Serious work is being carried out by the Fiji Football Association to see that the Fiji Soccer team plays international matches against the Socceroos and the All Whites in the near future.
Starting from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Fiji gets a relatively easier chance of qualifying as the Oceania winner will get a direct entry into the World Cup.
There is also a need for Fiji to start playing against some big football nations and in particular, New Zealand and Australia who are close to us and have already qualified to previous FIFA World Cups.
But it is not that easy, as Fiji FA’s CEO Mohammed Yusuf says it is difficult to get matches against bigger nations.
Yusuf says when he took up office in 2017, he wrote to the Football Federation Australia but because the Socceroos have a plan for two years ahead, and they are booked for all matches in the FIFA Window until the end of this year.
He says the Australians cannot cut their schedule to play the Fiji soccer team.
However, Yusuf says they have not lost the battle.
Yusuf also confirms that they had secured an international match against the All Whites in Hamilton in November this year but before they could sign the agreement, NZ Football’s CEO resigned.
He says they have again written to New Zealand Football but are now waiting for the new CEO to take up office.
Yusuf says New Zealand was keen to play the Fiji Soccer Team as in the recent home and away series, New Zealand had struggled to beat Fiji by 2-nil in both matches.
The Fiji soccer team has played about 20 international games since March last year and according to Yusuf results have not been favorable but it was expected as they are in a building process.
He says 61 players were rotated in the 13 matches that were played last year.
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