Kiribati
Shirt badge/Association crest
AssociationKiribati Islands Football Federation (KIFF)
ConfederationOFC (Oceania)
ConIFA
Most capsNabaruru Batiri (8)
Top scorerLawrence Nemeia (2)
Home stadiumBairiki National Stadium
FIFA codeKIR
First colours
Second colours
First international
 Fiji 24–0 Kiribati 
(Nausori, Fiji; 30 August 1979)
Biggest win
None
Biggest defeat
 Fiji 24–0 Kiribati 
(Nausori, Fiji; 30 August 1979)

The Kiribati men's 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 (OFC),[1] and is therefore not eligible to enter the FIFA World Cup but may enter the OFC Nations Cup.[2] 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.[3] 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.[3]

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.[4]

On 6 May 2016, Kiribati was formally accepted as the newest member of ConIFA (Confederation of Independent Football Associations), becoming the first ever Oceanic member to join the federation.[5] 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.[6] Kiribati qualified for the 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup, that was held in England.[7] However, Kiribati were forced to withdraw, with Tuvalu taking their place.[8][9][10]

Results and fixtures

2023

Coaching history

Last squad

Squad selected for the 2011 Pacific Games:[13]
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Tarariki Tarotu (1974-07-27) 27 July 1974 6 0
21 1GK Tiaon Miika (1992-11-04) 4 November 1992 3 0
3 2DF Kaake Kamta (1980-08-28) 28 August 1980 3 0
4 2DF Kaben Ioteba (1992-02-24) 24 February 1992 4 0 Kiribati Makin
5 2DF Enri Tenukai (1985-12-17) 17 December 1985 4 0 Kiribati Betio Urban Council
6 2DF Nabaruru Batiri (1984-12-01) 1 December 1984 8 0
12 2DF Beniamina Kaintikuaba (1993-12-03) 3 December 1993 2 0 Kiribati Marakei
16 2DF Barurunteiti Kaiorake (1980-04-01) 1 April 1980 1 0 Kiribati Betio Urban Council
7 3MF Atanuea Eritara (1992-10-24) 24 October 1992 4 0 Kiribati Marakei
9 3MF Atino Baraniko (1985-04-06) 6 April 1985 1 0 Kiribati Betio Urban Council
10 3MF Jeff Jong (1971-04-04) 4 April 1971 3 0 Kiribati Marakei
15 3MF Martin Miriata (1994-05-27) 27 May 1994 4 0 Kiribati Makin
17 3MF Biitamatang Keakea (1989-03-26) 26 March 1989 4 0 Kiribati Betio Urban Council
18 3MF Tongarua Akori (1983-06-30) 30 June 1983 2 0
19 3MF Lawrence Nemeia (1977-11-12) 12 November 1977 3 2
14 4FW Karotu Bakaane (1987-04-20) 20 April 1987 3 1 Kiribati Betio Urban Council
13 4FW Erene Bwakineti (1982-07-02) 2 July 1982 3 1 Kiribati Marakei
8 4FW Antin Nanotaake (1982-07-03) 3 July 1982 4 0 Kiribati Betio Urban Council
11 4FW Joseph Yan (1993-01-25) 25 January 1993 3 0 Kiribati Tarawa Urban Council

Player records

As of 5 September 2011

Competitive record



Pacific Games Record

Pacific Games record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
Fiji 1963 Did not enter
New Caledonia 1966
Papua New Guinea 1969
French Polynesia 1971
Guam 1975
Fiji 1979 Group stage 9th 3 0 1 2 3 40
Samoa 1983 Did not enter
New Caledonia 1987
Papua New Guinea 1991
French Polynesia 1995
Fiji 2003 Group stage 9th 4 0 0 4 2 40
Samoa 2007 Did not enter
New Caledonia 2011 Group stage 11th 4 0 0 4 2 46
Papua New Guinea 2015 N/A – tournament was U23
Samoa 2019 Did not enter
Solomon Islands 2023 Withdrew
Total Group stage 3/15 11 0 1 10 7 126

Head-to-head record

Up to matches played on 5 September 2011.

