Nickname(s) | Kapuls (Cuscus) | ||
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Association | Papua New Guinea Football Association | ||
Confederation | OFC (Oceania) | ||
Head coach | Warren Moon | ||
Captain | Ronald Warisan | ||
Most caps | Emmanuel Simon (36) | ||
Top scorer | Raymond Gunemba, Reggie Davani (13) | ||
Home stadium | Hubert Murray Stadium | ||
FIFA code | PNG | ||
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FIFA ranking | |||
Current | 165 1 (20 June 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.
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 obtaining 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 |
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Joma | 1998–2000[7] |
Puma | 2007–2010 |
Nike | 2011–2012 |
Lotto | 2013–2015 |
Adidas | 2017–2023 |
Veto | 2024– |
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.
Win Draw Loss Fixture
8 October 2023 MSG Prime Minister's Cup | Papua New Guinea | 1–3 | Solomon Islands | Nouméa, New Caledonia |
14:00 UTC+11:00 | Stadium: Stade Numa-Daly Magenta |
11 October 2023 MSG Prime Minister's Cup | Papua New Guinea | 1–3 | New Caledonia | Koné, New Caledonia |
16:00 UTC+11:00 | Stadium: Stade Yoshida |
14 October 2023 MSG Prime Minister's Cup | Papua New Guinea | 0–1 | Vanuatu | Nouméa, New Caledonia |
14:00 UTC+11:00 | Stadium: Stade Numa-Daly Magenta |
15 November Friendly | Papua New Guinea | 0–3 (w/o) | East Timor | Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea |
14:00 UTC+11:00 |
17 November 2023 Pacific Games | Papua New Guinea | 3–0 (w/o) | Tuvalu | Honiara, Solomon Islands |
12:00 | Stadium: Lawson Tama Stadium |
23 November 2023 Pacific Games | Vanuatu | 1–1 | Papua New Guinea | Honiara, Solomon Islands |
12:00 | Stadium: Lawson Tama Stadium |
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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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Stadium: Luganville Soccer Stadium |
The following 23 players were called up for the 2024 OFC Men's Nations Cup.[8]
Caps and goals correct as of 25 March 2024, after the match against Central African Republic.
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Ronald Warisan | 20 September 1989 | 28 | 0 | Lae City | |
GK | Dave Tomare | 26 April 1997 | 2 | 0 | Hekari United | |
GK | Vagi Koniel | 26 October 1996 | 0 | 0 | Southern Strikers | |
DF | Daniel Joe | 29 May 1990 | 32 | 0 | Hekari United | |
DF | Alwin Komolong | 2 November 1994 | 22 | 1 | Queensland Lions | |
DF | Felix Komolong | 6 March 1997 | 21 | 0 | Lae City | |
DF | Kolu Kepo | 15 July 1993 | 18 | 4 | Hekari United | |
DF | Godfrey Haro | 30 June 1998 | 8 | 0 | Hekari United | |
DF | Leenard Atterwell | 21 November 2005 | 0 | 0 | Alcochetense | |
DF | Raymon Diho | 1 January 2007 | 0 | 0 | North Geelong Warriors | |
MF | Emmanuel Simon | 25 December 1992 | 33 | 4 | Lae City | |
MF | Yagi Yasasa | 17 August 2000 | 14 | 0 | Hekari United | |
MF | Pala Paul | 25 July 1999 | 5 | 0 | Southern Strikers | |
MF | Kenneth Arah | 15 January 1996 | 4 | 0 | Gulf Komara | |
MF | Troy Dobbin | 24 September 2001 | 4 | 0 | Queensland Lions | |
MF | Lee-Navu Faunt | 4 May 2003 | 3 | 0 | Redlands United | |
MF | Bruce Tiampo | 25 July 2002 | 2 | 0 | Lae City | |
MF | Solomon Rani | 22 May 2002 | 1 | 0 | Hekari United | |
MF | Jethro Yumange | 10 March 2002 | 0 | 0 | River Light | |
FW | Tommy Semmy | 30 September 1994 | 18 | 6 | Melbourne Knights | |
FW | Ati Kepo | 15 January 1996 | 18 | 6 | Hekari United | |
FW | Harold Tataeng | 5 April 1997 | 0 | 0 | Southern Strikers | |
FW | Matu Ben | 31 January 2004 | 0 | 0 | Lae City |
The following players have also been called up to the Papua New Guinea squad within the last twelve months.
