
United StatesDid not qualify3102511
2030Morocco
Portugal
SpainTo be determinedTo be determined
2034Saudi Arabia

OFC Nations Cup

Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup recordQualification recordYearRoundPositionPldWDLGFGASquadPldWDLGFGAas New Hebridesas VanuatuTotalRunners-up10/1140102284493—2211386633
NZL 1973Fourth place4th5113510SquadNo qualification
NCL 1980Group stage7th300369
1996Did not qualify4013512
AUS 1998Group stage5th2002213Squad421186
TAH 2000Fourth place4th410358Squad4202127
NZL 2002Fourth place4th520326SquadQualified automatically
AUS 2004Group stage6th510459Squad4310162
2008Fourth place4th6114513Squad6402256
SOL 2012Group stage5th310289SquadQualified automatically
PNG 20167th310238Squad
FIJ VAN 2024Runners-up2nd420238Squad

Pacific Games

Pacific Games recordYearRoundPositionPldWD*LGFGAas New Hebridesas VanuatuTotal15/150 Titles64281026189117
FIJ 1963Group stage6th100136
NCL 1966Bronze medal3rd4121914
PNG 1969Group stage5th51131313
TAH 1971Silver medal2nd4211912
GUM 1975Group stage5th200216
FIJ 1979Fifth place5th6402196
SAM 1983Group stage6th100106
NCL 1987Fourth place4th62131613
PNG 1991Fourth place4th520398
TAH 1995Fourth place4th5203109
FIJ 2003Bronze medal3rd6330233
SAM 2007Bronze medal3rd6402256
NCL 2011Group stage6th5401187
PNG 2015See Vanuatu national under-23 football team
SAM 2019Group stage5th4211252
SOL 2023Semi-finals4th411296

Melanesia Cup

Melanesia Cup recordYearRoundPositionPldWD*LGFGATotal11/112 Titles40118215084
Solomon Islands 1988Third place3rd4103219
Fiji 1989Fifth place5th4004212
New Caledonia 1990Champions1st422042
Vanuatu 1992Fourth place4th300316
Solomon Islands 1994Fifth place5th4013512
Vanuatu 1998Runners-up2nd421186
Fiji 2000Third place3rd4202127
MSG Prime Minister's Cup
Vanuatu 2022Group stage5th201123
New Caledonia 2023Third place3rd310215
Solomon Islands 2024Fourth place4th411268
Papua New Guinea 2025Champions1st422074

Wantok Cup

Wantok Cup recordYearRoundPositionPldWD*LGFGATotal3/31 Title622265
Solomon Islands 2008Runners-up2nd210133
Solomon Islands 2011 (Informal)Runners-up2nd201112
Vanuatu 2011 (Informal)Champions1st211020

Head-to-head record

Up to matches played on 15 November 2024.

Honours

Continental

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

Regional

  • Pacific Games
  • Melanesia Cup / MSG Prime Minister's Cup
  • Wantok Cup
    • Runners-up (1): 2008

