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Vanuatu
Nickname(s)	The Men in Black and Gold
Association	Vanuatu Football Federation
Confederation	OFC (Oceania)
Head coach	Juliano Schmeling
Captain	Brian Kaltak
Most caps	Kensi Tangis (39)
Top scorer	Richard Iwai (20)
Home stadium	Port Vila Municipal Stadium
FIFA code	VAN
First colours	Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	164 1 (19 December 2024)
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
	Kiribati 0–18 Vanuatu ; (Lautoka, Fiji; 7 July 2003)
Biggest defeat
	New Zealand 9–0 New Hebrides ; (Nouméa, New Caledonia; 4 October 1951)
OFC Nations Cup
Appearances	10 (first in 1973)
Best result	Runners-up (2024)
Pacific Games
Appearances	15 (first in 1963)
Best result	Runners-up (1971)
Melanesia Cup/MSG Prime Minister's Cup
Appearances	9 (first in 1988)
Best result	Melanesia Cup: Champions; (1990); MSG Prime Minister's Cup: Third place; (2023)
Wantok Cup
Appearances	3 (first in 2008)
Best result	Champions (2011)

The Vanuatu men's national football team (French: équipe du Vanuatu de football) 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.^[5]

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.

2024 OFC Nations Cup - Vanuatu reach their first ever major tournament 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.^[6]^[7]

Team image

Kit sponsorship

Kit provider^[8]	Period
Lotto	2004–2011
Nike	2012
Veto	2013–2016
Pasifika	2017
Gorilla Sports	2018–2020
KPI Sports	2020–2022
Macron	2022–2023
Lotto	2022–present

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.

Win Draw Loss Fixture

2023

28 November 2023 Pacific Games	New Caledonia	1–0	Vanuatu	Honiara, Solomon Islands
12:00	Xowi 45+4'	Report		Stadium: Lawson Tama Stadium Referee: CK Kawana-Vaugh (New Zealand)

1 December 2023 Pacific Games	Vanuatu	2–4	Fiji	Honiara, Solomon Islands
15:00	Soromon 28', 45+3'	Report	Dunn 22', 55' Begg 73' Nand 90+2'	Stadium: Lawson Tama Stadium Referee: Ben Aukwai (Solomon Islands)

2024

21 March 2024 FIFA Series	Guinea	6–0	Vanuatu	Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
22:00 UTC+3	Sylla 9' (pen.), 63' Diawara 10' O. Camara 18' Kané 39' (pen.), 58'	Report		Stadium: King Abdullah Sports City Referee: Ahmed Al Ali (Jordan)

26 March 2024 FIFA Series	Vanuatu	2–3	Brunei	Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
22:00 UTC+3	Kalo 38' Iawak 70'	Report	Syafiq Safiuddin 52' Nurikhwan 72' Hakeme 90+3'	Stadium: King Abdullah Sports City Reserve Stadium

15 June 2024 OFC Nations Cup	Solomon Islands	0–1	Vanuatu	Port Vila, Vanuatu
15:00 UTC+11		Report	Tangis 72'	Stadium: Freshwater Stadium Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Veer Singh (Fiji)

18 June 2024 OFC Nations Cup	Vanuatu	Cancelled	New Caledonia	Port Vila, Vanuatu
15:00 UTC+11		Report		Stadium: Freshwater Stadium
Note: On 5 June 2024, New Caledonia withdrew from the 2024 OFC Nations Cup due to the serious crisis in the country.^[9]

21 June 2024 OFC Nations Cup	Vanuatu	0–4	New Zealand	Port Vila, Vanuatu
15:00 UTC+11		Report	Mata 10', 27' Just 63' Old 78'	Stadium: Freshwater Stadium Attendance: 7,200 Referee: Veer Singh (Fiji)

27 June 2024 OFC Nations Cup SF	Fiji	1–2	Vanuatu	Port Vila, Vanuatu
15:00 UTC+11	Cavuilagi 46'	Report	Spokeyjack 12' Thomas 56'	Stadium: Freshwater Stadium Referee: Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh (New Zealand)

30 June 2024 OFC Nations Cup Final	New Zealand	3–0	Vanuatu	Port Vila, Vanuatu
15:00	Howieson 2' Randall 83' Mata 90+2'	Report		Stadium: Freshwater Stadium Attendance: 10,000

5 September Pacific Series	Vanuatu	0–3	Australia U23	Port Vila, Vanuatu
		Report	Blair 42' Taylor 62' Grimaldi 74'	Stadium: Freshwater Stadium Referee: Ben Aukwai (Solomon Islands)

8 September Pacific Series	Vanuatu	v	Australia U23	Port Vila, Vanuatu
		Source		Stadium: Freshwater Stadium

Coaching staff

Position
Head coach	Juliano Schmeling
Assistant coach	George Amos
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

P. 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–)

Players

Current squad

The following 23 players were called up for the PacificAus Sports Football Series in September 2024.^[10]

