Vanuatu Under-16 Men’s National Team will play its final match of the OFC Under-16 Men’s Championship against Samoa in the 7th and 8th place playoff in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

The match is scheduled for Thursday 23 July 2026 at 11am Vanuatu time at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium, where both teams will compete for their final ranking in the tournament.

Vanuatu entered the playoff following the group stage, where the young team faced strong opposition from across Oceania.

The team recorded a 4-2 loss against Tahiti, a 2-1 defeat to Solomon Islands, and a 7-0 loss against New Zealand in their final group match.

Despite the results, several Vanuatu players showed determination and attacking ability throughout the tournament, with Rohan Masauvakalo, Franso Shem and Russle Allaleo each scoring one goal for the team.

The OFC Under-16 Men’s Championship continues to provide an important pathway for young footballers across the Pacific, giving players the opportunity to compete against top regional teams and gain international experience.

Vanuatu has a long history in OFC age-group competitions, including hosting the OFC U-17 Championship in 1995 and 2013.

One of Vanuatu’s notable achievements came in 2013 when the national youth team reached the semi-finals of the OFC U-17 Championship, highlighting the country’s potential in developing young football talent.

Many players who progress through Vanuatu’s Under-15 and Under-16 programmes continue to represent the country at higher levels, including Under-19, Under-23 and senior national teams.

The Vanuatu U-16 team will now look to finish its OFC Championship campaign on a positive note when it meets Samoa in the final playoff match.