Bougainville national soccer team

Last updated
Bougainville
Association Bougainville Football Federation (BFF)
ConfederationN/A
Home stadiumNiniku Oval

The Bougainville national soccer team is the national team representing the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. It is under the auspices of the Bougainville Football Federation.

Contents

Stadium

The team's home venue is the Niniku Oval in Arawa, Bougainville's largest city [1]

History

The Autonomous Region of Bougainville is set to gain independence from Papua New Guinea and become a fully sovereign nation by 2027. In 2022, the president of the Bougainville Football Federation expressed the association's desire to join FIFA and, presumably, the OFC. [2] At that time, the federation and the governing bodies had already begun working together on footballing projects in the territory. [3] [4] [5] [6]

Arawa Football Association President Marcus Nori called for the creation of a Bougainville representative team in February 2021. He thought that sport was an important platform for improving relations with Bougainville's neighbors and provide an opportunity for its talent to be spotted by clubs abroad. [7] In November 2024, it was announced that a Bougainville representative team had been formed to play a friendly against Munda-Noro from the neaby Western Province of the Solomon Islands. The match was organized to promote soccer, build international relationships, and increase Bouganville's readiness for independence. The team comprised mostly players from Bouganville United FC and those who were originally selected for the 2024 New Guinea Islands (NGI) Youth Games in Kavieng. [1] The following March, a return fixture to be played in Arawa in June 2025 was announced. About the second leg, John Smith Pitabelama, President of the Solomon Islands Western Football Association said, "Arawa’s hosting of the return leg marks a significant occasion for the local sporting community, providing an opportunity for fans to rally behind their team on home soil." [8]

Results and fixtures

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

  Win  Draw  Loss  Fixture

2025

3 December 2024 Friendly Central Roviana Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg 3–1Flag of Bougainville.svg  Bougainville Noro, Solomon Islands
ps://www.facebook.com/groups/1422719347995022/posts/3850005971933002/Stadium: Tuna Park
5 December 2024 Friendly Noro Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg 4–0Flag of Bougainville.svg  Bougainville Noro, Solomon Islands
Report Stadium: Tuna Park

References

  1. 1 2 Tseraha, Peterson. "Arawa Team Gears Up for Solomon Islands Friendly". PNG Post Courier. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  2. ↑ Stephen, Craig. "Football's Newest Nation". Pog Mo Goal. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  3. ↑ "Akoitai calls for probe into funding allocated by FIFA to build a soccer academy in Bougainville". The Fiji Times. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  4. ↑ "Bougainville joins Just Play family". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  5. ↑ "Bougainville to get football academy". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  6. ↑ "Bougainville football on track". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  7. ↑ Tseraha, Peterson. "Duo Set for Trials Squad". PNG Post Courier. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  8. ↑ Ulutah, Gina. "Return leg between Arawa, Munda-Noro in June". Solomon Star News. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
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