Aliana Vakaloloma
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Aliana Amelia Ilse Vakaloloma[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 13 October 2008[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Spokane, Washington, United States[2] | ||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Spokane Zephyr | ||
| Number | 27 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Spokane Shadow | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2025– | Spokane Zephyr | 0 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2024 | Fiji U20 | 5 | (0) |
| 2024 | Fiji U16 | ||
| 2025 | Fiji U19 | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:41, 14 February 2026 (UTC) | |||
Aliana Amelia Ilse Vakaloloma (born 13 October 2008) is a footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for USL Super League club Spokane Zephyr FC. Born in the United States, she has represented Fiji at the youth international level. At age 15, she was the youngest player to play at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.
Early life
Born and raised in Spokane County, Washington,[2][3] Vakaloloma started playing football at a young age.[4] As a freshman at Ridgeline High School, she recorded the best goals against average in the Greater Spokane League and was one of only two freshman to be named to the all-league second team at the end of the year.[5] The following year, she helped Ridgeline capture a district title and advance to the Washington state tournament.[3] Vakaloloma has also played youth soccer for club team Spokane Shadow 08.[6]
Club career
In the second half of 2025, Vakaloloma began training with local USL Super League team Spokane Zephyr FC. On 19 December 2025, the Zephyr announced that they had signed Vakaloloma to a USL academy contract, allowing her to retain her college eligibility.[3] She became the first-ever under-18 player in Zephyr club history.[7]
International career
Vakaloloma was monitored by Fiji under-20 national team coach Angeline Chua throughout 2024. In August 2024, Vakaloloma was called up to the squad for the first time.[8] She made her U20 debut two weeks later, playing in a friendly match against Costa Rica at 15 years of age.[9] She conceded two goals in the 2–0 loss, but also managed to make several saves.[6] Vakaloloma also performed well in Fiji's following match, a friendly against Morocco.[10] She then traveled with the U20s to the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, Fiji's first appearance at any age level in a FIFA women's tournament. Still age 15, Vakaloloma was the youngest player in the competition. She went on to start all three of Fiji's matches, conceding 29 goals as Fiji were soundly defeated in a series of lopsided scorelines.[8] Still, Vakaloloma contributed multiple saves throughout the tournament to prevent her team from suffering harsher losses.[11]
Later in 2024, Vakaloloma was one of three players from Fiji's U20 World Cup squad to play at the OFC U-16 Women's Championship.[12][13] On 11 September, she helped Fiji record its first win of the tournament, a 2–0 victory over the Cook Islands. The following year, Vakaloloma competed for Fiji at the 2025 OFC U-19 Women's Championship, which Fiji finished in third place. In her team's final match of the tournament, a win against the Cook Islands on penalties, Vakaloloma played all 90 minutes of regulation time before being subbed out for Ka'iulani Scott ahead of the shootout.[14]
Personal life
Vakaloloma is the daughter of Isimeli and Tiffany Vakaloloma.[2] She has Fijian ancestry through her father, who moved from Fiji to the United States in 1994. Her roots trace back to Buca Village in Fiji's Cakaudrove Province on Vanua Levu.[6]
References
- ^ a b "FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Colombia 2024 Squad Lists" (PDF). FIFA. p. 10. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 February 2025. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ^ a b c d "Births". The Spokesman-Review. 13 October 2008. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ^ a b c "Zephyr FC Bring On Fijian Phenom Aliana Vakaloloma to Bolster Goalkeeper Depth". USL Spokane. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ^ Laddpeter, Meli (13 September 2024). "Football dream coming true for Vakaloloma". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ^ "38 Players Honored for HS Campaigns". Spokane Shadow Soccer Club. 22 November 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ^ a b c Koroiwasa, Waisale (27 August 2024). "Star in the making | Vakaloloma a future prospect for women's soccer". The Fiji Times. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ^ Billingham, Eliza (20 January 2026). "All-star Academy: How soccer's academy system benefits amateurs and pro teams". Spokane Public Radio. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ^ a b "Vakaloloma a shining example in adversity". FIFA. 23 September 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ^ Cama, Akuila (27 August 2024). "Goalkeeper, 15 impresses Young Kulas coach". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ^ Chetty, John (31 August 2024). "Young Kulas brace for Brazil". The Fiji Times. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ^ "Brave Young Kulas kick off maiden World Cup campaign with defeat". Fiji Football. 31 August 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ^ Stark, Mataiasi (13 September 2024). "Vakaloloma reflects on U20 World Cup". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ^ "US based inclusions for Young Kulas". Fiji Live. 23 July 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ^ "Match". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
External links
- Aliana Vakaloloma at Soccerway.com