A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
 | |||
| 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 (36) | ||
| Top scorer | Richard Iwai (20)[1] | ||
| Home stadium | Port Vila Municipal Stadium | ||
| FIFA code | VAN | ||
| |||
| FIFA ranking | |||
| Current | 170  2 (20 June 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]
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.
Team image
Kit sponsorship
| Kit provider[6] | 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
| 8 October 2023 MSG Prime Minister's Cup | New Caledonia  | 4–0 | Vanuatu | Nouméa, New Caledonia |
| 17:00 UTC+11:00 | Stadium: Stade Numa-Daly Magenta |
| 11 October 2023 MSG Prime Minister's Cup | Solomon Islands  | 1–0 | Vanuatu | Koné, New Caledonia |
| 13:00 UTC+11:00 | Stadium: Stade Yoshida |
| 14 October 2023 MSG Prime Minister's Cup | Papua New Guinea  | 0–1 | Vanuatu | Nouméa, New Caledonia |
| 14:00 UTC+11:00 | Stadium: Stade Numa-Daly Magenta |
| 20 November 2023 Pacific Games | Tuvalu  | 0–6 | Vanuatu | Honiara, Solomon Islands |
| 12:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: Lawson Tama Stadium Referee: Shama Maemae (Solomon Islands) |
| 23 November 2023 Pacific Games | Vanuatu | 1–1 | Papua New Guinea | Honiara, Solomon Islands |
| 12:00 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Lawson Tama Stadium Referee: Norbert Hauata (Tahiti) |
| 28 November 2023 Pacific Games | New Caledonia | 1–0 | Vanuatu | Honiara, Solomon Islands |
| 12:00 |
|
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 |
|
Report | 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 | 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 | Report |
|
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 |
|
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.[7] | ||||
| 21 June 2024 OFC Nations Cup | Vanuatu | 0–4 | New Zealand | Port Vila, Vanuatu |
| 15:00 UTC+11 | Report | 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 |
|
Report |
|
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 | Report | Stadium: Freshwater Stadium Attendance: 10,000 |
Coaching staff
| Position | |
|---|---|
| Head coach |  Emerson Alcantara
|
| 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 2024 OFC Men's Nations Cup in June 2024.[8]
Caps and goals are correct as of 30 June 2024, after the match against New Zealand.