Solomon Islands national football team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Solomon Islands women's national football team.

Solomon Islands
NicknameBonitos
AssociationSolomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF)
ConfederationOFC (Oceania)
Head coachJosh Smith
CaptainJoses Nawo
Most capsHenry Fa'arodo (64)
Top scorerCommins Menapi (34)
Home stadiumNational Stadium,
Lawson Tama Stadium
FIFA codeSOL
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 152 (22 December 2025)[1]
Highest120 (October 2007, April 2008)
Lowest200 (January–March 2016)
First international
 Solomon Islands 6–3 New Hebrides 
(Suva, Fiji; 30 August 1963)
Biggest win
 Solomon Islands 16–0 Cook Islands 
(Papeete, Tahiti; 21 August 1995)
Biggest defeat
 Tahiti 18–0 Solomon Islands 
(Suva, Fiji; 8 December 1963)
OFC Nations Cup
Appearances8 (first in 1980)
Best resultRunners-up (2004)
Melanesia Cup / MSG Prime Minister's Cup
Appearances11 (first in 1988)
Best resultMelanesia Cup: Champions
(1994)
MSG Prime Minister's Cup: Champions
(2023)

The Solomon Islands men's national football team is the national football team of Solomon Islands, administered by the Solomon Islands Football Federation. The Solomon Islands national football team was founded in 1978. They were officially recognised by FIFA a decade later, in 1988.[3]

History

During the 2004 Oceania World Cup qualification/Oceania Cup the team drew 2–2 with Australia and qualified for the second leg. In the second leg, the Solomon Islands national men's team were thrashed by Australia 5–1 and 6–0 in the two matches, with Australia qualifying for the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup.

The Solomons got a second chance against the Socceroos in a two-legged series in September 2005, this time with the winner advancing to a two-legged series against CONMEBOL's fifth-place finisher for a berth in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and the team was thrashed by Australia 7–0 on the first leg and 2–1 in the second played at home.

The Solomons were knocked out of the 2010 FIFA World Cup – having got off to a good start winning every game in their qualifying group and comfortably progressing to the knockout rounds, defeats to New Caledonia and then to Vanuatu saw them knocked out of the competition.

In 2012, the Solomon Islands held the 2012 OFC Nations Cup which was also the second round of World Cup qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup where they finished in fourth place after qualifying through to the knockout stage by defeating Papua New Guinea and having draws against Fiji and New Zealand. They lost in the semi-final after they lost to the champions Tahiti after Jonathan Tehau scored the only goal. They later lost to New Zealand in the third-place playoff. The third round of World Cup qualifying saw the team finish bottom of the group after only taking one win against Tahiti.

After first taking charge of the team in 2017, Spaniard Felipe Vega-Arango was appointed for his second stint in June 2021.[4]

In 2019, they went on a three-week training tour in Netherlands.[5]

In June 2023, Solomon Islands played their friendly match against Southeast Asia countries, Singapore and Malaysia. Solomon Island won the 2023 MSG Prime Minister's Cup after winning against Papua New Guinea (3–1), Vanuatu (1–0) and New Caledonia (1–0) as Raphael Lea'i clinch the golden boots as the tournament top scorer with four goals.

Team image

Kit sponsorship

Kit lier Period
Lotto 2004–2013
Bocini 2014
OFC 2015
None 2016
Veto 2017
UCAN 2019–2022
SUNAIS 2022–2024
Veto 2024–

Sponsors

Results and fixtures

Main articles: Solomon Islands national football team results (1963–1999) and Solomon Islands national football team results (2000–present)

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2024

9 December 2024 MSG Prime Minister's Cup Solomon Islands  4–1  Vanuatu Honiara, Solomon Islands
15:00 UTC+11
  • Boyers 22' (pen.), 48.'
  • Keana 30', 79'
 Nicolas King 52' Stadium: Lawson Tama Stadium
12 December 2024 MSG Prime Minister's Cup Solomon Islands  2–0  Solomon Islands B Honiara, Solomon Islands
15:00 UTC+11 Stadium: Lawson Tama Stadium
18 December 2024 MSG Prime Minister's Cup Papua New Guinea  3–2  Solomon Islands Honiara, Solomon Islands
16:00 UTC+11 Stadium: Lawson Tama Stadium
21 December 2024 MSG Prime Minister's Cup Solomon Islands  1–3  Fiji Honiara, Solomon Islands
18:00 UTC+11 Stadium: Lawson Tama Stadium

