Football at the Pacific Games

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Football at the Pacific Games
Football pictogram.svg
Founded1963
Current championsNew Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg  New Caledonia
 Men (2023)
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea
 Women (2023)
Most successful team(s)New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg  New Caledonia
 Men (8 titles)
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea
 Women (6 titles)
Soccerball current event.svg Football at the 2023 Pacific Games
Men's  · Women's

Association football has been regularly included in the Pacific Games, the multi-sports event for Pacific nations, territories and dependencies, since 1963. Until 2011 the competition was known as the South Pacific Games. [1]

Contents

Since 1971 the men's tournament has been held every four years, but was not played in 1999 due to contractual issues. In 2007, the men's competition doubled as the Oceania Football Confederation's preliminary qualifying competition for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. [2] The men's tournament also became the Olympic qualifier for Oceania for the 2015 edition.

The women's tournament was introduced in 2003, and has doubled up as the preliminary qualifying competition for the Olympic Games since 2007. Football was a compulsory inclusion at the Pacific Games for men's teams for many years but was made a core sport for both men's and women's teams in 2017. [3] Football has also been held at several editions of the Pacific Mini Games, starting with the first tournament in 1981. [4]

Men's tournament

The Tuvalu men's team at the 2007 South Pacific Games Team Tuvalu Pacific Games 2007.jpg
The Tuvalu men's team at the 2007 South Pacific Games

Participating nations

Numbers refer to the final placing of each team at the respective Games. Host nation is shown in bold.– See also the §Key to symbols within this section below the two tables.


Games
Nation
63 66 69 71 75 79 83 87 91 95 99 03 07 11 15 19 23 Years
played
Flag of American Samoa.svg  American Samoa P6PPP126
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands 6PPP85
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 2454221312443314
Flag of Guam.svg  Guam P6PPP5
Flag of Kiribati.svg  Kiribati 9*PP3
Flag of the Federated States of Micronesia.svg  Micronesia (F.S.) PP2
New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg  New Caledonia 121124313P21112116
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand U-23 12
Flag of Niue.svg  Niue P1
Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg  Northern Marianas 101
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea P434P9*43PPPP34615
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 9*5*PP75
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands 4P633P22P42PP214
Flag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti 31231112P14P32P516
Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 7*PPPP116
Flag of Tuvalu.svg  Tuvalu 7*PPPP96
Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu P352P5P44433PPP416
Flag of Wallis and Futuna.svg  Wallis and Futuna P9*5*5PP6
Number of teams
All-time total: 18
6666712116891010118#111216
Editions

Legend

Key to symbols
1Gold medal for first placennth place (e.g. 5 is fifth place)
2Silver medal for second placePPool or group stage elimination
3Bronze medal for third place*Asterisk for shared placing (e.g. 5* is equal fifth)
4Fourth place#Contested by under-23 national teams only
Did not playWithdrew before competition (did not play)
Played in the tournament (FIFA qualification) but excluded from the Pacific Games placings

Results

The table below is a summary of the finals matches in men's football at the Pacific Games since 1963: [4]