Summary

CompetitionTotalTotal0101
OFC Nations Cup0101

Historical kits

pattern_la = _VAN1987Hpattern_b = _VAN1987Hpattern_ra = _VAN1987Hpattern_sh =pattern_so = _blacktopleftarm =body =rightarm =shorts = 000000socks = FFC90Etitle = 1987 Homepattern_la =pattern_b = _VAN1992Hpattern_ra =pattern_sh = _shortspattern_so =leftarm = FFC90Ebody = FFC90Erightarm = FFC90Eshorts = FFC90Esocks = FFC90Etitle = 1992 Homepattern_la =pattern_b = _VAN1992Apattern_ra =pattern_sh =pattern_so = _yellowtopleftarm = FF0000body =rightarm = FF0000shorts = FF0000socks = 1B9E5Etitle = 1992 Awaypattern_la = _VAN1999Apattern_b = _VAN1999Apattern_ra = _VAN1999Apattern_sh =pattern_so =leftarm =body =rightarm =shorts = 0A5F61socks = FFC90Etitle = 1999pattern_la =pattern_b = _VAN2000Hpattern_ra =pattern_sh =pattern_so =leftarm = FFF000body =rightarm = FFF000shorts = 007E41socks = FF7F27title = 2000 Homepattern_la = _blackborderpattern_b = _VAN2002Hpattern_ra = _blackborderpattern_sh = _black_borderpattern_so = _2_stripes_blackleftarm = FFC90Ebody =rightarm = FFC90Eshorts = FFC90Esocks = FFC90Etitle = 2002 Homepattern_la = _blackborderpattern_b = _VAN2004Hpattern_ra = _blackborderpattern_sh =pattern_so =leftarm = FFC90Ebody =rightarm = FFC90Eshorts = FFC90Esocks = FFC90Etitle = 2004 Homepattern_la = _blackborderpattern_b = _VAN2004Apattern_ra = _blackborderpattern_sh =pattern_so =leftarm = 008100body =rightarm = 008100shorts = 008100socks = 008100title = 2004 Away
pattern_la =pattern_b =pattern_ra =pattern_sh =pattern_so =leftarm = FF0000body = FF0000rightarm = FF0000shorts = FF0000socks = FF0000title = 2007pattern_la =pattern_b = _vanuatupattern_ra =pattern_sh = _yellow_borderpattern_so =leftarm = FF0000body =rightarm = 008000shorts = 000000socks = 000000title = 2009pattern_la = _lotto2011blackpattern_b = _lotto2011blackpattern_ra = _lotto2011blackpattern_sh =pattern_so =leftarm = FFF000body = FFF000rightarm = FFF000shorts = 000000socks = FFF000title = 2011 Homepattern_la = _lotto2011whitepattern_b = _lotto2011whitepattern_ra = _lotto2011whitepattern_sh =pattern_so =leftarm = 06382Bbody = 06382Brightarm = 06382Bshorts = 06382Bsocks = 06382Btitle = 2011 Awaypattern_la =pattern_b = _Nike_black_transparentpattern_ra =pattern_sh =pattern_so =leftarm = 000000body = FFC90Erightarm = 000000shorts = 000000socks = FFC90Etitle = 2012 Homepattern_la =pattern_b = _Nike_white_transparentpattern_ra =pattern_sh =pattern_so =leftarm = 005E31body = 005E31rightarm = 005E31shorts = 000000socks = 000000title = 2012 Awaypattern_la = _bvb1213spattern_b = _blackhorizontalpattern_ra = _bvb1213spattern_sh = _black_borderpattern_so =leftarm = FFF000body = FFF000rightarm = FFF000shorts = FFF000socks = FFF000title = 2016 Homepattern_la = _vanuatu1617hpattern_b = _vanuatu1617hpattern_ra = _vanuatu1617hpattern_sh = _vanuatu1617hpattern_so =leftarm = FFF000body = FFF000rightarm = FFF000shorts = 000000socks = FFF000title = 2017 Home
pattern_la = _vanuatu1617apattern_b = _vanuatu1617apattern_ra = _vanuatu1617apattern_sh = _vanuatu1617apattern_so =leftarm = 009033body = 009033rightarm = 009033shorts = 009033socks = 009033title = 2017 Awaypattern_la =pattern_b =pattern_ra =pattern_sh =pattern_so = _top_on_whiteleftarm = FFF000body = FFF000rightarm = FFF000shorts = FFF000socks = FFC90Etitle = 2017pattern_la = _yellowborderpattern_b = _blackvneckpattern_ra = _yellowborderpattern_sh = _yellowbottompattern_so =leftarm = 000000body = FFFF00rightarm = 000000shorts = 000000socks = FFFF00title = 2019 Homepattern_la = _macrontureis21ybpattern_b = _macrontureis21ybpattern_ra = _macrontureis21ybpattern_sh =pattern_so =leftarm = FFFF00body = FFFF00rightarm = FFFF00shorts = 000000socks = FFFF00title = 2022 Homepattern_la = _macronpolis1gwpattern_b = _macronpolis1gwpattern_ra = _macronpolis1gwpattern_sh =pattern_so =leftarm =body =rightarm =shorts = 008000socks = 008000title = 2022 Awaypattern_la = _lotto_yellow_blackpattern_b = _VAN2024H_fixpattern_ra = _lotto_yellow_blackpattern_sh = _lotto_logo_white_rightpattern_so =leftarm = FFF000body = FFF000rightarm = FFF000shorts = 000000socks = FFF000title = 2024 Homepattern_la =pattern_b = _lotto_logo_white_detailedpattern_ra =pattern_sh = _lotto_logo_white_rightpattern_so =leftarm = 1B9E5Ebody = 1B9E5Erightarm = 1B9E5Eshorts = 1B9E5Esocks = 1B9E5Etitle = 2024 Away

Sources:

References

Notes

References

  1. "Players with 100+ Caps and 30+ International Goals".
  2. "Vanuatu (New Hebrides) – List of International matches".
  3. Sarkar, Uttiyo. (4 June 2023). "Hero Intercontinental Cup Rival Watch: Vanuatu". Khel Now India.
  4. (October 2025). "New Zealand vs Vanuatu: live 29 june 2024. Team News, Preview, Lineups, Streaming, Sopcast {{!}} Soccer365".
  5. "New Zealand win record sixth OFC Nations Cup title".
  6. (2025-11-23). "Vanuatu Stun PNG in Port Moresby to Claim First-Ever MSG Cup Crown".
  7. "Antigo(a) Vanuatu camisas de futebol".
  8. (28 August 2024). "Head Coach Juliano Schmeling 23-man squad for the PacificAus Sports Football Series.". Vanuatu Football Federation.
  9. "Vanuatu".
  10. (2023). "ANOTANDO FÚTBOL - VANUATU".
  11. "2007".
  12. "2011".
  13. (5 June 2012). "2012".
  14. (29 November 2017). "2017". Loop Vanuatu.
  15. (6 March 2020). "2019".
  16. "2024".
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