2025

13 November 2025 MSG Prime Minister's Cup Papua New Guinea  1–0  Solomon Islands Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
16:00 UTC+10
  • P. Paul 75'
 Report Stadium: PNG Football Stadium
20 November 2025 MSG Prime Minister's Cup semi-final Vanuatu  2–1  Solomon Islands Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
19:00 UTC+10
  • Andrew 32'
  • Loloa 40'
 Report
  • Supa 44'
 Stadium: PNG Football Stadium
22 November 2025 MSG Prime Minister's Cup third place match Fiji  Abandoned (1–1)  Solomon Islands Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
17:00 UTC+10
Report
Stadium: PNG Football Stadium

Coaching staff

Position Name
Head coach Josh Smith[6]
Assistant coach Moses Toata[6]
Goalkeeper coach Tibon Oge
Kit Manager Augustine Hou
Team Manager Dixion Lauia Anga

Coaching history

Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification against Fiji on 10 October 2024.[10]

Caps and goals correct as of 10 October 2024, after the match against Fiji.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Philip Mango (1995-08-28) 28 August 1995 45 0 Central Coast
1GK Michael Laulae (2002-05-20) 20 May 2002 4 0 Henderson Eels
1GK Harold Nauania (1997-10-10) 10 October 1997 2 0 Real Kakamora
2DF Javin Wae (2002-11-17) 17 November 2002 20 0 Campbelltown City
2DF Leon Kofana (2002-06-22) 22 June 2002 21 0 PNG Hekari
2DF David Supa (2000-12-21) 21 December 2000 14 0 Central Coast
2DF Calvin Ohasio (2000-04-05) 5 April 2000 12 0 Central Coast
2DF Junior David (2001-09-22) 22 September 2001 10 0 Central Coast
2DF Alick Stanton (1998-05-25) 25 May 1998 9 0 Central Coast
3MF Atkin Kaua (1996-04-04) 4 April 1996 40 5 Laugu United
3MF William Komasi (2000-06-10) 10 June 2000 21 1 Adelaide Omonia Cobras
3MF Don Keana (2000-09-09) 9 September 2000 6 0 Waneagu United
3MF Carlos Liomasia (1994-09-17) 17 September 1994 2 0 Tailevu
3MF Ben Fox (2001-07-06) 6 July 2001 1 0 Marist
3MF Jared Rongosulia (1995-11-06) 6 November 1995 0 0 Navua
3MF Paul Francis (2004-09-05) 5 September 2004 0 0 Real Kakamora
4FW Micah Lea'alafa (1991-06-01) 1 June 1991 28 8 Vipers FC
4FW Alvin Hou (1996-09-18) 18 September 1996 25 7 Solomon Warriors
4FW Raphael Lea'i (2003-09-09) 9 September 2003 22 11 Wollongong Wolves
4FW Bobby Leslie (2000-03-03) 3 March 2000 12 2 Central Coast
4FW Mohammad Mekawir (2000-07-27) 27 July 2000 7 0 Navua