YearHost cityFinalThird place match
GoldScoreSilverBronzeScoreFourth place
1963 Flag of Fiji (1924-1970).svg
Suva
Flag of France.svg
New Caledonia
8–2Flag of Fiji (1924-1970).svg
Fiji
Flag of France.svg
Tahiti
7–2Flag of the Solomon Islands (1956-1966).svg
Solomon Islands
1966 Flag of France.svg
Nouméa
Flag of France.svg
Tahiti
2–0Flag of France.svg
New Caledonia
Flag of New Hebrides.svg
New Hebrides
5–2Flag of Papua New Guinea (1965-1970).svg
PapuaNewGuinea
1969 Flag of Papua New Guinea (1965-1970).svg
Port Moresby
Flag of France.svg
New Caledonia
2–1Flag of France.svg
Tahiti
Flag of Papua New Guinea (1965-1970).svg
PapuaNewGuinea
2–1Flag of Fiji (1924-1970).svg
Fiji
1971 Flag of France.svg
Papeete
Flag of France.svg
New Caledonia
7–1Flag of New Hebrides.svg
New Hebrides
Flag of France.svg
Tahiti
8–1Flag of Papua New Guinea 1970.svg
PapuaNewGuinea
1975 Flag of Guam.svg
Tumon
Flag of France.svg
Tahiti
2–1Flag of France.svg
New Caledonia
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg
Solomon Islands
3–2Flag of Fiji.svg
Fiji
1979 Flag of Fiji.svg
Suva
Flag of France.svg
Tahiti
3–0Flag of Fiji.svg
Fiji
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg
Solomon Islands
3–1Flag of France.svg
New Caledonia
1983 Flag of Samoa.svg
Apia
Flag of France.svg
Tahiti
1–0Flag of Fiji.svg
Fiji
Flag of France.svg
New Caledonia
2–1Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg
PapuaNewGuinea
1987 Flag of France.svg
Nouméa
Flag of France.svg
New Caledonia
1–0Flag of French Polynesia.svg
Tahiti
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg
PapuaNewGuinea
3–1Flag of Vanuatu.svg
Vanuatu
1991 Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg
Port Moresby
Flag of Fiji.svg
Fiji
1–1
(5–4
. pen.
)
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg
Solomon Islands
Flag of France.svg
New Caledonia
3–1Flag of Vanuatu.svg
Vanuatu
1995 Flag of French Polynesia.svg
Papeete
Flag of French Polynesia.svg
Tahiti
2–0Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg
Solomon Islands
Flag of Fiji.svg
Fiji
3–0Flag of Vanuatu.svg
Vanuatu
1999No football tournament in 1999
2003 Flag of Fiji.svg
Suva
Flag of Fiji.svg
Fiji
2–0Flag of France.svg
New Caledonia
Flag of Vanuatu.svg
Vanuatu
1–0Flag of French Polynesia.svg
Tahiti
2007 Flag of Samoa.svg
Apia
Flag of France.svg
New Caledonia
1–0Flag of Fiji.svg
Fiji
Flag of Vanuatu.svg
Vanuatu
2–0Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg
Solomon Islands
2011 New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg
Nouméa
New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg
New Caledonia
2–0Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg
Solomon Islands
Flag of French Polynesia.svg
Tahiti
2–1Flag of Fiji.svg
Fiji
2015 Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg
Port Moresby
New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg
New Caledonia
2–0Flag of French Polynesia.svg
Tahiti
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg
PapuaNewGuinea
2–1Flag of Fiji.svg
Fiji
2019 Flag of Samoa.svg
Apia
Flag of New Zealand.svg
New Zealand U-23
2–1New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg
New Caledonia
Flag of Fiji.svg
Fiji
1–1
(4–2
. pen.
)
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg
Papua New Guinea
2023 Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg
Honiara
New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg
New Caledonia
2–2
(7–6
. pen.
)
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg
Solomon Islands
Flag of Fiji.svg
Fiji
4–2Flag of Vanuatu.svg
Vanuatu

Performances by countries

Below are the 7 nations that have reached at least the semi-final stage in the Pacific Games.

TeamWinnerRunner-upThird PlaceFourth Place
New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg  New Caledonia 8 ('63, '69, '71, '87, '07, '11, '15, '23)4 ('66, '75, '03, '19)2 ('83, '91)1 ('79)
Flag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti (French Polynesia)5 ('66, '75, '79, '83, '95)3 ('69, '87, '15)3 ('63, '71, '11)1 ('03)
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 2 ('91, '03)4 ('63, '79, '83, '07)3 ('95, '19, '23)4 ('69, '75, '11, '15)
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand U-23 1 ('19)
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands 4 ('91, '95, '11, '23)2 ('75, '79)2 ('63, '07)
Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu (New Hebrides)1 ('71)3 ('66, '03, '07)4 ('87, '91, '95, '23)
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 3 ('69, '87, '15)4 ('66, '71, '83, '19)

Golden boot awardees

YearPlayerGoals
1963–1995Unknown-
2003 Flag of Fiji.svg Esala Masi 11
2007 Flag of Fiji.svg Osea Vakatalesau 10
2011 New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg Bertrand Kaï 10
2015 Flag of Vanuatu.svg Jean Kaltack 17
2019 Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg Gagame Feni
Flag of Vanuatu.svg Tony Kaltak
New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg Jean-Philippe Saïko
9

Women's tournament

Participating nations


Games
Nation
03 07 11 15 19 23 Years
played
Flag of American Samoa.svg  American Samoa PPP94
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands PP34105
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 533P326
Flag of Guam.svg  Guam 2P2
Flag of Kiribati.svg  Kiribati 71
New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg  New Caledonia P22P35
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 1111116
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa P4244
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands PPPP65
Flag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti 44PP85
Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 324PP76
Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu 6P53
Number of teams
All-time total: 12
799710106
Editions

Results

The table below is a summary of the finals matches in the women's football competition at the Pacific Games since 2003.

