Vanuatu national football team

Vanuatu
Association	Vanuatu Football Federation
Confederation	OFC (Oceania)
Head coach	Vacant
Captain	Jason Thomas
Most caps	Richard Iwai (34)
Top scorer	Richard Iwai (20)
Home stadium	Port Vila Municipal Stadium
FIFA code	VAN
FIFA ranking
Current	163 (16 September 2021)
Highest	131 (October 2007)
Lowest	201 (October–November 2015)
First international
	New Zealand 9–0 New Hebrides ; (Nouméa, New Caledonia; 4 October 1951)
Biggest win
	Vanuatu 18–0 Kiribati ; (Lautoka, Fiji; 7 July 2003)
Biggest defeat
	New Zealand 9–0 New Hebrides ; (Nouméa, New Caledonia; 4 October 1951)
OFC Nations Cup
Appearances	9 (first in 1973)
Best result	Fourth place, 1973, 2000, 2002 and 2008

The Vanuatu national football team is the national team of Vanuatu and is controlled by the Vanuatu Football Federation.^[5]

History[]

It was known as the New Hebrides national football team 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 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 FIFA World Cup in South Africa in 2010. 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.

Kit sponsorship[]

Kit provider^[6]	Period
Lotto	2004–2011
Nike	2012
Veto	2013–2016
Pasifika	2017
Gorilla Sports	2018–2020
KPI Sports	2020–

Results and fixtures[]

Coaching staff[]

Position
Head coach	Vacant
Assistant coach	François Sakama
Team Manager
Goalkeeper coach
Assistant Goalkeeper coach
Physio

Coaching history[]

New Hebrides

P. Reichert (1973)

Vanuatu

Terry O'Donnell (1987–1993)
Saby Natonga (1996)
Alwyn Job (1998)
Juan Carlos Buzzetti (2000–2004)
(2004–2007)
Robert Calvo (2007–2008)
(2008)^[7]
Jorge Añón (2009)
Saby Natonga (2011–2012)
Percy Avock (2012–2015)^[8]
Moise Poida (2015–2018)^[9]
Etienne Mermer (2017)
Paul Munster (2019)

Current squad[]

The following players were called up for the 3 friendly games against Tahiti, Fiji and Indonesia and for the 2019 Pacific Games from 7–20 July in Apia, Samoa

Caps and goals updated as of 18 July 2019 after the game against Samoa.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Chikau Mansale	(1983-01-13) 13 January 1983 (age 38)	24	0	Tupuji Imere
21	1GK	Dick Taiwia	(1997-12-23) 23 December 1997 (age 23)	4	0	Ifira Black Bird
22	1GK		(2001-03-23) 23 March 2001 (age 20)	0	0	Tupuji Imere

2	2DF	Brian Kaltak	(1993-09-30) 30 September 1993 (age 27)	22	5	Auckland City
3	2DF	Jason Thomas (Captain)	(1997-01-20) 20 January 1997 (age 24)	16	0	Lautoka
4	2DF	Joseph Iaruel	(1998-01-25) 25 January 1998 (age 23)	13	0	Galaxy
6	2DF	Gordshem Dona	(1996-08-27) 27 August 1996 (age 25)	9	0	Tafea
18	2DF	Selwyn Vatu	(1998-06-13) 13 June 1998 (age 23)	13	0	Galaxy
19	2DF	Michel Coulon	(1995-12-03) 3 December 1995 (age 25)	9	1	Tafea
20	2DF	Jonathan Spokeyjack	(1998-11-13) 13 November 1998 (age 22)	3	0	Ifira Black Bird
23	2DF		(1999-04-26) 26 April 1999 (age 22)	0	0	Tafea

5	3MF	Jeffery Bob	(1992-07-01) 1 July 1992 (age 29)	5	3	Tafea
7	3MF	John Alick	(1991-04-25) 25 April 1991 (age 30)	10	0	Solomon Warriors
8	3MF	Ronaldo Wilkins	(1999-12-30) 30 December 1999 (age 21)	8	0	Shepherds United
10	3MF	Mitch Cooper	(1994-09-18) 18 September 1994 (age 26)	6	5	Hume City
13	3MF	Daniel Natou	(1989-11-25) 25 November 1989 (age 31)	12	1	Galaxy
14	3MF	Elkington Molivakarua	(1993-03-03) 3 March 1993 (age 28)	13	3	Tafea
16	3MF	Bong Kalo	(1997-01-18) 18 January 1997 (age 24)	20	2	Galaxy
	3MF		(2000-05-08) 8 May 2000 (age 21)	0	0

