Nickname(s) | Kapuls (Cuscus) | ||
---|---|---|---|
Association | Papua New Guinea Football Association | ||
Confederation | OFC (Oceania) | ||
Head coach | Felipe Vega-Arango | ||
Captain | Ronald Warisan | ||
Most caps | Emmanuel Simon (38) | ||
Top scorer | Raymond Gunemba (14) | ||
Home stadium | Hubert Murray Stadium | ||
FIFA code | PNG | ||
| |||
FIFA ranking | |||
Current | 172 1 (28 November 2024) [1] | ||
Highest | 153 (June 2017) | ||
Lowest | 206 (October–November 2015) | ||
First international | |||
Fiji 3–1 Papua and New Guinea (Suva, Fiji; 29 August 1963) [2] | |||
Biggest win | |||
Papua New Guinea 20–0 American Samoa (Nouméa, New Caledonia; 15 December 1987) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
Malaysia 10–0 Papua New Guinea (Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia; 20 June 2023) | |||
OFC Nations Cup | |||
Appearances | 5 (first in 1980 ) | ||
Best result | Runners-up (2016) | ||
Medal record |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Kit supplier | Period |
---|---|
Joma | 1998–2000 [6] |
Puma | 2007–2010 |
Nike | 2011–2012 |
Lotto | 2013–2015 |
Adidas | 2017–2023 |
Veto | 2024– |
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
27 November 2023 Pacific Games | Cook Islands | 0–3 (w/o) | Papua New Guinea | Honiara, Solomon Islands |
19:00 | Stadium: SIFF Academy Field |
30 November 2023 Pacific Games | Tahiti | 2–0 | Papua New Guinea | Honiara, Solomon Islands |
19:00 | Stadium: SIFF Academy Field |
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 |
| 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 |
|
| Stadium: Luganville Soccer Stadium Attendance: 500 Referee: Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh (New Zealand) |
22 June 2024 OFC Nations Cup | Samoa | 1–2 | Papua New Guinea | Luganville, Vanuatu |
| Stadium: Luganville Soccer Stadium |
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) |
12 December 2024 MSG Prime Minister's Cup | Solomon Islands | v | Papua New Guinea | Honiara, Solomon Islands |
15:00 UTC+11 | Stadium: Lawson Tama Stadium |
15 December 2024 MSG Prime Minister's Cup | Papua New Guinea | v | Solomon Islands B | Honiara, Solomon Islands |
15:00 UTC+11 | Stadium: Lawson Tama Stadium |
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 .
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Dave Tomare | 26 April 1997 | 5 | 0 | Hekari United | |
GK | Charles Lepani | 20 August 1994 | 1 | 0 | Lae City | |
GK | Christinus Biasu | 2 June 1995 | 0 | 0 | Hekari United | |
DF | Daniel Joe | 29 May 1990 | 37 | 0 | Hekari United | |
DF | Alwin Komolong | 2 November 1994 | 30 | 2 | Queensland Lions | |
DF | Kolu Kepo | 15 July 1993 | 24 | 3 | Hekari United | |
DF | Joshua Talau | 19 April 1996 | 9 | 0 | Lae City | |
DF | Nathaniel Eddie | unknown | 3 | 0 | Hekari United | |
DF | Arol Tateng | 5 April 1997 | 2 | 0 | Southern Strikers | |
DF | Derek Kimai | unknown | 2 | 0 | ||
MF | Rex Naime | 23 October 2003 | 11 | 0 | Hekari United | |
MF | Simon Oberth | 1 January 2001 | 10 | 0 | Hekari United | |
MF | Joseph Joe | 14 June 2002 | 7 | 1 | Hekari United | |
MF | Solomon Rani | 22 May 2002 | 5 | 0 | Hekari United | |
MF | Shane Sakael | 31 December 1992 | 3 | 0 | Hekari United | |
MF | Juduh Asar | unknown | 2 | 0 | ||
MF | Ritzoki Tamgol | unknown | 2 | 0 | Port Moresby | |
MF | Chappy Upaiga | unknown | 0 | 0 | ||
MF | Ethan Mom | unknown | 0 | 0 | ||
FW | Raymond Gunemba | 4 June 1986 | 34 | 15 | Lae City | |
FW | Tommy Semmy | 30 September 1994 | 28 | 11 | Melbourne Knights | |
FW | Ati Kepo | 15 January 1996 | 24 | 8 | Hekari United | |
FW | Logan Biwa | unknown | 1 | 0 |
The following players have also been called up to the Papua New Guinea squad within the last twelve months.
