Football in Vanuatu | |
---|---|
Country | Vanuatu |
National team(s) | men's national team |
International competitions | |
The sport of football in the country of Vanuatu is run by the Vanuatu Football Federation established in 1934. [1] [2] The association administers the national football team as well as the Vanuatu Premia Divisen.
Football is the most popular sport in Vanuatu. The VFF organizes domestic competitions such as the Port Vila Premier League, which serves as the top football league in the country. Internationally, Vanuatu's national teams have achieved recognition, particularly in regional competitions like the OFC Nations Cup and the Pacific Games. [3]
The Vanuatu men's national team, formerly known as the New Hebrides national team, has experienced notable success in the Oceania region. The team has often finished in the top four of the OFC Nations Cup and secured an impressive 4-2 win against New Zealand in 2004, preventing New Zealand from advancing to the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. [3]
The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) is one of the six continental confederations of international association football. The OFC has 13 members, 11 of which are full members and two which are associate members not affiliated with FIFA. It promotes the game in Oceania and allows the member nations to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
The New Zealand men's national football team represents New Zealand in men's international football competitions. The team is governed by the governing body for football in New Zealand, New Zealand Football (NZF), which is currently a member of FIFA and the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). The team's official nickname is the All Whites.
The Fiji men's national football team is Fiji's national men's team and is controlled by the governing body of football in Fiji, the Fiji Football Association. The team plays most of their home games at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
The Tahiti men's national football team represents French Polynesia and is controlled by the Fédération Tahitienne de Football. The team consists of a selection of players from French Polynesia, not just Tahiti, and has competed in the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) since 1990.
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.
The New Caledonia men's national football team is the national team of New Caledonia and is controlled by the Fédération Calédonienne de Football. Although they were only admitted to FIFA in 2004, they have been participating in the OFC Nations Cup since its inception. They have been one of this relatively small region's strongest teams, finishing second in 2008 and 2012, and third in 1973 and 1980. They were the top ranked OFC nation at number 95 in September 2008, making them only the fourth country from the confederation to have reached the global top 100.
New Zealand Football is the governing body for the sport of association football in New Zealand. It oversees the seven New Zealand Football federations, as well as the New Zealand men's national football team, the national junior and women's teams, the men's and women's national Leagues New Zealand National League, National Women's League, and a number of tournaments, including the Chatham Cup and Kate Sheppard Cup. A New Zealand team, Wellington Phoenix FC who plays in the Australian A-League also comes under New Zealand Football jurisdiction.
The OFC Champions League is the premier men's club football competition in Oceania. It is organised by the OFC, Oceania's football governing body. Beginning as the Oceania Club Championship (1987–2006), it has been organised since 2007 under its current format.
The Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF) is the main governing body of all football in Vanuatu. It is an association of Vanuatu football clubs, and it organises national competitions and international matches for the Vanuatu National Football Team. The men's national team is ranked 165th in the FIFA World Rankings (Men). The men's national team was invited to compete in The Hero Intercontinental Cup 2023 and competes in major tournaments like FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (Oceania) and OFC Nations Cup.
The Solomon Islands women's national football team represents Solomon Islands in international women's association football. The team is controlled by the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) and is affiliated to the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). Their current head coach is the former footballer Timothy Inifiri.
The Vanuatu women's national football team represents Vanuatu in international women's association football. The team is controlled by the Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF). Vanuatu's home field is the Port Vila Municipal Stadium, located in the country's capital, Port Vila. The team is managed by Job Alwin.
Moise Poida is a Vanuatuan football manager and former player. He manages the Vanuatu men's national team and has been a former manager of club side Tafea. Poida has also managed the Vanuatu men's under-20 national team and Vanuatu men's under-23 national team. As a player, Poida made 21 appearances for the national team and scored three goals as a winger and midfielder. At club level, he played for Tafea F.C. for his entire career. In 2008 Poida played for an Oceanian representative side against a team that included members of France's 1998 FIFA World Cup winning team. The game included players such as Zinedine Zidane, Christian Karembeu and Robert Pires.
Sports in Vanuatu are played throughout the country.
Sport in Oceania varies from country to country. The most popular playing sport for men in Australia is Australian rules football, while for women is netball. Australian rules football is the most popular sport in terms of spectatorship and television ratings. Rugby union is the most popular sport among New Zealanders, while in Papua New Guinea rugby league is the most popular. Cricket is another popular sport throughout the Oceania region.
Bertrand Patrice Charles Kaï is a New Caledonian international footballer who plays as a forward for Hienghène Sport and the New Caledonia national team. He is one of only two New Caledonians to be named Oceania Footballer of the Year.
The New Zealand men's national football team has competed in all eleven editions of the OFC Men's Nations Cup, and have won six times, the most recent coming in the 2024 tournament.
Bong Kalo is a Ni-Vanuatu footballer who plays as a midfielder for Port Vila Premier League club, ABM Galaxy, and the Vanuatu national football team.
Jason Thomas is a Vanuatuan footballer who plays as a defender for Hekari United and the Vanuatu national team. He made his debut for the national team in November 2015 in their 1–1 draw with Fiji. Besides Vanuatu, he has played in Solomon Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Cambodia.
Alex Saniel is a Vanuatuan footballer who plays as a forward for New Zealander Club Franklin United and the Vanuatu national team.