Meet Abdullah Khairati: the Canadian-Fijian midfielder taking his first steps with the Bula Boys

Abdullah Khairati may still be a new name to many followers of Fiji football, but the 18-year-old midfielder has already taken a significant step in his international career.

Born and developed in Canada, Khairati represents a new generation of overseas-based Fijian players beginning to emerge through the national-team system. After featuring for Fiji at the OFC U-19 Men’s Championship, he was brought into the senior squad for the 2026 MSG Prime Minister’s Cup, opening the door to his first experience with the Bula Boys.

For Khairati, however, the journey toward senior international football began long before his first Fiji call-up.

“My name is Abdullah Khairati. I’m a Canadian-Fijian footballer. I play as a central midfielder, but I can also play as a defensive midfielder or attacking midfielder,” he told Oceania Football Center.

Khairati has spent most of his football development with Supra Academy in Canada, where he says he has been playing since the age of 10.

“I play for Supra Academy in Canada, where I’ve been developing as a hardworking and versatile player since I was 10 years old,” he explained.

His football education has not been limited to Canada. From an early age, Khairati was exposed to European opposition through tournaments and friendly matches, experiences that eventually led to opportunities to train and trial abroad.

“We started going to Europe for tournaments and friendlies against top academies all over Europe when I was 13,” Khairati said. “Those tournaments and friendlies gave me opportunities to train in Europe and have trials with a professional Belgian first-division club, as well as other opportunities.”

That background has helped shape a midfielder who describes himself as capable of operating in several roles through the middle of the pitch.

His connection with Fiji has now given him another platform.

Khairati was part of the Junior Bula Boys squad at the OFC U-19 Men’s Championship, where he gained his first major experience representing the country at international level. Although Fiji were unable to achieve their ultimate objective in the tournament, the competition proved important for him personally.

“It was a great experience, and I’m very fortunate and humbled to have been part of a great squad,” he said. “We didn’t achieve our goal, but a lot of personal goals were achieved, as well as the brotherhood we created. We win together and we lose together.”

His performances at U-19 level were followed by an immediate step into the senior environment.

Khairati was selected for Fiji’s squad at the MSG Prime Minister’s Cup, giving him the opportunity to train and compete alongside established Bula Boys internationals only shortly after representing the country at youth level.

Rather than seeing the call-up simply as a reward, Khairati views the tournament as another stage in his development.

“I see it as a great opportunity to take in as much information and experience as possible from the players and the tournament, while also giving me a chance to prove myself and represent my academy back home,” he told OFCe.

For a youngster making the transition into senior football, that combination of learning and proving himself is central to what comes next. The player was praised by Fijian football legend Roy Krishna after his debut – a great sign for the teenager!

Khairati’s long-term ambitions are also clear.

The Canadian-Fijian midfielder wants to build a professional career in Europe, something he has already been preparing for through his academy experience and previous exposure to European football.

“My goal is to sign a professional contract in Europe in the next year or so,” he said.

That possibility may already be beginning to take shape.

Khairati revealed that a club in Denmark has shown interest in him, although no agreement has been reached.

“The plan is to play in Europe and sign a professional contract there. A club in Denmark has shown interest, so we’ll see where that goes.”

For now, his immediate focus remains with Fiji.

Khairati is still at the beginning of his senior international journey, but the pathway is becoming clearer: development in Canada, experience against European opposition, a place with Fiji’s U-19 side and now an opportunity with the Bula Boys.

At only 18, there is still considerable development ahead. But for Fiji, Khairati represents another overseas-based player with strong ambitions, international exposure and a clear desire to build his career while remaining connected to the national team.

The MSG Prime Minister’s Cup may therefore be less of an arrival than an introduction.

Abdullah Khairati is only beginning his senior journey with Fiji.