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up within the last twelve months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Junior Petua (2003-12-30) 30 December 2003 0 0 Honiara City v.  Fiji, 20 March 2024
GK Timothy Mae'arasia (1995-06-19) 19 June 1995 2 0 Solomon Warriors 2023 Pacific Games
DF Prince Tahanipue (1995-01-13) 13 January 1995 10 0 Central Coast v.  Hong Kong, 5 September 2024
DF Loea Taisara (1989-06-02) 2 June 1989 3 0 Solomon Warriors v.  Hong Kong, 5 September 2024
DF Allen Peter (1995-09-11) 11 September 1995 18 0 Solomon Warriors 2024 OFC Men's Nations Cup
DF Steven Koti (2000-06-10) 10 June 2000 0 0 Kossa 2024 OFC Men's Nations Cup
DF Hadisi Aengari (1988-10-23) 23 October 1988 44 0 Solomon Warriors v.  Fiji, 20 March 2024
MF Tigi Molea (1992-09-24) 24 September 1992 11 3 Solomon Warriors v.  Hong Kong, 5 September 2024
MF Marlon Tahioa (1998-11-28) 28 November 1998 9 0 Central Coast v.  Hong Kong, 5 September 2024
MF Hudson Oreinima (1988-07-24) 24 July 1988 2 0 Central Coast 2024 OFC Men's Nations Cup
MF Hadyn Irodao (2002-10-29) 29 October 2002 0 0 Central Coast 2024 OFC Men's Nations Cup
MF Molis Gagame (1989-09-21) 21 September 1989 14 0 Kossa v.  Fiji, 20 March 2024
FW Joses Nawo (1988-05-03) 3 May 1988 55 8 Real Kakamora v.  Hong Kong, 5 September 2024
FW Dalton Saeni (2002-10-14) 14 October 2002 0 0 Marist v.  Hong Kong, 5 September 2024
FW Gagame Feni (1992-08-21) 21 August 1992 35 19 Kossa 2024 OFC Men's Nations Cup
FW Junior Fordney (1999-11-26) 26 November 1999 1 0 Central Coast 2024 OFC Men's Nations Cup
FW Norman Ngafu (1997-07-16) 16 July 1997 1 0 Marist 2023 Pacific GamesPRE

Player records

As of 21 December 2024[11]
Players in bold are still active with Solomon Islands.

Most appearances

Rank Name Caps Goals Career
1 Henry Fa'arodo 64 20 2002–2017
2 Joses Nawo 56 8 2011–present
3 Benjamin Totori 52 29 2007–2019
4 Atkin Kaua 47 6 2016–present
5 Philip Mango 45 0 2016–present
6 Hadisi Aengari 44 0 2011–present
7 Nelson Sale Kilifa 37 0 2004–2017
8 Commins Menapi 36 34 2000–2007
Batram Suri 36 14 1995–2005
10 Gagame Feni 35 19 2012–present

Top goalscorers

Rank Name Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Commins Menapi 34 36 0.94 2000–2007
2 Benjamin Totori 29 52 0.56 2007–2019
3 Henry Fa'arodo 20 64 0.31 2002–2017
4 Gagame Feni 19 35 0.54 2012–present
5 Batram Suri 14 36 0.39 1995–2005
6 Raphael Lea'i 12 27 0.44 2022–present
7 Noel Berry 10 15 0.67 1995–2000
8 Micah Lea'alafa 9 31 0.29 2016–present
9 John Orobulu 8 16 0.5 2018–present
Joses Nawo 8 56 0.14 2011–present

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pos. Pld W D L GF GA
1930 Not member of FIFA Not member of FIFA
1934
1938
1950
1954
1958
1962
1966
1970
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990 Did not enter Did not enter
1994 Did not qualify 1st Round 4 0 1 3 5 13
1998 2nd Round 8 3 3 2 22 23
2002 1st Round 4 2 0 2 17 10
2006 2nd 11 6 2 3 24 16
2010 SF 6 4 0 2 23 6
2014 4th 9 2 2 5 7 22
2018 2nd 9 4 1 4 10 16
2022 2nd 3 2 0 1 6 8
2026 2nd Round 3 1 0 2 4 5
2030 To be determined To be determined
2034
Total — 0/23 – – – – – – — 60 24 9 27 122 126

