As 2024 draws to a close, Manuarii Shan and his team-mates are among those counting down the days to New Year’s Eve. Thanks to their recent run, the Tahiti national team have secured a major tie in 2025, a year that could well go down in the nation’s history.

On 21 March, in Wellington, New Zealand, the Toa Aito will face their counterparts from New Caledonia, and the winners will have an incredible opportunity: not only will they reach a final, but they will be within touching distance of the FIFA World Cup 26™.

When FIFA spoke to Shan about the possibility of playing against Argentina, France or his idol Rodrygo’s Brazil, the striker could not contain his glee. “It would be incredible,” he said, “but I can’t even imagine it.”

Shan, who will celebrate his 21st birthday not long before the eagerly awaited OFC qualifying semi-final, is coach Samuel Garcia’s latest find. The attacker is one of those players who are both creative and technically gifted. “I like to get at defenders; it’s a gift, but you also have to work at it,” Shan said of his style of play. “All I needed was the confidence to impose my game a bit more.”

Although he failed to make a mark in the 3-0 loss to New Zealand, the Venus star dazzled in the 3-0 win against Samoa and the 2-0 victory over Vanuatu. His impact was felt in those matches even if he didn’t find the back of the net. That’s down to coach Garcia, who has played a big role in developing his charge’s talent.

“Being the youngest player in Tahiti’s starting 11 [is brilliant], and the confidence I was talking about, he’s the one who gave it to me,” Shan said, paying tribute to his coach. “He’s the kind of coach who knows when to have a laugh and when to crack on. And he knows how to motivate his players when they need it. His door is always open, he’s friendly with all of us and he doesn’t play favourites.”

Garcia has spent nearly 30 years in French Polynesia, and in that time, he has fully immersed himself in the local culture and football scene. He and Shan share a connection with Venus, where the former footballer coached in the past. It’s not uncommon for the young forward to catch a glimpse of his international boss at national league matches.

“He comes to watch our matches on Fridays from time to time and asks us how we’re doing,” explained the striker, “It’s a real boost having him in the stands.”

The Tahitian Ligue 1 is Garcia’s favourite hunting ground. Unsurprisingly so, as the competition serves up titanic tussles between Toa Aito team-mates every week, in which shared international allegiances temporarily go out of the window. “When we meet Pirae, Tefana or Dragon, it’s always a hard-fought battle. On the other hand, when we’re in the national team, we’ve got the ‘taho’e’ in us, as we say back home. It means we’re united,” explained Shan.

Because they have amateur status, players in Tahiti’s top division face a gruelling task, having to work other jobs alongside their football commitments. “I do odd jobs on the side, like gardening; I do a bit of everything,” said Shan, whose routine is similar to that of many professionals. “We have one training session a day and rest up 48 hours before the match.”

For local footballers, international gatherings have an undeniable buzz, in sharp contrast to the grind of their weekly routine. The OFC qualifiers for the 2026 showpiece have already taken the Tahitians to New Zealand, where they will return in March in the hopes of seeing their dream come to fruition. While making the national team is undoubtedly the pinnacle for any Tahitian footballer, the forthcoming semi-final against New Caledonia is likely to be one of the highlights of the current crop’s international careers.

“Our goal is to go all the way and make sure we come away with no regrets,” said Shan. If his side can get past Les Cagous, the Toa Aito will – at worst – be guaranteed a place in the FIFA Play-Off Tournament, where they are sure to come up against some fine footballing nations. “If that’s where we end up, then at least we’ll have achieved one goal,” admitted the striker, even if it’s clearly not the goal he has in mind.

To secure the OFC’s only direct ticket to North America in 2026, Tahiti would have to knock out Oceanian heavyweights and overwhelming favourites New Zealand, unless Fiji pull off a huge upset in the other semi-final. “They’re a hard team to play against. It’s all about concentration, energy and explosiveness,” Shan said of New Zealand.

When asked if beating the All Whites is achievable, the AS Venus striker is fully aware that “it will be very difficult.”

But to earn the right to take on this challenge, they must first overcome New Caledonia in three months – and that match cannot come soon enough for Shan and Co.