Fiji and New Caledonia faced challenging beginnings in the FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup taking place in Qatar, with both teams suffering defeats in their opening group matches. Fiji fell 6-0 to Tunisia in Group D, while New Caledonia experienced a 6-1 loss to Portugal in Group B.
Fiji, competing in their inaugural FIFA U-17 World Cup, encountered a powerful Tunisian side at the Aspire Zone in Doha. Despite the lopsided scoreline, Fiji showcased early resilience and defensive organization. Goalkeeper Melvin Prakash played a vital role in keeping his team in the game during Tunisia’s early pressure. However, Tunisia found the net in the 30th minute, and before halftime, their advantage grew to two goals. The second half saw Tunisia extend their lead with four additional goals. Fiji will continue their journey against Belgium in their next match, looking to learn from their opener and improve.
New Caledonia, entering their third FIFA U-17 World Cup, made headlines by taking an early lead against Portugal. After being denied a goal by VAR, New Caledonia’s Ezekiel Wamowe converted a penalty at the 11-minute mark, marking their first World Cup goal since a memorable draw with Japan in 2017. However, Portugal equalized shortly after and was relentless in their pursuit as they scored five goals in the second half. Despite the heavy defeat, New Caledonia demonstrated significant spirit and skill, holding their own for a substantial portion of the match. They will face Japan next, hoping to bounce back and build on their initial momentum.
As the tournament progresses, New Zealand is set to kick off their campaign against Mali, representing the Oceania region alongside Fiji and New Caledonia. Matches from the tournament are being streamed live on FIFA+, and New Zealand games are available on TVNZ.
This year’s tournament highlights not only the challenges faced by these teams but also their determination and potential for growth on the international stage. As they navigate their group stages, fans and supporters look forward to seeing how these young athletes learn and adapt in such competitive settings.