9	4FW	Kensi Tangis	(1990-01-20) 20 January 1990 (age 31)	28	8	Galaxy
11	4FW		(1993-04-28) 28 April 1993 (age 28)	5	0	Malampa Revivors
12	4FW	Azariah Soromon	(1999-03-01) 1 March 1999 (age 22)	14	7	Southern United
15	4FW	Tony Kaltak	(1996-09-05) 5 September 1996 (age 25)	16	15	Solomon Warriors
17	4FW	Bill Nicholls	(1993-06-03) 3 June 1993 (age 28)	8	6	Magenta

Player records[]

As of 18 July 2019^[10]

Players in bold are still active with Vanuatu.

Most capped players[]

Rank	Name	Caps	Goals	Career
1	Richard Iwai	34	20	2000–2011
2	Etienne Mermer	33	15	1998–2008
3	Fedy Vava	30	2	2000–2012
4		29	2	2000–2004
4	Seimata Chilia	29	9	2000–2011
6		28	2	2000–2008
7	Kensi Tangis	27	8	2011–present
8	David Chilia	26	0	1998–2007
9		25	1	2000–2004
9	Simon Lauru	25	5	2000–2004

Top goalscorers[]

Rank	Name	Goals	Caps	Ratio	Career
1	Richard Iwai	20	34	0.59	2000–2011
2	Tony Kaltack	15	15	1	2016–present
2	Etienne Mermer	15	33	0.45	1998–2008
4	Seule Soromon	10	10	1	2007–2011
5	Jean Kaltack	9	8	1.13	2011–2012
5	Seimata Chilia	9	29	0.31	2000–2011
7	Kensi Tangis	8	27	0.3	2011–present
8	Azariah Soromon	7	13	0.54	2017–present
9	Bill Nicholls	6	8	0.75	2015–present
	François Sakama	6	12	0.5	2007–2015
	Robert Tasso	6	12	0.5	2011–2016

Competitive record[]

FIFA World Cup[]

FIFA World Cup record									FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930 to 1990	Did not enter								Did not enter
1994	Did not qualify								4	0	0	4	1	18
1998									2	0	1	1	2	3
2002									4	1	0	3	11	21
2006									9	4	1	4	21	11
2010									12	5	1	6	30	19
2014									3	1	0	2	8	9
2018									3	1	0	2	3	8
2022	To be determined								To be determined
2026	To be determined								To be determined
Total		0/21							37	12	3	22	76	89

OFC Nations Cup[]

OFC Nations Cup record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1973	Fourth place	4th	5	1	1	3	5	10
1980	Group stage	7th	3	0	0	3	6	9
1996	Did not qualify
1998	Group stage	5th	2	0	0	2	2	13
2000	Fourth place	4th	4	1	0	3	5	8
2002	Fourth place	4th	5	2	0	3	2	6
2004	Group stage	6th	5	1	0	4	5	9
2008	Fourth place	4th	6	1	1	4	5	13
2012	Group stage	5th	3	1	0	2	8	9
2016	Group stage	7th	3	1	0	2	3	8
2020	Cancelled
Total	9/10	0 Titles	36	8	2	25	41	82

Pacific Games[]

Pacific Games record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
1963	Round 1	6th	1	0	0	1	3	6
1966	Third place	3rd	4	1	2	1	9	14
1969	Group stage	5th	5	1	1	3	13	13
1971	Runners-up	2nd	4	2	1	1	9	12
1975	Group stage	5th	2	0	0	2	1	6
1979	Fifth place	5th	6	4	0	2	19	6
1983	Group stage	6th	1	0	0	1	0	6
1987	Fourth place	4th	6	2	1	3	16	13
1991	Fourth place	4th	5	2	0	3	9	8
1995	Fourth place	4th	5	2	0	3	10	9
2003	Third place	3rd	6	3	3	0	23	3
2007	Third place	3rd	6	4	0	2	25	6
2011	Group stage	6th	5	4	0	1	18	7
2015	See Vanuatu national under-23 football team
2019	Round 1	5th	4	2	1	1	25	2
Total	14/14	0 Titles	60	27	9	24	180	111

Melanesia Cup[]

Melanesia Cup record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
1988	Third place	3rd	4	1	0	3	2	19
1989	Fifth place	5th	4	0	0	4	2	12
1990	Champions	1st	4	2	2	0	4	2
1992	Fourth place	4th	3	0	0	3	1	6
1994	Fifth place	5th	4	0	1	3	5	12
1998	Runners-up	2nd	4	2	1	1	8	6
2000	Third place	3rd	4	2	0	2	12	7
Total	8/8	1 Title	29	7	5	17	36	67

Wantok Cup[]

Wantok Cup record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
2008	Runners-up	2nd	2	1	0	1	3	3
2011	Runners-up	2nd	2	0	1	1	1	2
2011	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 18 July 2019.

