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 10 April 2015, Jake Kewley was officially appointed as the Manager and Ambassador for the Kiribati Islands National Football Team with the remit of liaising with the relevant footballing bodies to advance Kiribati's prior membership applications, with a FIFA application being drafted, finalised and submitted later that year.
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.
On October 8, 2026, 47 years after its debut as a national team, Kiribati won its first-ever match, handing a historic 6–0 thrashing to the Fijian football team Nadroga in a game played as part of the Fiji Inter-District Championship, a regional amateur football tournament.
History
Early years and Pacific Games
Kiribati made its international debut at the 1979 South Pacific Games in Fiji. The team was represented by the Flying Tigers club from South Tarawa and played its first match on 30 August 1979, losing 24–0 to Fiji. Kiribati subsequently lost 13–0 to Papua New Guinea, before drawing 3–3 with Tuvalu in the consolation tournament. Tuvalu won the match on penalties.
Kiribati did not return to the Pacific Games football tournament until 2003, when the team lost all four of its group matches, against Tuvalu, the Solomon Islands, Fiji and Vanuatu.
The national team made its third Pacific Games appearance at the 2011 Pacific Games in New Caledonia. Kiribati again failed to progress from the group stage, suffering defeats including a 17–1 loss to Papua New Guinea and a 17–1 loss to Tahiti.
International isolation and membership efforts
After several years of international inactivity, the Kiribati Islands Football Association joined CONIFA in 2016. The organisation subsequently visited Kiribati and held discussions about the national team's participation in future CONIFA competitions. According to CONIFA, Kiribati had previously applied for membership of the Oceania Football Confederation and FIFA in the early 2000s without being admitted.
Kiribati qualified for the 2018 CONIFA World Football Cup in London, but withdrew before the tournament because of financial constraints and was replaced by Tuvalu.
Kiribati was scheduled to return to the Pacific Games at the 2023 Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands, which would have been the men's national team's first appearance at the tournament since 2011. However, the team withdrew shortly before the Games began.
Renewed international ambitions
In 2026, the Kiribati Islands Football Federation renewed its efforts to gain full membership of the Oceania Football Confederation and FIFA, with the stated ambition of entering qualification for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
In 2026, OFC officials also conducted their first official visit to Kiribati, delivering development programmes in coaching, refereeing, futsal and beach soccer. Federation president Eriati Reebo said that Kiribati aimed to be able to compete internationally and regionally within three years.
Pine Iosefa
Fiji 24–0 Kiribati 
