Extra Premier League 2026 Set for Explosive Start with Five Round One Clashes
The wait is finally over as the Extra Premier League 2026 season kicks off this weekend with five exciting fixtures scheduled across the country, marking the beginning of another thrilling campaign in Fiji’s top-tier football competition. With clubs strengthening their squads through local transfers and overseas recruits, fans can expect a season filled with intense rivalries, unpredictable upsets, and fierce battles for early momentum. The opening match of the season will take place in the North on Saturday, where Labasa FC will host Nasinu FC at Subrail Park in Labasa. The season opener is set for 1:30 pm, with Labasa expected to draw strong support from their passionate northern fans. Nasinu, however, will be eager to spoil the party and begin their campaign with a valuable away result. One of the biggest highlights of Round One will be the much-anticipated Battle of the Cities fixture, as Suva FC travels to Churchill Park to face Lautoka FC on Sunday at 2pm. The rivalry between the two football giants is always guaranteed to attract massive attention, with both sides aiming to start their season with bragging rights and crucial points. In Nausori, newly promoted Tailevu Naitasiri will host arch-rivals and defending champions Rewa FC at Ratu Cakobau Park on Sunday at 3pm. The official opening ceremony for the Extra Premier League 2026 will take place at 2.25pm, adding extra significance to what is expected to be a fiery contest. Tailevu Naitasiri has strengthened its squad with several experienced signings ahead of its return to the top division, while Rewa enters the season looking to defend its league title despite losing a number of key players to the OFC Pro League. Meanwhile, in Ba, the Men-in-Black will begin their campaign at home when Dayal’s Sawmillers Ba FC hosts Coastal Rental Cars Nadroga FC at 4R Stadium, Govind Park at 3 pm. Ba has made major investments this season, recruiting top players from other districts and overseas, while Nadroga will go into the match as underdogs after opting to rebuild with mainly homegrown players. In Navua, Navua FC will take on Nadi FC at the Uprising Sports Ground at 3 pm. Nadi has strengthened with the return of former players and the addition of Solomon Island recruits, while Navua will rely on home advantage to overcome the loss of key players during the transfer window. With five matches set to ignite the opening round, the Extra Premier League 2026 promises to deliver high-quality football and intense competition from the first whistle.
Fiji Kulas Set for Friendly Against American Samoa
The Fiji National Women’s football team will take on American Samoa in an international friendly this Saturday at the Fiji FA Academy in Ba, in what Head Coach Nikola Demaine describes as a vital preparation match ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 Oceania Qualifiers. Demaine believes the encounter comes at the perfect time as the squad continues to fine-tune combinations and build momentum leading into the qualifiers, which are just weeks away. “It’s going to be a good build-up match as we have just a few weeks away for the qualifiers,” said Demaine. “These types of games are important for us to test our structures, build match fitness, and strengthen combinations under real match conditions.” The coach emphasized that the team has shown steady improvement in recent training sessions, with a strong sense of unity developing within the squad. “The team is gelling well. The players have been working extremely hard at training, and there’s a positive energy in the camp. You can see that they are hungry and motivated,” she said. “We’re focusing on consistency, quick transitions, and being more clinical in front of the goal.” Demaine also confirmed the arrival of two overseas-based players who have boosted the squad’s depth and experience. USA-based Trina Davis and New Zealand-based Ka’iulani Scott joined the team last week and have quickly integrated into the setup. “Having Trina and Ka’iulani join the squad has been fantastic,” Demaine said. “They bring valuable international exposure and professionalism. They’ve slotted in well, and their presence lifts the overall standard of the group.” While the friendly is primarily about preparation, Demaine made it clear that the team will approach the match with a competitive mindset. “We want to build a winning mentality. Every time we step onto the field, we represent Fiji, and that comes with pride and responsibility,” she said. “This match is about sharpening our game, but it’s also about setting the tone for what we want to achieve in the qualifiers.”
