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Papua New Guinea national soccer team
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| Field | Value | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Papua New Guinea | |||
| Badge | PNGFA Logo.svg | |||
| Badge_size | 155px | |||
| Nickname | Kapuls (Cuscus) | |||
| Association | Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) | |||
| Confederation | OFC (Oceania) | |||
| Coach | David Muta | |||
| Captain | Alwin Komolong | |||
| Most caps | Emmanuel Simon (41) | |||
| Top scorer | Raymond Gunemba (18) | |||
| Home Stadium | Hubert Murray Stadium | |||
| FIFA Trigramme | PNG | |||
| FIFA Rank | ||||
| FIFA max | 153 | |||
| FIFA max date | June 2017 | |||
| FIFA min | 206 | |||
| FIFA min date | October–November 2015 | |||
| Elo Rank | ||||
| Elo max | 134 | |||
| Elo max date | 1989 | |||
| Elo min | 188 | |||
| Elo min date | 2003 | |||
| pattern_b1 | _PNG2024 | |||
| leftarm1 | 000000 | |||
| body1 | FF0000 | |||
| rightarm1 | 000000 | |||
| shorts1 | FF0000 | |||
| socks1 | FF0000 | |||
| pattern_b2 | _PNG2024 | |||
| leftarm2 | 000000 | |||
| body2 | FFC90E | |||
| rightarm2 | 000000 | |||
| shorts2 | FFC90E | |||
| socks2 | FFC90E | |||
| First game | ||||
| (Suva, Fiji; 29 August 1963) | ||||
| Largest win | 20–0 | |||
| (Nouméa, New Caledonia; 15 December 1987) | ||||
| Largest loss | 10–0 | |||
| (Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia; 20 June 2023) | ||||
| Regional name | OFC Nations Cup | |||
| Regional cup apps | 5 | |||
| Regional cup first | 1980 | |||
| Regional cup best | Runners-up (2016) | |||
| 3rdRegional cup apps | 9 | 3rdRegional name=Melanesia Cup / MSG Prime Minister's Cup | 3rdRegional cup first=1989 | 3rdRegional cup best=Melanesia Cup: Third place |
| (1994) | ||||
| MSG Prime Minister's Cup: Champions | ||||
| (2022, 2024) | ||||
| medaltemplates |
the men's team
(Suva, Fiji; 29 August 1963) (Nouméa, New Caledonia; 15 December 1987) (Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia; 20 June 2023) (1994) MSG Prime Minister's Cup: Champions (2022, 2024)
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, 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. 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.
History
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
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.
Kit sponsorship
| Kit supplier | Period |
|---|---|
| Spain Joma | 1998–2000 |
| Germany Puma | 2007–2010 |
| Italy Lotto | 2011 |
| United States Nike | 2012–2014 |
| Unknown OFC | 2014 |
| United Kingdom Kukuri | 2015 |
| None | 2016 |
| Germany Adidas | 2017–2023 |
| Australia Veto | 2024– |
Results and fixtures
Main article: Papua New Guinea national soccer team results
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
2024
2025
- Paul
- L. Tioni
Coaching history
- PNG Richard Tamari Nagai (1996–1998)
- PNG John Davani (2002)
- NZL Steve Cain (2002)
- PNG Ludwig Peka (2003–2004)
- BRA Marcos Gusmão (2004–2011)
- AUS Frank Farina (2011–2013)
- USA Mike Keeney (2013)
- NZL Wynton Rufer (2014–2015)
- DEN Flemming Serritslev (2015–2018)
- PNG Bob Morris (2019–2021)
- BRA Marcos Gusmão (2021–2022)
- ARG Santiago Marina (2022–2023)
- AUS Warren Moon (2023–2024)
- ESP Felipe Vega-Arango (2024–)
Players
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.
Caps and goals correct as of 17 November 2024, after the match against Solomon Islands.
Recent call-ups
The following players have also been called up to the Papua New Guinea squad within the last twelve months.
