SURREY footballer Abdullah Khairati made his Fiji international debut in a 3-3 draw against the Solomon Islands in the 2027 MSG Prime Ministers Cup in Fiji.
The 18-year-old, once described as a ‘diamond in the rough’, was identified as a potential Fijian international prospect during the 2024 FANCA Nations Cup in Fiji.
Former Fiji men’s national team coach Rob Sherman saw the youngster in action for Canada and spoke high about him to the Fiji coaching staff.
Two years later, Khairati earned his place in the Fiji U19 team for the OFC U19 Men’s Championship in Samoa.
He was a standout performer for the Junior Bula Boys, who narrowly missed qualification for the 2027 FIFA U20 World Cup following a 2–1 loss to Tahiti in the OFC U19 Men’s Championship.
Khairati’s performance led Fiji senior men’s head coach Stéphane Auvray to include the young footballer in the squad for the 2027 MSG Prime Ministers Cup.
The debut against the Solomon Islands marks a remarkable journey that began on the football fields of Surrey, British Columbia.
Khairati becomes the second Canadian-born footballer after Nicholas Prasad to represent Fiji, joining the national team alongside Fiji’s all-time leading capped player and captain, Roy Krishna.
Prasad, a defender, made his Fiji debut in 2019 under head coach Christophe Gamel.
Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Prasad came through youth development ranks in Surrey before joining the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2014, earning 5 caps.
For Fiji, Prasad has earned 11 international caps and later represented the country at the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa, where the team won a bronze medal.
For Khairati, the journey from Surrey to Fiji represents more than football.
It is an opportunity to reconnect with his roots, such as Prasad, and establish himself among Fiji’s emerging football talents.
Auvray added that young footballers are the future of football in Fiji and need all the support to develop their game.
“We need to allow young players to continue to develop their game at the international level.”