OFC Consultant Patrice Praises Fiji FA Progress Following FIFA Amateur Football Environment Workshop
Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Regional Consultant Flaccadori Patrice has highlighted the importance of Fiji understanding its current position in amateur football development, following the conclusion of the FIFA Amateur Football Environment Workshop held at Shangri-La Yanuca Island last week. Patrice explained that the programme was launched after FIFA initiated a global review of amateur football structures worldwide. “This programme has been implemented for two years, almost three years now, because FIFA decided to make a massive analysis of what amateur football is in the world,” Patrice said. He said the initiative began in 2023 and required significant global cooperation from FIFA Member Associations. “We started in 2023 with a massive collaboration with all the Member Associations in the world to collect data, and also some data from surveys. So, 185 Member Associations have participated in this massive programme,” he said. Patrice stressed that Fiji’s involvement in the programme was important as it gives the Fiji Football Association a clearer understanding of where the country stands in terms of amateur football. “For Fiji, it’s really important to know at what stage Fiji football is in terms of amateur football and in terms of development,” he said. He added that the report serves as a snapshot of Fiji football’s current status and will guide future strategies. “It will be the opportunity to take a picture at one moment and analyse what they have to do in terms of strategy,” Patrice said. According to Patrice, the findings highlight key areas where Fiji can strengthen its football pathway, particularly at the grassroots level. “We have seen through this report that there is a need to increase the number of players in grassroots, to develop more the base of the pyramid, and to establish a really solid foundation,” he said. Patrice also pointed out that the growth of women’s football should remain a major priority, especially in developing more female coaches and players. “We have also identified the lack in terms of women coaches’ numbers, and women players as well. So, focusing on those two points would be a really massive opportunity to develop everything,” he added. Having visited Fiji over the past three years, Patrice said he has witnessed noticeable progress and praised the Fiji Football Association for being proactive in its development work. “I have been visiting Fiji for three years now, and I have seen the progression in terms of development. Fiji Football Association is a proactive federation,” he said. However, he noted that stronger coordination between stakeholders could further improve development efforts across the country. “There are a lot of things to do, maybe to coordinate a little bit more the initiatives between the stakeholders, but you have a really good organisation, and the development is really good,” Patrice said. Patrice also spoke about the use of a “Fiji galaxy” tool, which he said provides a clear picture of stakeholder alignment and collaboration within the football system. “This ‘Fiji galaxy’ is done to show in a snapshot the current situation. It’s also an analysis on the collaboration between stakeholders… you can see if they are aligned with Fiji FA or not,” he explained. He said the tool can assist Fiji FA in identifying areas where collaboration should be strengthened. “It could be really useful for Fiji to take into account this galaxy… it could be a tool for you to identify which collaborators or stakeholders you want to increase collaboration with,” Patrice added. Patrice acknowledged the extensive work involved in gathering the information and validating the data, including the completion of templates and online meetings to cross-check findings. “It was a massive work to do… the process was to fulfil some templates, and from the Member Association side it was a really massive work,” he said. Despite the workload, Patrice commended Fiji FA for their support and cooperation throughout the process. “It was a massive work, but it was easy with Fiji Football Association,” he said. The FIFA Amateur Football Environment Workshop is part of FIFA’s wider efforts to support Member Associations by strengthening grassroots structures and ensuring long-term sustainable football development.
