The Vodafone national football side has started preparation for the third stage of the World Cup qualifications.

National team director Tarunesh Reddy said they still have room for more players if they impress in the upcoming Pacific Cup and the remaining Vodafone Premier League games.

“We’ve a squad of 30 players and we would be reducing it further in our next camp,” Reddy said.

“If the coaches find players who deserved to be included, they will be given a chance.”

The squad return to camp on November 28 for three weeks followed by a camp in Sigatoka from January 9-21, next year.

They will return to Fiji FA Academy in Ba from February 6-11, 2017 before their second camp in Sigatoka a week later on February 20-25, 2017. This will be followed by a 23-day camp in Ba in March, next year where they will be playing their first home and away qualifier.

The final camp dates scheduled from May 8-15, 2017 in Sigatoka, before rounding off with camp from May 22 to June 13, 2017. Reddy said they are negotiating with Myanmar Football Federation for international friendlies which are likely to be played in the third week of December.

“There are a couple of things to be finalised and that are the dates and the number of matches we want to play. They have also shown interest to play Fiji.”

There will be a tough competition among the players as only 20 will be selected to travel with the squad for the international friendly. The Vodafone national football side play New Zealand in their first qualifier on March 25, next year at home before traveling to Wellington on March 28.