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Oceania leaders celebrate progress in decade under FIFA President Gianni Infantino

The Oceania region has truly connected to the global game during the decade under the leadership of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, according to the two leading football officials in the region.
To mark the 10th anniversary of Infantino’s election on February 26, 2016, Oceania Football Confederations (OFC) President Lambert Maltock acknowledged that the FIFA President has used football as an effective tool to unite all corners of the planet.
“And not just by words or lip service, he talks the talk and walks the talk,” says Maltock, pointing to the direct entry into the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the top Oceania team, the increase in OFC age-group teams in FIFA World Cups and Auckland City competing in the recent FIFA Club World Cup.
“No previous FIFA President ever succeeded to accomplish such global unity through football,” says Maltock.
OFC General Secretary Franck Castillo has also seen a genuine shift since Gianni Infantino was elected in the way global football embraces Oceania.
“The FIFA President has consistently ensured that our region is not only heard, but actively supported. His backing was instrumental in New Zealand co-hosting the FIFA Women's World Cup, a milestone that inspired a new generation across the Pacific and showcased Oceania’s capability on the world stage,” says Castillo.
The General Secretary says that FIFA’s focus on development under Infantino has strengthened the foundations of football, from infrastructure and governance to the historic launch of the OFC Pro League, which he describes as “a transformative step for professional football in our region”.
“Over the past ten years, we have seen unprecedented investment and belief in Oceania’s potential. This has empowered OFC to grow with confidence, ambition, and a clear vision for the future,” says Castillo.
OFC President Maltock describes the OFC Pro League as Infantino’s legacy in the region.
“Without the support of President Gianni Infantino, the OFC Professional League would never have happened. Thanks to his constant support, the people of the Pacific are proud to have such a coveted platform for kids around the region to aspire to.”
Maltock points out that Infantino was also the first FIFA President to visit all 11 OFC member associations in 2023.
“His visits to all these island nations brought massive inspirations, encouragement and gratifications from all over Oceania. It was really for the first the whole of Oceania and the Pacific region felt that they truly belonged to the FIFA family.”
During nine years as OFC President, Maltock says Infantino has been the only FIFA President who has put in place regulations and mechanism to fight against all forms of corruptive practices ”within the system and governance of FIFA, as well as on the field play with players and referees and ensure that they are enforced in full terms of the law”.
“For me personally, Gianni Infantino is simply a ‘leader par excellence’ who respects all classes of people throughout all societies across the globe.”

Caption1 : FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Tahiti in 2023. (Photo FIFA)

Caption 2: OFC President Lambert Maltock and FIFA President Gianni Infantino during their visit to Papaua New Guinea in 2023. (Photo FIFA)

Follem Toktok blong President blong FIFA towards MSG Prime Ministers Cup we I happen long PNG mo Team Vanuatu 🇻🇺 I kam blong winim game ya.

It was my pleasure to congratulate our friends across Melanesia on a historic MSG Prime Minister’s Cup, proudly hosted in 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea during its 50th independence anniversary. 👏 Congratulations to 🇻🇺 Vanuatu on winning the Men’s MSG Prime Minister’s Cup, and to 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea for triumphing in the inaugural Women’s MSG Prime Minister’s Cup, two outstanding achievements that will inspire fans across the region. 🏆💫 This tournament brought together 12 teams from five nations 🇵🇬🇸🇧🇻🇺🇳🇨🇫🇯 and welcomed the region’s best women’s players for the first time, showing how football continues to unite communities and celebrate Melanesian culture and ambition. ⚽🌍 My thanks to the Melanesian Spearhead Group and the leaders of 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea for organising an event that truly reflects the power of our beautiful game. With expanded FIFA tournaments and the upcoming OFC Professional League, a bright new chapter awaits Oceanian football. 🙏 #FootballUnitesTheWorld

We take this opportunity to wish all Ni- Vanuatu 🇻🇺 citizens in Vanuatu, the Pacific Region and around the world a HAPPY 45TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY.