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DF | Philip Steven | 19 January 1995 | 3 | 0 | Port Moresby | 2024 FIFA Series |
DF | Joseph Waiwai | 7 March 2001 | 0 | 0 | Port Moresby Strikers | 2024 FIFA Series |
DF | Abel Redenut | 17 April 1995 | 0 | 0 | Hekari United | 2023 Pacific Games |
DF | Nathaniel Eddie | unknown | 0 | 0 | Hekari United | 2023 Pacific Games |
DF | Thomas Yagum | 21 May 1995 | 0 | 0 | Lae City | 2023 Pacific Games |
DF | Joshua Talau | 19 April 1996 | 4 | 0 | Lae City | 2023 MSG Prime Minister's Cup |
MF | Rex Naime | 23 October 2003 | 0 | 0 | Hekari United | 2024 FIFA Series |
MF | Nigel Dabinyaba | 26 October 1992 | 19 | 11 | Hekari United | 2024 FIFA Series |
MF | Oberth Simon | 1 January 2001 | 0 | 0 | Hekari United | 2024 FIFA Series |
MF | Tizoki Tamgol | unknown | 0 | 0 | Port Moresby | 2023 Pacific Games |
MF | Joseph Joe | 14 June 2002 | 0 | 0 | Hekari United | 2023 Pacific Games |
FW | Pascal Kundi | 15 January 1996 | 0 | 0 | Port Moresby Strikers | 2023 Pacific Games |
FW | Raymond Gunemba | 4 June 1986 | 25 | 11 | Lae City | 2023 MSG Prime Minister's Cup |
Rank | Name | Caps | Goals | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Emmanuel Simon[a] | 36 | 4 | 2014–present |
2 | Daniel Joe[b] | 34 | 1 | 2012–present |
3 | Ronald Warisan[c] | 32 | 0 | 2014–present |
4 | Raymond Gunemba[d] | 31 | 13 | 2012–present |
Michael Foster | 31 | 7 | 2003–2022 | |
6 | Alwin Komolong[e] | 24 | 1 | 2016–present |
7 | Tommy Semmy | 23 | 8 | 2014–present |
8 | Felix Komolong | 22 | 0 | 2016–present |
Koriak Upaiga | 22 | 2 | 2011–present | |
10 | Nigel Dabinyaba[f] | 21 | 9 | 2014–present |
Rank | Name | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Reggie Davani | 13 | 17 | 0.76 | 2002–2012 |
Raymond Gunemba[g] | 13 | 31 | 0.42 | 2012–present | |
3 | Nigel Dabinyaba[h] | 9 | 21 | 0.43 | 2014–present |
4 | Tommy Semmy | 8 | 23 | 0.35 | 2014–present |
5 | Ati Kepo | 7 | 20 | 0.35 | 2019–present |
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 |
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 | To be determined | To be determined | ||||||||||||||
2030 | ||||||||||||||||
2034 | ||||||||||||||||
Total | 0/14 | 26 | 9 | 6 | 11 | 48 | 41 |
* 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 | Qualified as host | ||||||
2024 | Group stage | 5th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | Squad | Qualified automatically | ||||||
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 | First | 4th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
1990 | First | 5th | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
1992 | Did not enter | |||||||
1994 | First | 3rd | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
1998 | First | 4th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
2000 | First | 5th | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 19 |
2022 | Final | 1st | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 |
2023 | First | 4th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
Total | Winner | 7/9 | 27 | 6 | 4 | 17 | 24 | 50 |
Papua New Guinea Won to Tuvalu 1 Time and Loss to Tuvalu 1 Time No Draws
Up to matches played on 20 July 2019.
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 | 18 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 34 | −19 | 11.11 |
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 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 17 | −12 | 25.00 |
New Caledonia | 16 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 14 | 47 | −33 | 18.75 |
New Zealand | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 18 | −15 | 20.00 |
Niue | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | +19 | 100.00 |
North Korea | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | −4 | 0.00 |
Philippines | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | −5 | 0.00 |
Samoa[i] | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 3 | +23 | 100.00 |
Singapore | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 9 | −4 | 0.00 |
Solomon Islands | 21 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 26 | 34 | −8 | 23.81 |
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[j] | 20 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 27 | 32 | −5 | 40.00 |
Wallis and Futuna | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 | +15 | 100.00 |
Total | 135 | 45 | 24 | 66 | 316 | 292 | +24 | 33.33 |
1996 Home
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2002 Home
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2004
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2011 Home
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2014 Home
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2014 Away
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2015 Home
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2015 Away
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2017 Home
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2017 Away
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2022 Home
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2022 Away
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2022 Third
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2024 Home
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2024 Away
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