Rewa Take First-Leg Advantage Over Labasa
Defending champions Rewa FC have taken an early advantage in the Pillay Garments Champion vs Champion series after edging Labasa FC 1-0 in the first leg at Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori on Sunday. Rewa struck early through Mosese Nabose, who scored the lone goal of the match in the 7th minute to give the Delta Tigers a crucial lead heading into the return leg. Rewa had the chance to extend their advantage in the second half, but captain Patrick Joseph missed a penalty in the second half. Labasa’s task became more difficult when defender Iowane Matanisga was shown a red card in the second half. He will now miss the second leg as the Babasiga Lions look to overturn the deficit. Despite the narrow defeat, Labasa head coach Alvin Chand praised his players for their effort and discipline, especially after being reduced to 10 men. “I’d like to thank my boys. We did really well though we lost. Even though we were 10 men, we maintained composure in our defensive state,” Chand said. Chand admitted the difference came down to taking chances, with Rewa capitalising on their opportunity while Labasa failed to score. “Goals matter in football. We could not score and Rewa got one chance and they scored,” he added. However, Chand remains confident his side can bounce back, saying the two-leg format gives Labasa time to regroup and improve. “It’s a two-leg tournament. We have one whole week to prepare and we have now seen the areas of improvement since our squad has gone through a lot of changes,” he said. The Labasa coach also assured fans that the team will work hard to deliver a memorable performance in the second leg. “I assure the fans that we will try to give a performance that is memorable for them,” Chand said. Rewa FC head coach Priyant Manu was pleased with the victory, saying it was an important start to the tournament, especially with several key players missing. “It’s a great start coming into this tournament. We were without so many players, but the boys stepped up when needed and a first win is very important for us,” Manu said. Manu stressed the importance of finishing chances, admitting his side missed opportunities that could have sealed a bigger win. “That is football. If you take your chances, you will win. We did take our chances, but I think we missed a few crucial goals,” he said. He highlighted that Rewa is still building with new combinations, including players brought in from the club’s youth system and recruits from the Solomon Islands. “We brought in the new boys, some from our youth system and some from Solomons. So they stood up when needed,” Manu said. Manu added that the team will continue to work on ball management and finishing ahead of the return leg. He also praised the supporters who turned up despite wet conditions, saying their presence boosted team morale. The second and final leg will be played this Saturday at Subrail Park in Labasa at 1.30pm, where Rewa will only need a draw to retain the Champion vs Champion title, while Labasa must win to keep their hopes alive.
Rewa Eye Strong Start in Champion vs Champion Title Defence
Defending champions Rewa FC are preparing to protect their Champion vs Champion crown with a revamped squad, and head coach Priyant Manu believes his side is showing encouraging signs ahead of the Pillay Garments Champion vs Champion first-leg clash against long-time rivals Labasa FC. Manu confirmed the side has completed four weeks of preparation, even after losing a significant number of players during the recent transfer window. “The preparation has been well. We’ve been training for the past four weeks and there are positive signs, even though we lost around 12 players. Some left during the transfer window, but we’ve brought in new boys and hopefully we put on a good show at CVC,” Manu said. Rewa have lost their entire attacking unit, including Tevita Waranivalu, Setareki Hughes, John Alick, Ivan Kumar, Asivorosi Rabo, Delon Shankar and Josaia Sela, forcing the defending champions to rethink their attacking approach. “It’s hard to replace them. We can defend, but if we don’t utilise our chances, we won’t be able to win,” he added. With only seven to eight senior players remaining, Manu says youth players and new inclusions have responded well in training. “The new boys, mostly our youth, have been doing well. It’s about how quickly they adapt so that come game day, everyone is on the same page.” Manu also acknowledged the growing pressure from Rewa supporters as the side looks to defend the Champion vs Champion title. “To win a trophy is easy, but to defend it is harder. The pressure is coming, but we’re focusing on the first game and aiming for a positive result.” He highlighted the inclusion of Sitiveni Rakai and Solomon Islands import Norman Ngahu, saying their experience will add depth to the squad. “It will be a new Rewa FC in terms of players, but the game style remains the same. The boys are adapting very well.” Rewa FC take on Labasa FC in the Pillay Garments Champion vs Champion first leg this Sunday at 3pm at Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori. Looking ahead to Labasa, Manu expects a tough contest given the rivalry between the two sides. “They’ve gone through a similar phase, losing players but bringing in experienced ones. With our history against Labasa, we know it will be a tough game.” He urged fans to continue backing the team during the rebuilding phase. “Keep supporting the boys. We are rebuilding, and the results will come.”