JULY 30TH INDEPENDENCE DAY

LONG GOD YUMI STANAP

LONG LIVE VANUATU BLONG MI
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WORLD CUP WINNER BUZZING ABOUT FOOTBALL ‘REVOLUTION’ OF OFC PRO LEAGUE .

World Cup winner buzzing about football ‘revolution’ of OFC Pro League. Christian Karembeu, the most successful footballer from Oceania, says the new OFC Pro League will be the vital next step to close the gap with the rest of the world.
Karembeu says Auckland City’s extraordinary performance against Boca Juniors is the best he could expect from the region’s amateur clubs but that the introduction of professional football around Oceania will be a game changer.
“The new Pro League will be a revolution for our region,” says the New Caledonia-born midfielder who lifted the FIFA World Cup with France and the Champions League trophy with Real Madrid.

Karembeu has been attending the FIFA Club World Cup and was inspired by Auckland City’s their sharp learning curve after two initial defeats.
“If you see how much Auckland City improved in three games, just imagine how much our players can improve in four years in a professional environment until the next Club World Cup,” says the current Technical Director for Greek champions Olympiacos Pireaus.
Karembeu says the Pacific is blessed with incredibly natural athletes and feels that the new Pro League, with professional coaches and managers could quickly develop Oceania’s amateur players into world-beaters.
“Just look at the All Blacks, who have given athletes from Tonga, Samoa and Fiji the chance to develop in their amazing environment and have reaped the benefits of turning that raw talent into rugby superstars.”
Karembeu points at his own success, as well as former Socceroos legend Tim Cahill, and more recently All Whites midfielder Marko Stamenic, as players with Pacific Island heritage to perform well at the highest stage.
The former Real Madrid star says that the Pacific players have always had the talent, but never the appropriate guidance to teach them what is expected from a professional player.
“They will be educated how to train, how to recover, how to eat, about intensity and quality, and when you can go out or need to stay at home. Players need to learn how to create a routine and clubs need experts to show them the way to be a professional.”
He adds that the new teams will need quality managers, coaches and experts in human resources, accommodation and transport and anything else required to run a professional sports organisation.
“When you are an amateur player, you can do whatever you want. But when you're in a professional league and professional club, you have to behave like that. If you don’t want to make those sacrifices, you don’t belong, so it all comes down to discipline.”
Karembeu says that Pacific players have grown up to be respectful and humble, which will help them make the transition into the professional game.
“But they will also not be intimidated, because in the islands we are all warriors. They will just have to realise in the professional environment many players will be better than them, so they have to humble, observe and learn to become better players,” said the 1998 FIFA World Cup winner.
Karembeu says that coaches or clubs from with a European background, need to understand the cultural background of the players to get the best out of them, before they discard a player out of ignorance or misunderstanding.
He reflects on his own experience arriving at FC Nantes as a fresh-faced 17-year-old from New Caledonian club Gaitcha, following in the footsteps on legendary New Caledonian player and coach Antoine Kombouaré, who had seven seasons at FC Nantes in recent years coached the club to win the French Cup.
“The club knew about Antoine and our culture, so every time we had a meeting they were sure to get me there 30 minutes early so I would not be late,” laughs Karembeu.
He explains that island folks for hundreds of years have started the day, when the run rose, and go to sleep when the sun goes down, so living by a clock is a relatively foreign concept for many island players.
“I didn’t even have a watch when I came to Nantes, so I looked around to find a clock, but the people at the club knew this and helped me. And I made sure I was always early to get their respect.”
Karembeu adds that small gestures like picking up a player to make sure they get to training or a meeting in time during the initial stages, may feel unnecessary for European coaches, but will make a huge difference to teach them about routines and discipline.
“Otherwise, the player or the club could miss out on a great opportunity. Not because the players is not talented or committed enough, but because it is just the lack of routine or his culture getting in the way. It’s not wrong, just different, so you need to educate the players how to behave.”
Auckland City’s performance at the FIFA Club World Cup has drawn criticism and admiration, and Karembeu hopes the performances of the last amateur team to compete at the global tournament will be the stepping stone to take football in Oceania to higher levels and close the gap with the other confederations.
“It was an incredible moment for Auckland City and it will hopefully inspire the kids in the region,” says Karembeu, who adds that modern technology and social media has spread the Auckland City fairytale throughout the world.
“Everybody in the world now knows who they are. And I hope that’s what will happen with clubs and players in the new Pro League to gain visibility and fame, not just in Oceania, but also to show the wider world how good players in the Pacific can be.”