Player records
|41 |4
| 2014–present |
|---|
| 2 |
| 39 |
| 1 |
| 2012–present |
| - |
| 3 |
| 37 |
| 18 |
| 2012–present |
| - |
| 4 |
| 36 |
| 0 |
| 2014–present |
| - |
| 5 |
| 31 |
| 7 |
| 2003–2022 |
| - |
| 6 |
| 30 |
| 3 |
| 2016–present |
| - |
| 7 |
| 27 |
| 10 |
| 2014–present |
| - |
| 8 |
| 26 |
| 4 |
| 2016–present |
| - |
| 9 |
| 25 |
| 9 |
| 2019–present |
| - |
| 10 |
| 23 |
| 0 |
| 2016–present |
| } |
Top goalscorers
| Rank | Name | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raymond Gunemba | 18 | 37 | 2012–present | |
| 2 | Reggie Davani | 13 | 17 | 2002–2012 | |
| 3 | Tommy Semmy | 10 | 27 | 2014–present | |
| 4 | Nigel Dabinyaba | 9 | 22 | 2014–present | |
| Ati Kepo | 9 | 25 | 2019–present | ||
| 6 | Michael Foster | 7 | 31 | 2003–2022 | |
| 7 | Nathaniel Lepani | 6 | 8 | 2004–2011 | |
| 8 | Neil Hans | 5 | 8 | 2007–2014 | |
| Andrew Lepani | 5 | 12 | 2003–2011 | ||
| Mauri Wasi | 5 | 14 | 2002–2014 |
Notes
Competitive record
FIFA World Cup
| 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 | Total | 0/14 | 29 | 9 | 7 | 13 | 53 | 49 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 to 1966 | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1970 to 1994 | Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| FRA 1998 | Did not qualify | 3rd | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 13 | |||||||||||||||||
| KOR JPN 2002 | Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| GER 2006 | Did not qualify | 3rd | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||
| RSA 2010 | Disqualified | Disqualified | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| BRA 2014 | Did not qualify | 4th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| RUS 2018 | 3rd | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||
| QAT 2022 | 3rd | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| CAN MEX USA 2026 | 7th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||
| MARPORESP 2030 | To be determined | To be determined | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| KSA 2034 |
- 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
| Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup record | Qualification record | Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Total | Runners-up | 5/11 | 17 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 27 | 49 | — | 20 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 46 | 37 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand 1973 | Did not enter | No qualification | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New Caledonia 1980 | Group stage | 6th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pacific Community 1996 | Did not qualify | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Australia 1998 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tahiti 2000 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 19 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New Zealand 2002 | Group stage | 7th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 12 | Squad | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Australia 2004 | Did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pacific Community 2008 | Disqualified | Disqualified | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Solomon Islands 2012 | Group stage | 7th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | Squad | Qualified automatically | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Papua New Guinea 2016 | Runners-up | 2nd | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 4 | Squad | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FIJ VAN 2024 | Group stage | 5th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | Squad |
:*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.