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

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1GK	Massing Kalotang	(2002-08-26) August 26, 2002 (age 22)	8	0	Erakor Gold Star
1GK	Anthony Quai		0	0	Penama
1GK	Dick Sablan	(1996-12-23) December 23, 1996 (age 28)	0	0	Ifira Black Bird

2DF	Michel Coulon	(1995-12-03) 3 December 1995 (age 29)	17	1	Mauriki
2DF	Timothy Boulet	(1998-11-29) November 29, 1998 (age 26)	15	0	Ifira Black Bird
2DF	Selwym Vatu	(1998-06-13) 13 June 1998 (age 26)	13	0	ABM Galaxy
2DF	Tasso Jeffrey	(1998-08-12) 12 August 1998 (age 26)	12	0	Western Strikers
2DF	Jacques Wanemut	(1992-02-02) February 2, 1992 (age 32)	4	0	Ifira Black Bird
2DF	Zidane Maguekon	(2000-06-03) June 3, 2000 (age 24)	1	0	Classic
2DF	Thomas Salemu		0	0	Ifira Black Bird
2DF	Joshua Tokio	(2001-04-04) April 4, 2001 (age 23)	0	0	Ifira Black Bird

3MF	John Alick	(1991-04-25) 25 April 1991 (age 33)	25	0	Solomon Warriors
3MF	John Wohale	(1997-07-09) 9 July 1997 (age 27)	17	1	Ifira Black Bird
3MF	Jared Clark	(1998-01-21) 21 January 1998 (age 26)	8	0	FK Beograd
3MF	Harry Norman	(2003-12-31) 31 December 2003 (age 21)	8	1	Exe Green Rovers
3MF	Alick Worworbu	(1997-08-27) 27 August 1997 (age 27)	4	0	Yatel

4FW	Alex Saniel	(1996-11-08) 8 November 1996 (age 28)	23	1	Northern Demons
4FW	Johnathan Spokeyjack	(1998-11-13) 13 November 1998 (age 26)	16	2	Ifira Black Bird
4FW	Godine Tenene	(1998-05-03) 3 May 1998 (age 26)	16	3	Ifira Black Bird
4FW	Tony Kaltak	(1996-11-05) 5 November 1996 (age 28)	16	15	Erakor Gold Star
4FW	Jean Kaltak	(1994-08-19) 19 August 1994 (age 30)	8	9	Erakor Gold Star
4FW	Tonly Kalotang	(1997-05-19) 19 May 1997 (age 27)	2	0	Ifira Black Bird
4FW	Jordy Tasip	(2000-07-14) 14 July 2000 (age 24)	0	0	Ifira Black Bird

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the national squad in the last twelve months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	James Iamar	(1997-01-25) January 25, 1997 (age 27)	4	0	Tafea	2024 OFC Nations Cup
GK	Dgen Leo	(2000-08-06) August 6, 2000 (age 24)	3	0	Classic	2024 OFC Nations Cup
GK	Joshua Willie	(2000-06-13) June 13, 2000 (age 24)	2	0	ABM Galaxy	2024 FIFA Series
GK	Anthony Taiwia	(1994-09-04) 4 September 1994 (age 30)	0	0	Ifira Black Bird	2023 Pacific Games

DF	Brian Kaltak	(1993-09-30) 30 September 1993 (age 31)	30	5	Central Coast Mariners	2024 OFC Nations Cup
DF	Jason Thomas	(1997-01-20) 20 January 1997 (age 27)	27	1	Erakor Golden Star	2024 OFC Nations Cup
DF	Lency Philip	(1997-06-08) 8 June 1997 (age 27)	12	0	Classic	2024 OFC Nations Cup
DF	Kerry Iawak	(1996-03-16) 16 March 1996 (age 28)	5	0	Ifira Black Bird	2024 OFC Nations Cup
DF	Samuel Kaloros	(1989-09-16) 16 September 1989 (age 35)	4	0	Ifira Black Bird	2024 FIFA Series
DF	Joseph Kalotiti		1	0	Pango Green Bird	2024 FIFA Series
DF	Bethuel Ollie	(1997-08-19) 19 August 1997 (age 27)	2	0	North Efate United	2023 Pacific Games

MF	Bong Kalo	(1997-01-18) 18 January 1997 (age 27)	27	4	ABM Galaxy	2024 OFC Nations Cup
MF	Claude Aru	(1997-04-25) 25 April 1997 (age 27)	14	1	North Efate United	2024 OFC Nations Cup
MF	Barry Mansale	(1995-11-01) 1 November 1995 (age 29)	11	1	Yatel	2024 OFC Nations Cup
MF	Raoul Coulon	(1995-12-03) 3 December 1995 (age 29)	3	0	Yatel	2023 Pacific Games
MF	Jean Taussi	(1996-07-17) 17 July 1996 (age 28)	3	0	Ifira Black Bird	2023 Pacific Games
MF	Lee Taiwia	(1995-12-23) 23 December 1995 (age 29)	0	0	Ifira Black Bird	2023 Pacific Games

