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Papua New Guinea national soccer team

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Papua New Guinea national soccer team
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The Papua New Guinea national soccer team is the men's national soccer team of Papua New Guinea and is controlled by the Papua New Guinea Football Association. Its nickname is the Kapuls,[3][4] which is Tok Pisin for Cuscus.

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Papua New Guinea's highest ever FIFA ranking was 153, in June 2017. As of April 2024, the country was ranked 166 out of 211 countries. This was a drop of 1 place from February 2024.[5] Papua New Guinea had previously left the FIFA rankings, having not competed in a match between July 2007 and August 2011. Their matches at the 2015 Pacific Games saw them return to the rankings, and they competed in the 2016 OFC Nations Cup in June 2016; they reached the final, but lost to New Zealand 4–2 on penalties after the score was tied at 0–0 after extra time.

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History

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1963–1978

The Papuan national team played its first match at the 1963 South Pacific Games, where it fell to Fiji 3-1 and was eliminated. At the 1966 South Pacific Games they reached the third place match but lost to the New Hebrides. Three years later they reached the same stage, and defeated the Fijian team 2-1 to win the bronze medal.

At 1971 South Pacific Games, after losing in the semi-finals to New Caledonia, they were beaten 8-1 by Tahiti in the third place game. Four years later, at the 1975 Games, they were beaten in the group stage by Tahiti and New Caledonia and thus eliminated in the first round.

1979–1995

At the 1979 South Pacific Games they lost in the quarter-finals 3–2 against the Solomon Islands, and in the first phase of the consolation tournament they were beaten 2–0 at the hands of the New Hebrides. The following year they played in the 1980 Oceania Cup, the precursor to the OFC Nations Cup, where despite beating the New Hebrides team, their losses to Australia and New Caledonia left them out at the first phase.

At 1983 South Pacific Games they lost the match for third place against the New Caledonian team. In the 1987 edition they won the bronze medal again by beating Vanuatu 3-1. Even so, in the two subsequent editions, 1991 and 1995, they were eliminated in the first phase.

1996–2012

After an absence in three editions of the OFC Nations Cup, due to the poor results obtained in the Melanesia Cup, they qualified for the 2002 tournament. They were only able to salvage a point in a 0-0 draw against the Solomon Islands and bowed out in the first round. In 2003 South Pacific Games they had a poor performance and in five games only obtained four points.

After not participating in 2007, which served as qualification for the 2008 OFC Nations Cup, they were eliminated in the first phase at 2011 Pacific Games by having worse goal difference than Tahiti, with whom they tied on points. In the 2012 OFC Nations Cup they drew with Fiji and lost to the Solomon Islands and New Zealand, again being eliminated in the group stage.

2013–present

Thumb
Alwin Komolong played numerous football matches for Papua New Guinea

In 2015, Papua New Guinea was designated to host the 2016 OFC Nations Cup. In the group stage, the Papuan team drew 1–1 with New Caledonia, 2–2 against Tahiti and beat Samoa 8–0. After achieving victory in the semi-finals, 2–1 against the Solomon Islands, they lost on penalties to New Zealand in the final after drawing 0–0 in regulation time. On 20 June 2023, Papua New Guinea suffered their worst defeat in their history losing to Malaysia 10–0 at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium.

FIFA Series tournament

In 2024, Papua New Guinea played their first ever tournament outside Oceania where FIFA invited them to the 2024 FIFA Series matches on from 22 to 25 March 2024 held in Colombo where they would face Sri Lanka and Central African Republic.

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Results and fixtures

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The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2024

22 March 2024 FIFA World Series Sri Lanka  0–0  Papua New Guinea Colombo, Sri Lanka
20:45 UTC+5:30 Report Stadium: Colombo Racecourse
Attendance: 5,089
Referee: Meshari Ali Al Shammari (Qatar)
25 March 2024 FIFA World Series Central African Republic  4–0  Papua New Guinea Colombo, Sri Lanka
15:00 UTC+5:30
  • Yawanendji-Malipangou 11'
  • Godame 25', 43', 78'
Report Stadium: Colombo Racecourse
Attendance: 550
Referee: Hettikamkanamge Perera (Sri Lanka)
16 June 2024 OFC Nations Cup Papua New Guinea  1–5  Fiji Luganville, Vanuatu
Stadium: Luganville Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 1,700
Referee: Calvin Berg (New Zealand)
19 June 2024 OFC Nations Cup Papua New Guinea  1–1  Tahiti Luganville, Vanuatu
  • Paul 25'
Stadium: Luganville Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 500
Referee: Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh (New Zealand)
10 October 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification New Caledonia  3–1  Papua New Guinea Suva, Fiji
16:00 UTC+12 Report (FIFA)
Report (OFC)
Semmy 78' Stadium: HFC Bank Stadium
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Campbell-Kirk Waugh (New Zealand)
14 November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Papua New Guinea  3–3  Fiji Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
16:00 UTC+10 Report Stadium: PNG Football Stadium
Attendance: 1,428
Referee: Matthew Conger (New Zealand)
17 November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Papua New Guinea  1–2  Solomon Islands Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
16:00 UTC+10 Report Stadium: PNG Football Stadium
Attendance: 1,284
Referee: Campbell-Kirk Waugh (New Zealand)
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Coaching history

Players

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Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification against Fiji on 14 November 2024 and against Solomon Islands on 17 November 2024.[7]

Caps and goals correct as of 17 November 2024, after the match against Solomon Islands.

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Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the Papua New Guinea squad within the last twelve months.

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Player records

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As of 21 December 2024[8]
Statistics include official FIFA-recognised matches only.
Players in bold are still active with Papua New Guinea.

Most appearances

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Top goalscorers

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Notes

  1. Simon also played twice against Vanuatu B, matches that are not considered official by FIFA.
  2. Joe also played twice against Vanuatu B, matches that are not considered official by FIFA.
  3. Warisan also played twice against Vanuatu B, matches that are not considered official by FIFA.
  4. Gunemba also played twice against Vanuatu B, scoring once, matches and goals that are not considered official by FIFA.
  5. Komolong also played once against Vanuatu B, a match that is not considered official by FIFA.
  6. Gunemba also played twice against Vanuatu B, scoring once, matches and goals that are not considered official by FIFA.
  7. Dabinyaba also played once against Vanuatu B, scoring twice, a match and goals that are not considered official by FIFA.
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Competitive record

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FIFA World Cup

More information FIFA World Cup record, FIFA World Cup qualification record ...

* Although initially listed by FIFA as having entered the 2010 World Cup, PNG did not enter the football tournament at the 2007 South Pacific Games, which was used as the preliminary round of the Oceanian zone qualification tournament.

OFC Nations Cup

More information Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup record, Qualification record ...
*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

Pacific Games

More information Pacific Games record, Year ...

MSG Prime Minister's Cup

More information MSG Prime Minister's Cup record, Year ...
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Honours

Major competitions

Regional

Summary

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Head-to-head record

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Source: Results
Notes:
  1. Includes results as Western Samoa.
  2. Includes results as New Hebrides.

Historical kits

1996 Home
2002 Home
2004
2011 Home
2014 Home
2014 Away
2015 Home
2015 Away
2017 Home
2017 Away
2022 Home
2022 Away
2022 Third
2024 Home
2024 Away

Sources:[9][10][11][12][13][14]

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See also

References

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