Kulas camp on track ahead of Oceania Qualifiers – Demaine
Fiji Kulas head coach Nicola Demaine says preparations are on track ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Oceania Qualifiers, which will be played in Ba later this month. “Things are going really well in camp. We’ve got 22 players here and everyone has now been fitness assessed, so we’ve started our fitness programme,” Demaine said. “The girls have been doing endurance training, they were in the gym yesterday, and we’ve also had some really good on-field sessions.” With limited time before the qualifiers, Demaine says the focus has been on simplifying key aspects of play. “We don’t have a lot of time, so we’re keeping things nice and simple. We’ve been working on how we want to play when we build up from the back, and this week we’ll focus on how we’re going to defend. Finishing is something we work on every week.” Demaine says the response from the players has been encouraging. “They’re responding really well. There’s a very positive feeling around camp right now and the players are buying into what we’re trying to do.” She also highlighted the physicality and leadership within the squad. “I’m really happy with what we’ve got here. The physicality, the mindset, and the way the older players are helping the younger ones has been really pleasing. I think we’ve got something really good.” Demaine says the squad is expected to be boosted with the arrival of overseas-based players. “We’re hoping to get some overseas players joining us as soon as possible, maybe sometime next week.”
Fiji FA Remains Financially Stable Despite Challenges – Patel
Fiji Football Association president Rajesh Patel says the organisation remains financially stable despite operating in a challenging environment, according to its financial results for the period January to December 2025. Patel said that although Fiji FA had budgeted for a deficit of around $300,000, the final outcome reflected prudent financial management. He also rejected criticism that district associations were not receiving adequate funding, saying such claims were misleading. “If you look at the summary of district payments, including prize money and grants, the figures speak for themselves,” Patel said. According to figures presented, Rewa received $118,000 after winning several tournaments during the year, while Labasa received $129,000 through a combination of tournament winnings, league participation payments, travel grants and other forms of support. Patel said senior division teams also benefited significantly, with some receiving more than $42,000 during the year. “People say we are not giving enough money. That is a total lie,” he said. “We spend over $800,000 on districts.” Patel also outlined the distribution of gate shares from the FMF Inter-District Championship (IDC), which will be finalised once calculations are completed. He said the top four teams in the Premier Division would receive approximately $10,000 each, while the bottom four would receive more than $6,000. In the senior division, the top six teams are expected to receive around $5,000, with the bottom four receiving about $3,000. Addressing criticism of Fiji FA’s move into pay-per-view broadcasting, Patel said the initiative reflected modern trends in sports consumption. “As the CEO has said, we had more than 45,000 people through the gates, and pay-per-view generated $170,000 in gross income,” he said. Patel said the model also allowed fans who could not attend matches in person to access the competition. “If you give the right product, if the teams are good and the competition is better, people will come and people will watch,” he said. He stressed that revenue generated was not retained solely by Fiji FA but reinvested into national team programmes, youth development and district football. “At the end of the day, all the districts benefit,” Patel said. “This is how we ensure development continues and that future players keep coming through for our national men’s and women’s teams.”
Baltase Targets Growth in Women’s Football, Equal Access to Development
Fiji Football Association Technical Director David Baltase says increasing participation and improving the development pathway for women’s football are major priorities for the Association this year. Speaking at the Fiji FA Council meeting, Baltase said Fiji FA is working to expand the female player pool, strengthen talent identification and provide equal access to high-level training for girls. “Our development centres will be open not only for boys, but for girls as well,” Baltase said. “We want to see girls training in these centres.” He said there is also the possibility that one or two elite female players could join the FIFA Academy in the future, potentially as early as next year. “It is not impossible,” Baltase said. “We will see how it can be done.” Baltase said one of the key drivers of growth in women’s football has been the Under-14 school leagues, which currently involve 47 schools and around 500 players. “These are very positive numbers,” he said. “We need to continue developing the girls’ programme.” He said Fiji FA will continue to launch and expand competitions and leagues for girls as participation grows. Baltase also praised the success of the Just Play programme, describing it as one of the strongest development tools currently operating in schools. “The Just Play programme is running really well in Fiji,” he said. “Schools are very happy to receive it.” He said Just Play continues to promote the values of football, basic skills and participation at grassroots level, particularly in schools. Baltase also highlighted the importance of safeguarding, noting that FIFA places strong emphasis on protecting participants in football. “With Filomena Liku travelling to Switzerland for safeguarding training, we will come back stronger,” he said. “Safeguarding is essential to ensure everyone can practise football in good conditions.” He said Fiji FA will continue to strengthen safeguarding systems across the country to provide protection for all players, officials and participants. Concluding his address, Baltase said quality would be the Federation’s key focus this year. “It is good to have a large pool and many programmes,” he said. “But the quality of the work is what really matters.” Baltase said FIFA’s guiding principle of “giving every talent a chance” remains central to Fiji FA’s development strategy.