Caption 1: Christian Karembeu, right, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Auckland City chairman Ivan Vukich ahead of Auckland City’s history draw with Boca Juniors in Nashville.

Vanuatu Football President signs partnership with Christchurch United

FIFA Vice-President and Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF) President Lambert Maltock this weekend signed the formal partnership agreement with Christchurch United Football Club. Maltock was in Christchurch for three days to inspect the club’s state-of-the-art United Sport Centre, the Residential Academy, to meet with coaching staff and attend United’s National League match against Coastal Spirit.

The Vanuatu and Oceania Football Confederation President was impressed by the facilities and the warm welcome he received in Christchurch and said this partnership was a dream come true for his country’s football community.
“Currently, Vanuatu has no pathway beyond its borders to help our young talented players pursue their dreams and unlock their potential,” said Maltock.

“We think this partnership with Christchurch United can elevate our players’ performances to a higher level of competition and will help tremendously in improving and bridging this existing gap,” said the FIFA Vice-President, who remarked that United’s facilities were the best he had seen in the Oceania region.”And I was also really impressed by their professional approach to every aspect of the club, so I really think our players can do well here.”

The partnership agreement was co-signed by Christchurch United President Slava Meyn and opens the door for young Vanuatu talents to join the Residential Academy and for senior players to trial for the first team. Club president Meyn said the coaching staff will also start sharing knowledge online and in person, while Vanuatu’s youth teams will become regular visitors to the Christchurch International Cup.

“We are honoured by the FIFA Vice-President spending so much time to get to know our club and our city, and we are excited about this partnership to create pathways for footballers in the Pacific,” says Meyn.

The first step in the partnership will see Vanuatu international Jordy Tasip and Vanuatu Golden Boot winner Walter Leoru arriving in Christchurch in the coming days, once their visas are approved, to train with the first team.
Tasip has 10 international caps for Vanuatu and enjoyed one season with Auckland City in 2023, while Leoru has made a name for himself as a goalscorer in the regional and national leagues in Vanuatu. Aside from the two players on trial, two of the Vanuatu’s biggest talents will join the club’s Residential Academy in July to train in a professional environment and further their education in New Zealand.

“It will help our elite players undertake better training with better facilities as well as attending advance education to help enhance their potentials on and off the field,” said Maltock, who visited Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery where the young footballers will continue their education.
Maltock also inspected the construction of the One New Zealand Stadium, met with officials from regional federation Mainland Football and members of the local Vanuatu community, who will support the players coming to New Zealand.

“Seeing the facilities and meeting the club people and Vanuatu community in person, gives me a lot of confidence that Christchurch can become a great home and pathway for Vanuatu football players.”


Caption 1: Vanuatu Football Federation President Lambert Maltock signs the partnership agreement with Christchurch United President Slava Meyn at the United Sport Centre.


Caption 2: Christchurch United President Slava Meyn, centre and Academy Director Jude Fitzpatrick, right, show Vanuatu Football Federation President Lambert Maltock around the United Sport Centre.

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VFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONS’ LEAGUE 2024 MATCH SCHEDULE.

Match schedule blong 2024 Pool A VFF National Champions League we bae stap long Santo.
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