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	WPCT
American Samoa	4	4	0	0	39	1	+38	100.00
Australia	4	0	0	4	0	7	−7	0.00
Cook Islands	1	1	0	0	8	1	+7	100.00
Estonia	1	0	0	1	0	1	−1	0.00
Fiji	32	8	7	17	34	72	−38	25.00
Guam	3	3	0	0	14	0	+14	100.00
Indonesia	1	0	0	1	0	6	−6	0.00
Kiribati	1	1	0	0	18	0	+18	100.00
New Caledonia	38	8	7	23	45	96	−51	21.05
New Zealand	12	1	0	11	10	58	−48	8.33
New Zealand U23	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0.00
Papua New Guinea	20	8	4	8	31	27	+4	40.00
Samoa^[a]	5	5	0	0	36	1	+35	100.00
Solomon Islands	33	6	7	20	37	75	−38	18.18
Tahiti	26	5	3	18	28	64	−36	19.23
Tonga	5	5	0	0	33	2	+31	100.00
Wallis and Futuna	2	2	0	0	10	1	+9	100.00
Tuvalu	3	3	0	0	16	1	+15	100.00
Total	192	60	29	103	359	413	−54	31.25

Source: 1951–July 1980 results, July 1980–1999 results and 2000–19 results.
Notes:

^ Includes results as Western Samoa.

References[]

^ Mamrud, Roberto; Stokkermans, Karel. "Players with 100+ Caps and 30+ International Goals". RSSSF. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c "Vanuatu (New Hebrides) – List of International matches". Rsssf.com. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
^ "Micronesia suffer another humiliating defeat after 46–0 loss to Vanuatu | Football". The Guardian. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
^ https://www.oldfootballshirts.com/pt/teams/v/vanuatu/old-vanuatu-football-shirts-t2895.html
^ "Member Association – Vanuatu". FIFA.com. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
^ "Vanuatu Football Federation". Vanuafoot.vu. Archived from the original on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
^ "Poida named National Senior Team coach". Vanuata Football Federation. 21 October 2015. Archived from the original on 24 November 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
^ "Vanuatu Statistics". National Football Teams.

External links[]

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

[table_note_SAM0.82261357681016-11] Includes results as Western Samoa.

[1] Mamrud, Roberto; Stokkermans, Karel. "Players with 100+ Caps and 30+ International Goals". RSSSF. Retrieved 22 August 2011.

[FIFA_World_Rankings-2] "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.

[rsssf1-3] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c "Vanuatu (New Hebrides) – List of International matches". Rsssf.com. Retrieved 10 July 2015.

[World_Football_Elo_Ratings-4] Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.

[5] "Micronesia suffer another humiliating defeat after 46–0 loss to Vanuatu | Football". The Guardian. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 10 July 2015.

[6] ttps://www.oldfootballshirts.com/pt/teams/v/vanuatu/old-vanuatu-football-shirts-t2895.html

[7] "Member Association – Vanuatu". FIFA.com. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.

[8] "Vanuatu Football Federation". Vanuafoot.vu. Archived from the original on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.

[9] "Poida named National Senior Team coach". Vanuata Football Federation. 21 October 2015. Archived from the original on 24 November 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2015.

[10] "Vanuatu Statistics". National Football Teams.

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show v t National football teams of Oceania (OFC)
Active	American Samoa Cook Islands FS Micronesia² Fiji Kiribati¹ New Caledonia New Zealand Niue² Palau² Papua New Guinea Samoa Solomon Islands Tahiti Tonga Tuvalu¹ Vanuatu
Former	Australia (moved to AFC in 2006) Northern Mariana Islands³ (moved to AFC in 2009) Chinese Taipei⁴ (returned to AFC in 1989)
¹ Associate member of OFC - Not a member of FIFA ² Not a member of OFC and consequently not a member of FIFA ³ Northern Mariana Islands was only an associate member of OFC between 1998 and 2009 - Not a member of FIFA ⁴ Although not geographically in Oceania, Chinese Taipei was a member of the OFC between 1976–1978 and 1982–1989 Although not geographically in Oceania Israel entered OFC World Cup qualification in 1986 and 1990 due to political reasons, though it never became a formal OFC member.