Fiji’s Amateurs Gear Up for Challenging Quest to Qualify for the World Cup

As he assembles an amateur squad made up of policemen, builders, and transport workers, Fiji’s manager Rob Sherman is realistic about the challenge ahead. The Pacific Islanders aim to achieve the extraordinary and secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

Fiji needs to triumph over a significantly better-resourced New Zealand team in Wellington on March 21 during the semi-finals of the Oceania qualifying tournament.

A potential victory would set them up against either New Caledonia or Tahiti just three days later at Eden Park, with the ultimate prize being a direct spot in the 2026 event in North America.

Defeating New Zealand’s professional side could be Fiji’s crowning achievement in football, let alone at the World Cup stage.

Although Fiji may not match New Zealand in terms of skill and fitness, Sherman believes they can rival them in enthusiasm.

“Let’s not make any excuses. It’s going to be a challenging match,” the former assistant coach for Melbourne Victory stated in an interview with Reuters on Thursday.

“Realistically, they’re professionals and we’ve got a squad filled with amateurs.”

“We have to acknowledge that they’ll likely dominate possession. Therefore, it’s crucial for us to excel in our defensive play.”

Fiji is currently holding a training camp in Auckland for the next few days before heading to Wellington to continue their preparations.

The team’s spirits remain high, even in the absence of their star player Roy Krishna, the most capped and highest-scoring player in Fiji’s history.

Krishna, one of the few Fijians to enjoy a successful professional career, is sidelined for the qualifier due to a knee injury, a setback for a team that generally operates in the shadow of Fiji’s rugby legacy.

Funding is limited, making it difficult to secure player commitments.

Sherman’s squad, which includes several police officers, has to manage their regular jobs, and not all can take time off for training camps and matches.

He would like to include Fijians with heritage from overseas, like Melbourne-born centre-back Dan Hall, currently with A-League side Auckland FC.

However, overseas players would need to reside in Fiji for five years to obtain a passport—an unappealing prospect for many making a living abroad.

Sherman, a Welshman who has served as a technical director for football associations in Wales, Australia, and New Zealand, advocates for more professional opportunities for Fiji-born players in foreign leagues.

He hopes that Australia might relax strict foreign player caps in its professional leagues, potentially allowing for exceptions for Fijians and other players from Oceania.

This change could encourage A-League teams to take a chance on lesser-known talents from the Pacific, he suggested.

“There are some exceptionally talented young players here, many of whom have the potential to succeed,” he noted.

“But it’s obviously a tough call for clubs to forfeit a visa slot for an unproven player.”

Football Australia has not commented on the possibility of visa exemptions for players based in Oceania.

Back in Auckland, Sherman is concentrating on instilling confidence in his players that they can challenge New Zealand, whose supporters are expected to anticipate an easy victory.

There will likely be strong backing from New Zealand’s robust Fijian community for the underdogs.

“I’m sure the crowd will expect a straightforward win,” said Sherman.

“If we can manage to disrupt their play, the New Zealand players may become frustrated.”

“We’ll be adopting a defensive approach to some extent, but we’re also hoping to capitalise on our opportunities when we regain possession.”