Papua New Guinea won the first four tournament finals, including against hosts New Caledonia in 2011 [5] and as hosts against New Caledonia in 2015. [6]

YearHost cityFinalThird place match
GoldScoreSilverBronzeScoreFourth place
2003   Flag of Fiji.svg [7]
Suva
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg
PapuaNewGuinea
round-robin Flag of Guam.svg
Guam
Flag of Tonga.svg
Tonga
round-robin Flag of French Polynesia.svg
Tahiti
2007   Flag of Samoa.svg [8]
Apia
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg
PapuaNewGuinea
3–1Flag of Tonga.svg
Tonga
Flag of Fiji.svg
Fiji
1–0Flag of French Polynesia.svg
Tahiti
2011   New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg [9]
Nouméa
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg
PapuaNewGuinea
2–1New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg
New Caledonia
Flag of Fiji.svg
Fiji
1–0Flag of Tonga.svg
Tonga
2015 Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg
Port Moresby
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg
PapuaNewGuinea
1–0New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg
New Caledonia
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg
Cook Islands
2–0Flag of Samoa.svg
Samoa
2019 Flag of Samoa.svg
Apia
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg
PapuaNewGuinea
3–1Flag of Samoa.svg
Samoa
Flag of Fiji.svg
Fiji
3–1Flag of the Cook Islands.svg
Cook Islands
2023 Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg
Honiara
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg
PapuaNewGuinea
4–1Flag of Fiji.svg
Fiji
New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg
New Caledonia
3–1Flag of Samoa.svg
Samoa

Performances by countries

TeamWinnerRunner-upThird PlaceFourth Place
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Papua New Guinea 6 ('03, '07, '11, '15, '19, '23)
New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg New Caledonia 2 ('11, '15)1 ('23)
Flag of Fiji.svg Fiji 1 ('23)3 ('07, '11, '19)
Flag of Tonga.svg Tonga 1 ('07)1 ('03)1 ('11)
Flag of Samoa.svg Samoa 1 ('19)1 ('15, '23)
Flag of Guam.svg Guam 1 ('03)
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg Cook Islands 1 ('15)1 ('19)
Flag of French Polynesia.svg Tahiti 2 ('03, '07)

Golden boot awardees

YearPlayerGoals
2003Unknown-
2007 Flag of Tonga.svg Penateti Feke4
2011 New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg Christelle Wahnawe12
2015 New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg Christelle Wahnawe10
2019 Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Ramona Padio9
202311

All-time medal table

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flags of New Caledonia.svg  New Caledonia 76215
2Flag of French Polynesia.svg  French Polynesia 53311
3Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 5038
4Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 24511
5Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 1001
6Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands 0325
7Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu (includes New Hebrides)0134
8Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 0112
9Flag of Guam.svg  Guam 0101
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa (includes Western Samoa)0101
11Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands 0011
Totals (11 entries)20202060

Pacific Mini Games

Men

The table below is a summary of the medal matches played in the men's competition at the Pacific Mini Games:

YearHost cityFinalThird place match
GoldScoreSilverBronzeScoreFourth place
1981 Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg
Honiara
Flag of France.svg
Tahiti
1–0
(a.e.t.)
Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg
New Caledonia
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg
Papua New Guinea
1–0Flag of Vanuatu.svg
Vanuatu
1993 Flag of Vanuatu.svg
Port Vila
Flag of French Polynesia.svg
Tahiti
3–0Flag of Fiji.svg
Fiji
Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg
New Caledonia
2–1Flag of Vanuatu.svg
Vanuatu
2017 Flag of Vanuatu.svg
Port Vila
Flag of Vanuatu.svg
Vanuatu
round-robin Flag of Fiji.svg
Fiji
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg
Solomon Islands
round-robin Flag of Tuvalu.svg
Tuvalu

Women

As of 2019, women's football has only been hosted once at the Pacific Mini Games – at Vanuatu in 2017. The table below is a summary of the medal matches played in the women's competition:

YearHost cityFinalThird place match
GoldScoreSilverBronzeScoreFourth place
2017 Flag of Vanuatu.svg
Port Vila
Flag of Vanuatu.svg
Vanuatu
2–1Flag of Fiji.svg
Fiji
Flag of Tonga.svg
Tonga
1–0Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg
Solomon Islands

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  3. Charter - Constitution, Code of Conduct, Protocols, and Regulations adopted Apia, Samoa 14 May 2006 - As amended most recently in Port Vila, Vanuatu, 10 December 2017 (PDF 0.3 MB) (Report). Pacific Games Council. 2018. pp. 14–15. Archived from the original on 8 February 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  4. 1 2 "(South) Pacific Games and Mini Games". RSSSF .
  5. "Womens Soccer to start preparations for Olympic Qualifiers (Nov 7, 2011)". PNG Football. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
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