Papua New Guinea national soccer team
Nickname(s) | Kapuls (Cuscus) | ||
---|---|---|---|
Association | Papua New Guinea Football Association | ||
Confederation | OFC (Oceania) | ||
Head coach | Warren Moon | ||
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,[4][5] 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.[6] 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
[edit]1963–1978
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]Kit supplier | Period |
---|---|
Joma | 1998–2000[7] |
Puma | 2007–2010 |
Nike | 2011–2012 |
Lotto | 2013–2015 |
Adidas | 2017–2023 |
Veto | 2024– |
Results and fixtures
[edit]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
2023
[edit]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 |
2024
[edit]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 |
Coaching history
[edit]- Richard Tamari Nagai (1996–1998)
- John Davani (2002)
- Steve Cain (2002)
- Ludwig Peka (2003–2004)
- Marcos Gusmão (2004–2011)
- Frank Farina (2011–2013)
- Mike Keeney (2013)
- Wynton Rufer (2014–2015)
- Flemming Serritslev (2015–2018)
- Bob Morris (2019–2021)
- Marcos Gusmão (2021–2022)
- Santiago Marina (2022–2023)
- Warren Moon (2023–present)
Players
[edit]Current squad
[edit]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.[8]
Caps and goals correct as of 17 November 2024, after the match against Solomon Islands.
Recent call-ups
[edit]The following players have also been called up to the Papua New Guinea squad within the last twelve months.
Player records
[edit]- As of 14 November 2024[9]
- Statistics include official FIFA-recognised matches only.
- Players in bold are still active with Papua New Guinea.
Most appearances
[edit]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 |
Top goalscorers
[edit]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
- ^ Simon also played twice against Vanuatu B, matches that are not considered official by FIFA.
- ^ Joe also played twice against Vanuatu B, matches that are not considered official by FIFA.
- ^ Warisan also played twice against Vanuatu B, matches that are not considered official by FIFA.
- ^ Gunemba also played twice against Vanuatu B, scoring once, matches and goals that are not considered official by FIFA.
- ^ Komolong also played once against Vanuatu B, a match that is not considered official by FIFA.
- ^ Gunemba also played twice against Vanuatu B, scoring once, matches and goals that are not considered official by FIFA.
- ^ Dabinyaba also played once against Vanuatu B, scoring twice, a match and goals that are not considered official by FIFA.
Competitive record
[edit]FIFA World Cup
[edit]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.
OFC Nations Cup
[edit]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 |
- *Denotes draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.
Pacific Games
[edit]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
[edit]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 |
Honours
[edit]Continental
[edit]- OFC Nations Cup
- Runners-up (1): 2016
Regional
[edit]Head-to-head record
[edit]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 |
Notes:
Historical kits
[edit]
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:[10][11][12][13][14][15]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ^ "Papua New Guinea International Matches". Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
- ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 21 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
- ^ "Strikers To Play Papua New Guinea". Steve Pitman, Brisbane Strikers. 30 May 2011. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
- ^ "Farina's PNG aiming to defy odds". Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). 18 May 2012. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- ^ FIFA/Coca-Cola-World-Rankings, FIFA/Coca-Cola-World-Rankings. "FIFA/Coca-Cola-World-Rankings". Men's Ranking. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ "Fake & Counterfeit Shirts from all over camisa de futebol 1998 - 2000". 12 August 2019. Archived from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- ^ "Squad Announcement". Facebook. Papua New Guinea Football Association. 8 November 2024.
- ^ "Papua New Guinea". National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ "FOOTBALL IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA". 2023.
- ^ "2014". YouTube. 6 September 2014.
- ^ "2017". YouTube. 29 March 2017.
- ^ "2022".
- ^ "2024". 22 March 2024.
- ^ "2024". 26 March 2024.