The Kiribati men's national football team is the national men's football team of Kiribati and is controlled by the Kiribati Islands Football Association. Kiribati is not a member of FIFA but is an associate member of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), and is therefore not eligible to enter the FIFA World Cup but may enter the OFC Nations Cup. It became a provisional member of the N.F.-Board on 10 December 2005.
Background
Kiribati have only ever played 11 International matches up to April 2012 where they scored 7 goals and conceded 125. All of these matches were played away from home due to the lack of grass pitches in the archipelago. The Bairiki National Stadium has a sand pitch rather than grass. Kiribati's first match took place in Fiji on 30 August 1979 when they played Fiji, losing 24–0 in a South Pacific Games match. The side have never won a match but came very close when they lost 3–2 to fellow minnows Tuvalu on 30 June 2003 in Pool A of the South Pacific Games in Fiji, as well as losing 4–2 in penalties to Tuvalu in the consolation round of the 1979 South Pacific Games. Kiribati's only two goals in the 2011 Pacific games were scored by Karotu Bakaane versus Papua New Guinea and Erene Bakineti versus Tahiti, but in the 2003 competition, both goals against Tuvalu came from Lawrence Nemeia on the 26th minute and the 46th minute.
In 2012, Scotsman Kevin McGreskin became the team's coach, with the aim of improving its results and obtaining recognition from FIFA.
On 6 May 2016, Kiribati was formally accepted as the newest member of ConIFA (Confederation of Independent Football Associations), becoming the first ever Oceanic member to join the federation. Kiribati hosted an official visit from ConIFA in November 2016 for the national football competition in Tarawa – Taiwan Sport Tournament – with ConIFA documenting the tournament whilst in the country. Kiribati qualified for the 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup held in England, but were forced to withdraw and were replaced with Tuvalu. The team were also entered in the 2023 Pacific Games, but withdrew a fortnight before the tournament began.
Coaching history
- Pine Iosefa (2003–2011)
- Kevin McGreskin (2012)
- Jake Kewley (2015-present)
Last squad
:Squad selected for the 2011 Pacific Games.
:Players' club teams and players' age as of 27 August 2011 – the tournament's opening day
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Player records
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
|+Most appearances
|-
!width=30px|Rank
!class="unsortable" style="width:175px;"|Name
!width=50px|Caps
!width=50px|Goals
!class="unsortable" style="width:100px;"|Career
|-
|1
|align=left|Nabaruru Batiri
|8
|0
|2003–2011
|-
|2
|align=left|Tarariki Tarotu
|6
|0
|2003–2011
|-
|rowspan=12|3
|align=left|Tebwaia Baikawa
|4
|0
|2003
|-
|align=left|Naingimea Beiaruru
|4
|0
|2003
|-
|align=left|Atanuea Eritara
|4
|0
|2011
|-
|align=left|Kaben Ioteba
|4
|0
|2011
|-
|align=left|Ruevita Iotin
|4
|0
|2003
|-
|align=left|Nabuaka Itimaroroa
|4
|0
|2003
|-
|align=left|Tokabi Kaiorake
|4
|0
|2003
|-
|align=left|Biitamatang Keakea
|4
|0
|2011
|-
|align=left|Ukenio Kobuti
|4
|0
|2003
|-
|align=left|Martin Miriata
|4
|0
|2011
|-
|align=left|Antin Nanotaake
|4
|0
|2011
|-
|align=left|Enri Tenukai
|4
|0
|2011
|-
|}
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
|+Top goalscorers
|-
!width=30px|Rank
!class="unsortable" width=150px|Name
!width=50px|Goals
!width=50px|Caps
!width=50px|Ratio
!class="unsortable" width=100px|Career
|-
|1
|align="left"|Lawrence Nemeia
|2
|3
|
|2003
|-
|rowspan=2|2
|align="left"|Karotu Bakaane
|rowspan=2|1
|3
|
|2011
|-
|align="left"|Erene Bwakineti
|3
|
|2011
|-
|}
<small>Note: Missing goalscorers from 1979.</small>
Competitive record
Pacific Games Record
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;font-size:100%;"
!colspan=10|Pacific Games
|-
!Year
!Host
!Round
!
!
!
!
!
!
!Source
|-
|colspan=2|1963 to 1975||colspan=8
|-
|1979||align=left|||Group stage||3||0||1||2||3||40||
|-
|2
|
|Bidesi Park, Suva (N)
|
|align=center bgcolor=#ffdddd|0–13
|1979 South Pacific Games
|
|align=center|—
|
|-
|5
|
|National Stadium, Suva (N)
|
|align=center bgcolor=#ffdddd|0–7
|2003 South Pacific Games
|
|align=center|
|
|-
|9
|
|Stade Boewa, Boulari Bay (N)
|
|align=center bgcolor=#ffdddd|0–3
|2011 Pacific Games
|
|align=center|—
|