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)[1]
Home stadium	Port Vila Municipal Stadium
FIFA code	VAN
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	163 6 (28 November 2024)[2]
Highest	131 (October 2007)
Lowest	201 (October–November 2015)
First international
New Zealand 9–0 New Hebrides  (Nouméa, New Caledonia; 4 October 1951)[3]
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]

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.

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.

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.

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]

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

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

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

New Hebrides

• P. Reichert (1973–1987)

Vanuatu

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.

No.	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 27)	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 20)	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

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 28)	0	0	Ifira Black Bird	2023 Pacific Games
FW	Kensi Tangis	(1991-12-19) 19 December 1991 (age 32)	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

As of 18 November 2024^[11]

Players in bold are still active with Vanuatu.

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

Rank	Name	Goals	Caps	Ratio	Career
1	Richard Iwai	20	34	0.59	2000–2011
2	Tony Kaltack	15	16	0.94	2016–2019
	Etienne Mermer	15	33	0.45	1998–2008
4	Seule Soromon	10	10	1	2007–2011
	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

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

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	—
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		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		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 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

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

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

• 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

1987 Home

1992 Home

1992 Away

1999

2000 Home

2002 Home

2004 Home

2004 Away

2007

2009

2011 Home

2011 Away

2012 Home

2012 Away

2016 Home

2017 Home

2017 Away

2017

2019 Home

2022 Home

2022 Away

2024 Home

2024 Away

Sources:^{[12][13][14][15][16][17][18]}

• Vanuatu national under-15 football team
• Vanuatu national under-17 football team
• Vanuatu national under-20 football team
• Vanuatu national under-23 football team
• Vanuatu women's national football team
• Vanuatu women's national under-20 football team

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