Pacific Games
| Pacific Games record | Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Total | Third place | 14/16 | 52 | 20 | 11 | 30 | 183 | 88 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIJ 1963 | 1st round | 5th | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||
| NCL 1966 | Fourth place | 4th | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 14 | ||||||||||
| PNG 1969 | Third place | 3rd | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 10 | ||||||||||
| TAH 1971 | Fourth place | 4th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 11 | ||||||||||
| Guam 1975 | Group stage | 6th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 9 | ||||||||||
| FIJ 1979 | Quarter-finals | 5th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 3 | ||||||||||
| SAM 1983 | Fourth place | 4th | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 10 | ||||||||||
| NCL 1987 | Third place | 3rd | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 26 | 4 | ||||||||||
| PNG 1991 | Group stage | 5th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | ||||||||||
| TAH 1995 | Group stage | 6th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 5 | ||||||||||
| FIJ 2003 | Group stage | 6th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 7 | ||||||||||
| SAM 2007 | Disqualified | |||||||||||||||||
| NCL 2011 | Group stage | 6th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 4 | ||||||||||
| PNG 2015 | See Papua New Guinea national under-23 team | |||||||||||||||||
| SAM 2019 | Fourth place | 4th | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 3 | ||||||||||
| Solomon Islands 2023 | Group stage | 6th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 |
MSG Prime Minister's Cup
| MSG Prime Minister's Cup record | Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Total | Participations | 9/11 | 34 | 11 | 6 | 17 | 36 | 55 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solomon Islands 1988 | Did not enter | |||||||||||||||||
| Fiji 1989 | Fourth place | 4th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | ||||||||||
| New Caledonia 1990 | Fifth place | 5th | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 | ||||||||||
| Vanuatu 1992 | Did not enter | |||||||||||||||||
| Solomon Islands 1994 | Third place | 3rd | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||||||||||
| Vanuatu 1998 | Fourth place | 4th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | ||||||||||
| Fiji 2000 | Fifth place | 5th | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 19 | ||||||||||
| Vanuatu 2022 | Champions | 1st | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 4 | ||||||||||
| New Caledonia 2023 | Fourth place | 4th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | ||||||||||
| Solomon Islands 2024 | Champions | 1st | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 4 | ||||||||||
| Papua New Guinea 2025 | Second place | 2nd | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
Honours
Continental
- OFC Nations Cup
- Runners-up (1): 2016
Regional
- Pacific Games
- Melanesia Cup / MSG Prime Minister's Cup
Summary
| Competition | Total | Total | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OFC Nations Cup | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Head-to-head record
Historical kits
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|---|
| pattern_la = | pattern_b = _png17h | pattern_ra = | pattern_sh = _adidaswhite | pattern_so = _3_stripes_white | leftarm = FF0000 | body = | rightarm = FF0000 | shorts = FF0000 | socks = FF0000 | title = 2017 Home | pattern_la = _adidas_white | pattern_b = _adidas_hem_white | pattern_ra = _adidas_white | pattern_sh = | pattern_so = _3_stripes_black | leftarm = 000000 | body = 000000 | rightarm = 000000 | shorts = 000000 | socks = FFF000 | title = 2017 Away | pattern_la = _png22h | pattern_b = _png22h | pattern_ra = _png22h | pattern_sh = _png22h | pattern_so = | leftarm = | body = | rightarm = | shorts = | socks = FF0000 | title = 2022 Home | pattern_la = _png22a | pattern_b = _png22a | pattern_ra = _png22a | pattern_sh = _png22a | pattern_so = | leftarm = | body = | rightarm = | shorts = | socks = FFFFFF | title = 2022 Away | pattern_la = _yellowborder | pattern_b = _png22t | pattern_ra = _yellowborder | pattern_sh = _png22a | pattern_so = | leftarm = EE0000 | body = | rightarm = EE0000 | shorts = | socks = FFF000 | title = 2022 Third | pattern_la = | pattern_b = _PNG2024 | pattern_ra = | pattern_sh = | pattern_so = | leftarm = 000000 | body = FF0000 | rightarm = 000000 | shorts = FF0000 | socks = FF0000 | title = 2024 Home | pattern_la = | pattern_b = _PNG2024 | pattern_ra = | pattern_sh = | pattern_so = | leftarm = 000000 | body = FFC90E | rightarm = 000000 | shorts = FFC90E | socks = FFC90E | title = 2024 Away |
|---|
Sources:
References
References
- "Papua New Guinea International Matches".
- (30 May 2011). "Strikers To Play Papua New Guinea". Steve Pitman, [[Brisbane Strikers]].
- (18 May 2012). "Farina's PNG aiming to defy odds". [[FIFA.
- "FIFA/Coca-Cola-World-Rankings".
- (12 August 2019). "Fake & Counterfeit Shirts from all over camisa de futebol 1998 - 2000".
- (8 November 2024). "Squad Announcement". Papua New Guinea Football Association.
- "Papua New Guinea".
- (2023). "FOOTBALL IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA".
- (6 September 2014). "2014".
- (29 March 2017). "2017".
- (22 March 2024). "2024".
- (26 March 2024). "2024".
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