Kiribati national football team


The Kiribati national football team is the national men's football team of Kiribati and is controlled by the Kiribati Islands Football Association. Kiribati is not a member of FIFA but is an associate member of the Oceania Football Confederation, and is therefore not eligible to enter the FIFA World Cup but may enter the OFC Nations Cup. It became a provisional member of the N.F.-Board on 10 December 2005.
Kiribati is also a member of the ConIFA.

Background

Kiribati have only ever played 11 International matches up to April 2012 where they scored 7 goals and conceded 125. All of these matches were played away from home due to the lack of grass pitches in the archipelago. The Bairiki National Stadium has a sand pitch rather than grass. Kiribati's first match took place in Fiji on 30 August 1979 when they played Fiji, losing 24–0 in a South Pacific Games match. The side have never won a match but came very close when they lost 3–2 to fellow minnows Tuvalu on 30 June 2003 in Pool A of the South Pacific Games in Fiji, as well as losing 4–2 in penalties to Tuvalu in the consolation round of the 1979 South Pacific Games. Kiribati's only two goals in the 2011 Pacific games were scored by Karotu Bakaane versus Papua New Guinea and Erene Bakineti versus Tahiti, but in the 2003 competition, both goals against Tuvalu came from Lawrence Nemeia on the 26th minute and the 46th minute.
In 2012, Scotsman Kevin McGreskin became the team's coach, with the aim of improving its results and obtaining recognition from FIFA.
On 10 April 2015, Jake Kewley was officially appointed as the Manager and Ambassador for the Kiribati Islands National Football Team with the remit of liaising with the relevant footballing bodies to advance Kiribati's prior membership applications, with a FIFA application being drafted, finalised and submitted later that year.
On 6 May 2016, Kiribati was formally accepted as the newest member of ConIFA, becoming the first ever Oceanic member to join the federation. Kiribati hosted an official visit from ConIFA in November 2016 for the national football competition in Tarawa – Taiwan Sport Tournament – with ConIFA documenting the tournament whilst in the country. Kiribati qualified for the 2018 World Football Cup, that was held in England. However, Kiribati were forced to withdraw, with Tuvalu taking their place.

Complete International Results

Kiribati's score is shown first in each case.
No.DateVenueOpponentsScoreCompetitionKiribati scorersAtt.Ref.
1Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori 0–241979 South Pacific Games—
2Bidesi Park, Suva 0–131979 South Pacific Games—
3Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori3–3
1979 South Pacific GamesUnknown—
4National Stadium, Suva 2–32003 South Pacific GamesNemeia —
5National Stadium, Suva 0–72003 South Pacific Games700
6Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori 0–122003 South Pacific Games4000
7Churchill Park, Lautoka 0–182003 South Pacific Games2000
8Stade Boewa, Boulari Bay 0–92011 Pacific Games—
9Stade Boewa, Boulari Bay 0–32011 Pacific Games—
10Stade Boewa, Boulari Bay 1–172011 Pacific GamesBakaane—
11Stade Boewa, Boulari Bay 1–172011 Pacific GamesBwakineti—

Record by opponent

Up to matches played on 10 June 2019.
Opponent

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Total
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South Pacific / Pacific Games record

Brief Record

Represented by a club team.

Performances

1979">Football at the 1979 South Pacific Games">1979

2003">Men's football at the 2003 South Pacific Games">2003

2011">Football at the 2011 Pacific Games">2011

Current squad

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