Rank | Name | Caps | Goals | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Emmanuel Simon [a] | 38 | 4 | 2014–present |
2 | Daniel Joe [b] | 36 | 1 | 2012–present |
3 | Ronald Warisan [c] | 34 | 0 | 2014–present |
4 | Raymond Gunemba [d] | 33 | 14 | 2012–present |
5 | Michael Foster | 31 | 7 | 2003–2022 |
6 | Alwin Komolong [e] | 27 | 1 | 2016–present |
7 | Tommy Semmy | 25 | 9 | 2014–present |
8 | Ati Kepo | 24 | 8 | 2019–present |
9 | Felix Komolong | 23 | 0 | 2016–present |
10 | Koriak Upaiga | 22 | 2 | 2011–2023 |
Rank | Name | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Raymond Gunemba [f] | 14 | 33 | 0.42 | 2012–present |
2 | Reggie Davani | 13 | 17 | 0.76 | 2002–2012 |
3 | Nigel Dabinyaba [g] | 9 | 21 | 0.43 | 2014–present |
Tommy Semmy | 9 | 25 | 0.36 | 2014–present | |
5 | Ati Kepo | 8 | 24 | 0.33 | 2019–present |
6 | Michael Foster | 7 | 31 | 0.23 | 2003–2022 |
7 | Nathaniel Lepani | 6 | 8 | 0.75 | 2004–2011 |
8 | Neil Hans | 5 | 8 | 0.63 | 2007–2014 |
Andrew Lepani | 5 | 12 | 0.42 | 2003–2011 | |
Mauri Wasi | 5 | 14 | 0.36 | 2002–2014 | |
Notes
FIFA World Cup record | FIFA World Cup qualification record | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Result | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
1930 to 1966 | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | ||||||||||||||
1970 to 1994 | Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
1998 | Did not qualify | 3rd | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 13 | ||||||||
2002 | Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
2006 | Did not qualify | 3rd | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 6 | ||||||||
2010 | Disqualified | Disqualified | ||||||||||||||
2014 | Did not qualify | 4th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||||||||
2018 | 3rd | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 13 | |||||||||
2022 | 3rd | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | |||||||||
2026 | 7th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | |||||||||
2030 | To be determined | To be determined | ||||||||||||||
2034 | ||||||||||||||||
Total | 0/14 | 29 | 9 | 7 | 13 | 53 | 49 |
* 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.
Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup record | Qualification record | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
1973 | Did not enter | No qualification | ||||||||||||||
1980 | Group stage | 6th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 22 | — | |||||||
1996 | Did not qualify | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | |||||||||
1998 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | ||||||||||
2000 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 19 | ||||||||||
2002 | Group stage | 7th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 12 | Squad | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 2 | |
2004 | Did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 6 | |||||||||
2008 | Disqualified | Disqualified | ||||||||||||||
2012 | Group stage | 7th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | Squad | Qualified automatically | ||||||
2016 | Runners-up | 2nd | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 4 | Squad | |||||||
2024 | Group stage | 5th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | Squad | |||||||
Total | Runners-up | 5/11 | 17 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 27 | 49 | — | 20 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 46 | 37 |
Pacific Games record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
1963 | 1st round | 5th | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
1966 | Fourth place | 4th | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 14 |
1969 | Third place | 3rd | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 10 |
1971 | Fourth place | 4th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 11 |
1975 | Group stage | 6th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 9 |
1979 | Quarter-finals | 5th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 3 |
1983 | Fourth place | 4th | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 10 |
1987 | Third place | 3rd | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 26 | 4 |
1991 | Group stage | 5th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
1995 | Group stage | 6th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 5 |
2003 | Group stage | 6th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 7 |
2007 | Disqualified | |||||||
2011 | Group stage | 6th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 4 |
2015 | See Papua New Guinea national under-23 team | |||||||
2019 | Fourth place | 4th | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 3 |
2023 | 5th-8th placement | 6th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 |
Total | Third place | 14/16 | 52 | 20 | 11 | 30 | 183 | 88 |
MSG Prime Minister's Cup record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
1988 | Did not enter | |||||||
1989 | Fourth place | 4th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
1990 | Fifth place | 5th | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
1992 | Did not enter | |||||||
1994 | Third place | 3rd | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
1998 | Fourth place | 4th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
2000 | Fifth place | 5th | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 19 |
2022 | Champions | 1st | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 |
2023 | Fourth place | 4th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
Total | Winner | 7/9 | 27 | 6 | 4 | 17 | 24 | 50 |
Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | WPCT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
American Samoa | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 0 | +37 | 100.00 |
Australia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 11 | −9 | 0.00 |
China | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 0.00 |
Chinese Taipei | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0.00 |
Cook Islands | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1 | +19 | 100.00 |
Micronesia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | +10 | 100.00 |
Fiji | 21 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 21 | 38 | −17 | 19.05 |
Guam | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | +9 | 100.00 |
Indonesia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 50.00 |
Iran | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | −7 | 0.00 |
Kiribati | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 1 | +29 | 100.00 |
Liberia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 100.00 |
Malaysia | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 27 | −22 | 20.00 |
New Caledonia | 18 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 16 | 50 | −34 | 22.22 |
New Zealand | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 19 | −16 | 16.67 |
Niue | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | +19 | 100.00 |
North Korea | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | −4 | 0.00 |
Philippines | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 100.00 |
Samoa [a] | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 3 | +23 | 100.00 |
Singapore | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 11 | −4 | 0.00 |
Solomon Islands | 24 | 5 | 4 | 15 | 30 | 42 | −12 | 20.83 |
Tahiti | 15 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 17 | 47 | −30 | 6.67 |
Thailand | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 100.00 |
Tonga | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 2 | +18 | 75.00 |
Vanuatu [b] | 22 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 28 | 33 | −5 | 40.91 |
Wallis and Futuna | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 | +15 | 100.00 |
Total | 148 | 50 | 26 | 72 | 336 | 316 | +20 | 33.78 |
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 |
The OFC Men's Nations Cup, known as the OFC Nations Cup before the 2024 edition, is the primary association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), determining the continental champion of Oceania. The winning team became the champion of Oceania and until 2016 qualified for the FIFA Confederations Cup.
