Fiji and Vanuatu have shared a long-standing rivalry in Melanesian football, with their history stretching back decades before the MSG Prime Minister’s Cup.

From the former Melanesian Cup to the OFC Men’s Nations Cup and the current MSG competition, the two Pacific neighbours have repeatedly met on the international stage.

Fiji holds the historical advantage

Fiji dominated the former Melanesian Cup, which ran from 1988 to 2000.

The country won the competition five times — in 1988, 1989, 1992, 1998 and 2000.

Vanuatu won the title once, in 1990, giving the country its only Melanesian Cup championship.

The MSG Prime Minister’s Cup later took the place of the former competition, returning in 2022.

Vanuatu adds a new chapter

While Fiji has five historical Melanesian titles, Vanuatu claimed the 2025 MSG Prime Minister’s Cup in Papua New Guinea.

The victory marked Vanuatu’s first major international football trophy in 25 years.

Both countries have made OFC history

The rivalry has also featured prominently in the OFC Men’s Nations Cup.

Fiji reached the semi-finals in 1998 and went on to win the bronze medal after beating Tahiti 4–2 in the third-place play-off.

Vanuatu made history at the 2024 OFC Men’s Nations Cup, co-hosted by Vanuatu and Fiji, by reaching the final of the competition for the first time.

Vanuatu defeated Fiji 2–1 in the semi-final before losing the final to New Zealand.

Fiji leads the head-to-head record

According to OFC records, Fiji and Vanuatu have met 37 times in international football.

Fiji has recorded 19 wins, Vanuatu 11, while the teams have drawn eight times.

The recent meetings have added further competition to that record, with Vanuatu securing victories in both the 2025 MSG Prime Minister’s Cup and their June 2026 meeting in Port Vila.

A rivalry moving forward

As both countries continue developing young players and preparing the next generation of national-team footballers, the rivalry is continuing into a new era.

From the former Melanesian Cup to the MSG Prime Minister’s Cup, and from the OFC Nations Cup to international fixtures, the history between Fiji and Vanuatu reflects a rivalry that has become a long-standing part of Melanesian football.