Junior All Whites focused on good start

New Zealand have landed a seemingly formidable group featuring football powerhouses Cameroon, Uruguay and Portugal but the Waikato FC defender says a bite-sized approach is helping fuel confidence ahead of the country’s second-ever appearance at a FIFA U-20 World Cup.“We’ve got a lot of self belief in the squad but we’re taking one game at…

The draw show will begin at 3pm local time and from that point on the eyes of the footballing world will focus on Brazil and the fates of the teams hoping to qualify for the finals in just under three years’ time. The event will be conducted by FIFA’s Secretary-General, Jerome Valcke, and the first…

The teams posted the same result in their previous meeting in Honiara earlier this month and, despite creating plenty of opportunities in ideal conditions, could not avoid a repeat in front of the boisterous crowd.The match was nevertheless notable for the international debut of promising Vanuatu striker Jean Kaltack, who received a call up to…

The squad features six players from the Magenta club – New Caledonia’s representatives in the last O-League campaign – and two from Mont Dore, who will replace Magenta in this season’s edition of the Pacific’s premier club competition. Gaïtcha are also well represented with five members while Thio Sport and Lössi have two each.But a…

The games are part of a day-long beach soccer festival held at the Jardins de Paofai, the venue where the Tiki Toa qualified for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Italy by pulling off an upset win in the OFC Beach Soccer Championship.This weekend’s tournament offers the last opportunity for fans to meet the players…

As the big day edges closer, here’s a look at some eye-catching statistics from the qualifying competition’s history as well as a few records likely to crash en route to Brazil 2014. 19.3 million fans, a record number, clicked through the turnstiles during the 2010 preliminary campaign, producing an unsurpassed average attendance of 23,000. Leading…

The teams are using the matches to finalise their preparations for the upcoming Pacific Games and the first game takes place today at PVL Stadium in Port Vila. The second clash will be held on Saturday at the same venue to coincide with Vanuatu’s Independence Day celebrations.The Vanuatu squad is without the services of several…

The hosts have been placed in a strong-looking Group A with Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Guam, American Samoa and Tuvalu, and face one of their most challenging matches first up in the form of a youthful yet talented Vanuatu side.Vanuatu and Solomon Islands, both football-mad nations that produce plenty of skillful players, will be New Caledonia’s…