The Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) and Australian Government are excited to announce that the Australian under-17 national men’s football team, the CommBank Joeys, will return to Honiara this January to face off against the Solomon Islands under-19 national men’s team.
They will play two fixtures against Solomon Islands on Tuesday 20 January and Saturday 24 January at the National Stadium. The matches are part of a the three-match tour – the PacificAus Sports Football Tour 2026- which also includes a game on Saturday 17 January in Lautoka, Fiji.
Tickets will be available to purchase at the National Stadium on match days.
The trip is delivered in collaboration with SIFF, the Australian Government, and Football Australia, and funded by the Australian Government through its PacificAus Sports program.
The games will provide important match experience for young Solomon Islands players ahead of the 2026 OFC U-19 Championship.
The tour follows the CommBank Joeys’ successful 2024 visit to the region, which saw competitive and well-attended matches in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, contributing to deeper football development and strengthened ties across the Pacific.
President of the Solomon Islands Football Federation, Donald Marahare, welcomed the Joeys back to Honiara.
“The partnership between the Solomon Islands Football Federation, the Australian Government and Football Australia provides our young national players with the challenge of competing against quality opposition. It also strengthens ties that will create valuable pathways and opportunities for future generations of Solomon Islands footballers,” said President Marahare.
The acting Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Andrew Schloeffel, said the return visit highlighted the strong people-to-people links between the two countries.
“Solomon Islanders and Australians share a love of sport – that’s why support for elite athletes is a key part of the Solomon Islands-Australia Partnership.
“PacificAus Sports is getting the next generation of Solomon Islands footballers ready to shine on the world stage.”
The PacificAus Sports Football Tour 2026 is the latest initiative connecting Australia and the Pacific through football, marking the fifth tour or tournament between Australian and Pacific national teams since 2024.
The interim CEO of Football Australia, Heather Garriock, emphasised the long-term football partnership between Solomon Islands and Australia that made the tour possible.
“We are delighted to be taking the CommBank Joeys back to the Pacific in 2026. These matches create invaluable experiences for young players while strengthening the football partnerships that bind our countries together.
“Through the support of the Australian Government and PacificAus Sports, we are helping build pathways, deepen connections, and contribute to the long-term growth of the game across the region.
PacificAus Sports is an Australian Government sports diplomacy initiative developing pathways for Pacific teams and athletes to compete in elite competitions and access high performance coaching in Australia and internationally.
The program partners with Australian national sports organisations to support a range of Pacific sports, with funding split evenly between women and men.
About PacificAus Sports
PacificAus Sports is an Australian Government sports diplomacy initiative creating opportunities for Pacific athletes, coaches, officials and administrators to access high performance training and elite competition. The program partners with Australian national sports organisations to support a range of sports, including rugby league, rugby union, netball, football, AFL, cricket, tennis, basketball, and Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth sports.
PacificAus Sports also partners with the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) to promote Pacific sport through ABC Television’s ‘That Pacific Sports Show’ and ABC Radio’s ‘Fresh Off the Field’.
The high-performance outcomes of PacificAus Sports are complemented by the Australian Government’s Team Up program, which focuses on sport for development in the Pacific.
For more information about PacificAus Sports and its activities, visit www.pacificaussports.gov.au and follow PacificAus Sports on Facebook.
Editor Notes – Match Details:
| Date | Playing Squads | Location | Kick-Off Time |
| Tuesday 20 January 2026 | Australia’s U-17 men’s national team vs Solomon Islands’ U-19 men’s national team | National Stadium, Honiara | 6:00pm local time |
| Saturday 24 January 2026 | Australia’s U-17 men’s national team vs Solomon Islands’ U-19 men’s national team | National Stadium, Honiara | 4:00pm local time |