New U14 School Competition Planned for Girls
Fiji Football Association Technical Director David Baltase has confirmed the introduction of a new Under-14 girls’ competition at school level, as part of FIFA’s youth development framework. Speaking at the Fiji FA Council meeting, Baltase said the programme will follow FIFA’s recommended structure and will be implemented in schools using a 7-a-side (7v7) format. He said the initiative will be overseen by Luisa, who will be responsible for coordinating the programme across participating schools. “For the girls, we will have a new category at Under-14 level in schools,” Baltase said. “This follows the FIFA implementation model, with a 7v7 format.” Baltase said the Federation will retain the existing girls’ competition structure for now, with no immediate changes to other age categories. He explained that while Fiji FA is keen to expand opportunities for girls, the decision to hold off on additional categories is based on the current player pool, which is still being assessed. “At this moment, we believe the pool is big enough to implement this Under-14 category,” Baltase said. “But we are not yet sure about adding further categories, so we will keep things as they are for now.” He said the Federation will continue to monitor participation levels and performance, with the possibility of further expansion once numbers increase. Baltase added that the introduction of the U14 school competition is an important step in strengthening the girls’ football pathway, ensuring players receive structured competition at an early age.
Extra Premier League to Kick Off on February 21 as Fiji FA Locks in Packed 2026 Calendar
The Extra Premier League 2026 season will kick off on the weekend of February 21–22, with no room for postponements as the Fiji Football Association prepares for a tightly packed domestic and international football calendar. The Premier League calendar was circulated to districts and approved by the Fiji FA Board last weekend. Fiji FA has confirmed that the league must conclude by September 30, as Fiji will immediately host the Prime Minister’s Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Cup, followed closely by the FMF Inter-District Championship (IDC). “There is absolutely no room for postponement,” Fiji FA CEO Mohammed Yusuf said. “This is a very tight calendar. If districts are unable to secure their home grounds, matches will be played at alternative venues. We have to ensure the Extra Premier League finishes on time because of the MSG Cup and FMF IDC that follow immediately after.” The opening round of the Extra Premier League will begin on February 21, continuing through early March before breaking for the March FIFA international window, during which districts are expected to schedule their Regional League competitions. Extra Premier League action will resume after Easter, with Round Six starting on April 24, followed by fixtures running through May. A mid-season transfer window will open from June 1 to June 15. The Fiji FACT tournament will be staged in Labasa, with pool matches confirmed for June 19–21. However, due to venue availability issues at Subrail Park, the semi-finals and final have been provisionally booked for HFC Bank Stadium in Suva on June 26 and 27. Fiji FA said it will write to the relevant authorities regarding the use of Subrail Park, noting the wider economic impact of hosting major football events. Extra Premier League action will resume in July and August before a scheduled break to accommodate the OFC Champions League, which will be hosted in Fiji, with Rewa FC representing Fiji. Following the Champions League, the Extra Supermarket Battle of the Giants (BOG) will be held from September 4-6, with the semi-finals and finals the following week. The final rounds of the Extra Premier League will then be played before the MSG Tournament in Suva, followed immediately by the IDC, scheduled for October 6 to 11.