Solomon Islands players celebrate on their way to the World Cup Photo: OFC
Solomon Islands will step onto the U17 World Cup stage for the first time tomorrow morning.
The Oceania U16 runners-up will kick off their campaign against perennial contenders Italy in Group F.
Italy qualified for the Brazil-based tournament by reaching the final of the European age group competition, where they lost to the Netherlands.
The Solomon Islands Football Federation website reported that national coach Stanley Waita was confident in his team's preparations.
Waita said his team was ready to go up against their European opponents.
"We are ready, actually we don't know Italy very well but what we know they are one of the football powerhouses we watch some of their videos and we are working on how we gonna play them," Waita said.
"We are the underdogs in the world cup and we will go in the field to compete".
After Italy, Solomon Islands will play Mexico and Paraguay who are also in Group F.
Solomons coach, Stanley Waita Photo: OFC / Shane Wenzlick
Meanwhile fellow Oceania qualifiers New Zealand have lost their opening match of the tournament.
The Kiwis went down 2-1 to Angola in Group A over the weekend.