OFC Nations Cup

Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA
1973 Did not enter Did not enter
1980 Group stage 8th 3 0 0 3 3 21 N/a No qualification
1996 Semi-finals 3rd 2 0 0 2 1 3 Squad 4 4 0 0 10 1
1998 Did not qualify 4 2 1 1 8 7
2000 Third place 3rd 4 2 0 2 7 10 Squad 4 2 1 1 10 9
2002 Group stage 6th 3 0 1 2 3 9 Squad Qualified automatically
2004 Runners-up 2nd 7 3 1 3 10 17 Squad 4 3 1 0 14 1
2008 Did not qualify 6 4 0 2 23 6
2012 Fourth place 4th 5 1 2 2 5 6 Squad Qualified automatically
2016 Semi-finals 3rd 4 1 0 3 2 4 Squad
2024 Group stage 6th 2 0 0 2 0 4 Squad
Total Runners-up 8/11 30 7 4 19 31 74 — 22 15 3 4 65 24

Pacific Games

Pacific Games record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
1963 Fourth place 4th 3 1 0 2 6 26
1966 Group stage 6th 2 0 1 1 4 12
1969 Sixth place 6th 5 0 1 4 8 19
1971 did not enter
1975 Bronze medal 3rd 4 2 1 1 9 8
1979 Bronze medal 3rd 5 4 0 1 24 5
1983 Group stage 10th 3 1 0 2 0 11
1987 did not enter
1991 Silver medal 2nd 5 4 1 0 12 3
1995 Silver medal 2nd 6 4 0 2 34 10
2003 Group stage 5th 4 2 1 1 14 4
2007 Fourth place 4th 6 4 0 2 23 6
2011 Silver medal 2nd 7 5 0 2 21 6
2015 See Solomon Islands national under-23 football team
2019 Group stage 7th 5 2 1 2 30 9
Total Runners-up 12/15 55 29 6 20 185 119

Wantok Cup

Head-to-head record

As of 21 December 2024
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD WPCT
 American Samoa 4 4 0 0 40 1 +39 100.00
 Australia 10 0 1 9 8 55 −47 0.00
 Chinese Taipei 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 100.00
 Cook Islands 5 5 0 0 37 2 +35 100.00
 Fiji 44 8 16 20 47 79 −32 18.18
 Guam 3 3 0 0 24 2 +22 100.00
 Hong Kong 1 0 0 1 0 3 −3 0.00
 Kiribati 1 1 0 0 7 0 +7 100.00
 Macau 1 1 0 0 4 1 +3 100.00
 Malaysia 1 0 0 1 1 4 −3 0.00
 New Caledonia 29 11 3 15 35 58 −23 37.93
 New Zealand 14 0 2 12 11 52 −41 0.00
 Papua New Guinea 25 15 4 6 44 33 +11 60.00
 Samoa[a] 4 4 0 0 21 0 +21 100.00
 Singapore 2 0 1 1 4 5 −1 0.00
 Tahiti 24 5 3 16 26 76 −50 20.83
 Tonga 5 5 0 0 31 0 +31 100.00
 Tuvalu 4 4 0 0 29 1 +28 100.00
 Vanuatu[b] 36 23 7 6 81 38 +43 63.89
 Wallis and Futuna 3 3 0 0 23 1 +22 100.00
Total 217 93 37 87 474 411 +63 42.86
Source: 1963–99 results and 2000–present results
Notes:
  1. ^ Includes results as Western Samoa.
  2. ^ Includes results as New Hebrides.

Honours

Continental

Regional

Awards

Summary

Competition Total
OFC Nations Cup 0 1 1 2
Total 0 1 1 2

Historical kits

References

  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 22 December 2025. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  2. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 24 December 2025. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  3. ^ "Member Association – Solomon Islands". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 23 June 2007. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  4. ^ "Solomon Islands appoint new coach". 23 June 2021. Archived from the original on 23 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Historic training camp in Netherlands wrap-up". siff.com.sb. 5 June 2019. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d "New Head Coach Sets Ambitious Path Ahead". SFF. 1 September 2024.
  7. ^ "FIFA.com". 23 June 2007. Archived from the original on 23 June 2007.
  8. ^ "Solomons search for new coach". Oceania Football Confederation. 29 July 2016. Archived from the original on 29 July 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  9. ^ a b "MOLI APPOINTED FOR NATIONS CUP 2024". SIFF. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  10. ^ "Squad Announcement". Facebook. Solomon Islands Football Federation. 3 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Solomon Islands". National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2021.

Further reading

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