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD WPCT
 Cook Islands 1 0 0 1 0 3 −3 0.00
 Fiji 3 0 0 3 0 45 −45 0.00
 Papua New Guinea 2 0 0 2 1 30 −29 0.00
 Solomon Islands 1 0 0 1 0 7 −7 0.00
 Tahiti 1 0 0 1 1 17 −16 0.00
 Tuvalu 2 0 1 1 5 6 −1 0.00
 Vanuatu 1 0 0 1 0 18 −18 0.00
Total 11 0 1 10 7 126 −119 0.00
Source: Results

Results

Kiribati's score is shown first in each case.

No. Date Venue Opponents Score Competition Kiribati scorers Att. Ref.
1 30 August 1979 Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori (N)  Fiji 0–24 1979 South Pacific Games — [14][15][16]
2 31 August 1979 Bidesi Park, Suva (N)  Papua New Guinea 0–13 1979 South Pacific Games — [14][15][16]
3 5 September 1979 Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori  Tuvalu 3–3
(2–4 p)		 1979 South Pacific Games Unknown — [14][15][16]
4 30 June 2003 National Stadium, Suva (N)  Tuvalu 2–3 2003 South Pacific Games Nemeia (2) — [14][15][17]
5 3 July 2003 National Stadium, Suva (N)  Solomon Islands 0–7 2003 South Pacific Games 700 [14][15][17]
6 5 July 2003 Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori (N)  Fiji 0–12 2003 South Pacific Games 4,000 [14][15][17]
7 7 July 2003 Churchill Park, Lautoka (N)  Vanuatu 0–18 2003 South Pacific Games 2,000 [14][15][17]
8 30 August 2011 Stade Boewa, Boulari Bay (N)  Fiji 0–9 2011 Pacific Games — [14][18]
9 1 September 2011 Stade Boewa, Boulari Bay (N)  Cook Islands 0–3 2011 Pacific Games — [14][18]
10 3 September 2011 Stade Boewa, Boulari Bay (N)  Papua New Guinea 1–17 2011 Pacific Games Bakaane — [14][18]
11 5 September 2011 Stade Boewa, Boulari Bay (N)  Tahiti 1–17 2011 Pacific Games Bwakineti — [14][18]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Kiribati enjoying new adventure". OFC. Archived from the original on 6 September 2008. Retrieved 23 March 2009.
  2. ↑ "OFC Statutes, Article 10, Section 2b" (PDF). OFC. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2009.
  3. 1 2 "The hardest job in football?". bbc.co.uk. BBC Sport. 20 April 2012. Archived from the original on 21 April 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  4. ↑ . BBC. 15 May 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  5. ↑ "Kiribati − Background". conifa.org. CONIFA. Archived from the original on 7 October 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  6. ↑ "A Beautiful Game for a Beautiful Nation". kiribatifootball.com. Kiribati Islands Football Association. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  7. ↑ "Team Tibet set for 2018 CONIFA World Football Cup in London next summer". Sports Illustrated. Time Inc. 8 September 2017. Archived from the original on 3 October 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  8. ↑ "Kiribati pull out of World Cup". Football in Oceania. 7 March 2018. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  9. ↑ "BREAKING NEWS! Tuvalu to replace Kiribati at the 2018 CONIFA World Cup". The Bootiful Game. 7 March 2018. Archived from the original on 28 August 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  10. ↑ "Tuvalu to replace Kiribati at the 2018 Paddy Power World Football Cup". CONIFA. Archived from the original on 15 October 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  11. ↑ "Kiribati: Fighting for FIFA membership". oceaniafootball.com. 12 July 2017. Archived from the original on 20 October 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  12. ↑ "Interview with Jake Kewley". thinkhouse.ie (Archived). Archived from the original on 28 January 2018.
  13. ↑ "Kiribati Official Team List". oceaniafootball.com. Oceania Football Confederation. Archived from the original on 10 February 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "World Football Elo Ratings: Kiribati". www.eloratings.net. World Football Elo Ratings. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Courtney, Barrie (30 October 2005). "Kiribati - List of International Matches". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 25 February 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  16. 1 2 3 Abbink, Dinant; Morrison, Neil; Cruickshank, Mark (1 April 2015). "South Pacific Games 1979 (Fiji)". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  17. 1 2 3 4 Zlotkowski, Andre (14 July 2003). "South Pacific Games 2003 (Fiji) - Tournament Details". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  18. 1 2 3 4 Morrison, Neil; Schöggl, Hans (18 January 2018). "Pacific Games 2011 (New Caledonia)". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 29 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
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