Kiribati seeks World Cup qualifying bid amid rising sea levels

The Guardian Sport • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 8, 2026, 10:00 AM

Last updated Jun 8, 2026

Kiribati seeks World Cup qualifying bid amid rising sea levels

Summary

Kiribati, an archipelago in the Pacific with 138,000 residents, aims to join the World Cup qualifying process for the 2030 tournament. The Kiribati football president, Eriati Reebo, highlights the significance of building a legacy through football as climate change threatens the nation’s existence. Kiribati strives to become a full member of the Oceania Football Confederation to enhance its competitiveness and soccer infrastructure before potential environmental impacts leave it uninhabitable.

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Key Details

•Kiribati seeks entry into World Cup qualifying for 2030.
•Eriati Reebo emphasizes legacy-building through football.
•The nation aims to professionalize its football setup.
•Kiribati has a unique geographic position in all four hemispheres.
•Environmental changes threaten the future of the islands.

Latest Updates

10:00 AMThe Guardian Sport — The Hotspot | ‘This may be our last chance’: rising sea levels threaten Kiribati’s World Cup dream

What they're saying

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In today’s newsletter: the Pacific islands hoping to enter World Cup qualifying before ocean level increase wipes them from the map “This is not just about football, it’s about building something from scratch,” Eriati Reebo, the Kiribati football president, explains. “A legacy, a story, that the world will always remember.” Kiribati, a group of Pacific islands south of Hawaii with 138,000 inhabitants, is seeking entry into World Cup qualifying for the 2030 tournament. Becoming a recognised international football team would help bring attention to the only nation on earth that sits within all four hemispheres, and one that is rapidly disappearing from the map. It could be the first, but certainly not the last, country to be engulfed by sea water, leaving it uninhabitable. And before that happens, it wants to professionalise the football setup and become a full member of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). This would both create a route to competing with bigger nations and help keep the Kiribati spirit alive. Continue reading...
— The Guardian Sportby Will Unwin

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The Guardian SportJun 8, 2026, 10:00 AM
The Hotspot | ‘This may be our last chance’: rising sea levels threaten Kiribati’s World Cup dream
In today’s newsletter: the Pacific islands hoping to enter World Cup qualifying before ocean level increase wipes them from the map “This is not just about football, it’s about building something from scratch,” Eriati Reebo, the Kiribati football president, explains. “A legacy, a story, that the world will always remember.” Kiribati, a group of Pacific islands south of Hawaii with 138,000 inhabitants, is seeking entry into World Cup qualifying for the 2030 tournament. Becoming a recognised international football team would help bring attention to the only nation on earth that sits within all four hemispheres, and one that is rapidly disappearing from the map. It could be the first, but certainly not the last, country to be engulfed by sea water, leaving it uninhabitable. And before that happens, it wants to professionalise the football setup and become a full member of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). This would both create a route to competing with bigger nations and help keep the Kiribati spirit alive. Continue reading...

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