Group B
Vanuatu 4-1 Samoa
Goals: Mitch Cooper (7), John Alick (36, 57), Bong Kalo (90+1); Nathan Viliamu (54)

In front of a vocal home crowd, Vanuatu have made a winning start to the second round of Oceania qualification for FIFA World Cup 26™, seeing off Samoa 4-1.

At the Freshwater Stadium in Port Vila, Vanuatu went ahead in just the seventh minute as Mitch Cooper bundled home from close range and only a fine goal-line clearance from Samoa captain Andrew Setefano prevented Alex Saniel from doubling the lead just shy of the half hour.

It didn’t take the hosts too much longer to do just that though as John Alick steered an effort home from a tight angle to send Vanuatu to the break two goals to the good.

First round qualifiers Samoa then pegged a goal back as a lofted ball from the back was well controlled by half-time substitute Nathan Viliamu who raced towards goal and fired past Dick Sablan to make it 2-1 in the 54th minute.

Alick then completed his brace, as he volleyed home from the top of the box after a parried save from Paul Taupau had fallen kindly into his path before a stunner from range from Bong Kalo rounded out the 4-1 win.

Vanuatu move level with New Zealand at the head of the Group B standings ahead of their meeting in Hamilton on 15 November, while Samoa face Tahiti on the same day.

What they said….
“It’s always tough when you come to Vanuatu, we have to do everything we can to stay as competitive as long as we can but their third goal sucked the wind out of us. We have a young squad; this will be a great learning experience.”
Jess Ibrom, Samoa coach

“Very proud of the team, very happy for the three points. We knew they would look to counter and they punished us once there but outside of that, the spirit, fighting, working on things we’ve been training on, all that went well.”
Juliano Schmeling, Vanuatu coach

How qualifying works
Samoa emerged victorious from the first round to join Oceania’s seven highest-ranked nations in the second round. That phase features two four-nation groups. Each team will face their section rivals once in matches played across October and November 2024, with the top two in each group then progressing to a decisive third stage of qualifying.