The Fiji national football team will take on Vanuatu today in the first of two international friendly matches during the FIFA international window, with Head Coach Stephane Auvray viewing the fixtures as an important opportunity to identify players capable of contributing to the team’s long-term success.
While the matches provide valuable international experience, Auvray says the focus extends beyond results as Fiji continues to build towards future OFC and FIFA competitions.
“The objective for 2026 is to hand-pick players who display pride in wearing the Fiji National Team uniform, a strong fighting spirit, a team-oriented mindset, and the ability to repeat high-intensity efforts throughout a full game,” said Auvray.
The former Guadeloupe captain has been encouraged by the attitude and commitment shown by the squad during preparations but believes standards must continue to rise.
“The squad has trained well so far. However, by next year, the level of performance and expectations at training will be much higher. This is why it is important to select the right players for what is coming next.”
The team has also had to adapt to injury setbacks during camp, forcing changes to the coaching staff’s plans.
“Some players arrived injured or picked up injuries during camp, so we had to readjust our plans.”
With limited preparation time available ahead of the two matches, Auvray has prioritised creating an environment where players feel comfortable expressing themselves on the field.
“We have given priority to providing the players with maximum freedom to express themselves. These games allow us to give opportunities to players, so it is important for them to feel comfortable on the field.”
Looking beyond the two matches against Vanuatu, Auvray believes the FIFA window will be a significant step in identifying players who can help Fiji achieve its future ambitions on the regional and international stage.
“This window is very important because it allows us not to be solely result-oriented and instead focus on identifying the right players for future competitions.”
Fiji will face Vanuatu at 3:30pm local time today at Freshwater Stadium in Port Vila. Fans can watch the match live on FIFA+ as the national side begins another important chapter in its preparations for upcoming regional and international competitions.