FW	Kensi Tangis	(1991-12-19) 19 December 1991 (age 33)	36	9	ABM Galaxy	2024 OFC Nations Cup
FW	Joe Moses	(2002-05-22) 22 May 2002 (age 22)	9	2	ABM Galaxy	2024 OFC Nations Cup
FW	Maliwan Thomas	(2005-01-26) 26 January 2005 (age 19)	1	0	Tafea	2024 FIFA Series
FW	Keshly Joseph		0	0		2024 FIFA Series
FW	Azariah Soromon	(1999-03-01) 1 March 1999 (age 25)	17	7	Western Strikers	2023 Pacific Games

Player records

As of 18 November 2024^[11]

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
3	Brian Kaltak	33	5	2011–present
5	Fedy Vava	30	2	2000–2012
5	Bong Kalo	30	5	2015–present
7	Lexa Bibi	29	2	2000–2004
7	Seimata Chilia	29	9	2000–2011
9	Pita David Maki	28	2	2000–2008
9	John Alick	28	2	2017–present

Top goalscorers

Rank	Name	Goals	Caps	Ratio	Career
1	Richard Iwai	20	34	0.59	2000–2011
2	Tony Kaltack	15	16	0.94	2016–2019
2	Etienne Mermer	15	33	0.45	1998–2008
4	Seule Soromon	10	10	1	2007–2011
4	Azariah Soromon	10	26	0.38	2017–present
6	Jean Kaltack	9	8	1.13	2011–present
	Seimata Chilia	9	29	0.31	2000–2011
	Kensi Tangis	9	39	0.23	2011–present
9	Bill Nicholls	6	8	0.75	2015–2019
	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	Host	Result	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930 to 1986		Not a FIFA member								Not a FIFA member
1990	Italy	Did not enter								Did not enter
1994	United States	Did not qualify								4	0	0	4	1	18
1998	France									2	0	1	1	2	3
2002	South Korea Japan									4	1	0	3	11	21
2006	Germany									9	4	1	4	21	11
2010	South Africa									12	5	1	6	30	19
2014	Brazil									3	1	0	2	8	9
2018	Russia									3	1	0	2	3	8
2022	Qatar	Withdrew								Withdrew
2026	Canada Mexico United States	To be determined								To be determined
2030	Morocco Portugal Spain
2034	Saudi Arabia
Total			0/9							37	12	3	22	76	89

OFC Nations Cup

Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup record										Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Squad	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
as New Hebrides
1973	Fourth place	4th	5	1	1	3	5	10	Squad	No qualification
1980	Group stage	7th	3	0	0	3	6	9	—	No qualification
as Vanuatu
1996	Did not qualify									4	0	1	3	5	12
1998	Group stage	5th	2	0	0	2	2	13	Squad	4	2	1	1	8	6
2000	Fourth place	4th	4	1	0	3	5	8	Squad	4	2	0	2	12	7
2002	Fourth place	4th	5	2	0	3	2	6	Squad	Qualified automatically
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
2012	Group stage	5th	3	1	0	2	8	9	Squad	Qualified automatically
2016	Group stage	7th	3	1	0	2	3	8	Squad
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	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
as New Hebrides
1963	Group stage	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
as Vanuatu
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	Group stage	5th	4	2	1	1	25	2
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	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
MSG Prime Minister's Cup
2022	Group stage	5th	2	0	1	1	2	3
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	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
2008	Runners-up	2nd	2	1	0	1	3	3
2011 (Informal)	Runners-up	2nd	2	0	1	1	1	2
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.

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
Brunei	1	0	0	1	2	3	−1	0.00
Cook Islands	1	1	0	0	8	1	+7	100.00
Estonia	1	0	0	1	0	1	−1	0.00
Fiji	37	11	7	19	41	83	−42	29.73
Guam	3	3	0	0	14	0	+14	100.00
Guinea	1	0	0	1	0	6	−6	0.00
India	1	0	0	1	0	1	−1	0.00
Indonesia	1	0	0	1	0	6	−6	0.00
Kiribati	1	1	0	0	18	0	+18	100.00
Lebanon	1	0	0	1	1	3	−2	0.00
Mongolia	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1	100.00
New Caledonia	40	8	7	25	45	101	−56	20.00
New Zealand	15	1	0	14	11	73	−62	6.67
Papua New Guinea	23	9	5	9	33	29	+4	39.13
Samoa^[a]	6	6	0	0	40	2	+38	100.00
Solomon Islands	36	7	7	22	38	78	−40	19.44
Tahiti	26	5	3	18	28	64	−36	19.23
Tonga	5	5	0	0	33	2	+31	100.00
Tuvalu	4	4	0	0	22	1	+21	100.00
Wallis and Futuna	2	2	0	0	10	1	+9	100.00
Total	214	68	29	117	384	463	−79	31.78

Source: 1951–July 1980 results and July 1980–present results.
Notes:

^ Includes results as Western Samoa.

Honours

Major competitions

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

Regional

Pacific Games
- Silver medal (1): 1971
- Bronze medal (3): 1966, 2003, 2007
Melanesia Cup
- Champions (1): 1990
- Runners-up (1): 1998
- Third place (3): 1988, 2000, 2023
Wantok Cup
- Runners-up (1): 2008