The Solomon Islands men's national football team is the national football team of Solomon Islands, administered by the Solomon Islands Football Federation. The Solomon Islands national football team was founded in 1978. They were officially recognised by FIFA a decade later, in 1988.
The Fiji men's national football team is Fiji's national men's team and is controlled by the governing body of football in Fiji, the Fiji Football Association. The team plays most of their home games at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
The Tahiti men's national football team represents French Polynesia and is controlled by the Fédération Tahitienne de Football. The team consists of a selection of players from French Polynesia, not just Tahiti, and has competed in the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) since 1990.
The Vanuatu men's national football team represents Vanuatu in men's international football competitions. The team is governed by the Vanuatu Football Federation, which is currently a member of FIFA and the Oceania Football Confederation.
The New Caledonia men's national football team is the national team of New Caledonia and is controlled by the Fédération Calédonienne de Football. Although they were only admitted to FIFA in 2004, they have been participating in the OFC Nations Cup since its inception. They have been one of this relatively small region's strongest teams, finishing second in 2008 and 2012, and third in 1973 and 1980. They were the top ranked OFC nation at number 95 in September 2008, making them only the fourth country from the confederation to have reached the global top 100.
The Samoa men's national association football team represents Samoa in men's international football and is controlled by the Football Federation Samoa, the governing body for football in Samoa. Samoa's home ground is Toleafoa J. S. Blatter Soccer Stadium in Apia. It was known as the Western Samoa national football team until 1997.
The Papua New Guinea women's national soccer team is controlled by the Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA). Its nickname is the Lakatois, which is a Motuan sailing vessel. Their home ground is the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium, located in Port Moresby and their current manager is Peter Gunemba. Deslyn Siniu is the team's most capped player and top scorer.
The American Samoa women's national football team represents American Samoa in international women's association football. The team is controlled by the Football Federation American Samoa (FFAS) and managed by Beulah Oney, a former player. The Veterans Memorial Stadium is their home ground and their only goalscorer is Jasmine Makiasi, with only one goal.
The Cook Islands women's national football team represents the Cook Islands in international women's football. The team is controlled by the Cook Islands Football Association. With a population of around 18,000 people it remains one of the smallest FIFA teams.
The Fiji women's national football team represents Fiji in international women's football. The team is controlled by the Fiji Football Association.
The Solomon Islands women's national football team represents Solomon Islands in international women's association football. The team is controlled by the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) and is affiliated to the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). Their current head coach is the former footballer Timothy Inifiri.
The Vanuatu women's national football team represents Vanuatu in international women's association football. The team is controlled by the Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF). Vanuatu's home field is the Port Vila Municipal Stadium, located in the country's capital, Port Vila. The team is managed by Job Alwin.
This page details the match results and statistics of the Solomon Islands national football team from 2000 to present.
This page details the match results and statistics of the Papua New Guinea national football team.
The New Zealand men's national football team has competed in all eleven editions of the OFC Men's Nations Cup, and have won six times, the most recent coming in the 2024 tournament.
The Vanuatu national under-23 football team, also known as Vanuatu Cyclone, represents Vanuatu at U23 tournaments. The team is considered to be the feeder team for the Vanuatu national football team. They are controlled by the Vanuatu Football Federation. The team has gained notoriety for thrashing Micronesia's side 46–0 in the 2015 Pacific Games.
The Vanuatu national under-20 football team is the national U-20 team of Vanuatu and is controlled by the Vanuatu Football Federation. It was known as the New Hebrides national under-20 football team until 1980, when the New Hebrides gained their independence and renamed their country to Vanuatu.
The Oceanian section of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification process is taking place from September 2024 to March 2025. The 2026 tournament is the 16th edition of Oceanian qualifiers and marks the first time OFC has a direct qualification slot into the FIFA World Cup.
This page details the match results and statistics of the Vanuatu national football team from 1981 to present.