Fiji coach Ravinesh Kumar says the Oceania Under 20 football Championship, which kicks off in Suva today, is the opportunity of a lifetime for the region.
With New Zealand hosting next year's World Cup, the Oceania winner will join the
Junior All Whites in the tournament main draw.
Fiji are attempting to qualify for a FIFA world event for the first time and kick off proceedings against American Samoa on Friday afternoon.
Ravinesh Kumar says there's a lot of expectation on his team and now is the time to deliver.
"This is our lifetime opportunity. It's now or never: our greatest opponents in Oceania level is New Zealand and now New Zealand is not in there so this is one of the greatest opportunities Oceania countries have and Fiji are an advantage playing at home".
The Fiji National Sports Commission provided a further boost to the home team, presenting the Fiji Football Association with a cheque of $50,000 to assist the team's preparations.
In the other matches on Friday, Vanuatu take on New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea face Solomon Islands.
