Papua New Guinea national soccer team

{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox national football team with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 2ndRegional cup apps | 2ndRegional cup best | 2ndRegional cup first | 2ndRegional name | 3rdRegional cup apps | 3rdRegional cup best | 3rdRegional cup first | 3rdRegional name | 4thRegional cup apps | 4thRegional cup best | 4thRegional cup first | 4thRegional name | American | Association | Badge | Badge_size | body1 | body2 | body3 | BSWW Rank | Captain | Coach | Confederation | Confederations cup apps | Confederations cup best | Confederations cup first | Current | date | Elo max | Elo max date | Elo max year | Elo min | Elo min date | Elo min year | Elo Rank | FIFA max | FIFA max date | FIFA max year | FIFA min | FIFA min date | FIFA min year | FIFA Rank | FIFA Trigramme | filetype | filetype1 | filetype2 | filetype3 | First game | Home Stadium | Largest loss | Largest win | Last game | leftarm1 | leftarm2 | leftarm3 | medaltemplates | medaltemplates-expand | Most caps | Name | Nickname | Only game | Other-affiliation | pattern_b1 | pattern_b2 | pattern_b3 | pattern_la1 | pattern_la2 | pattern_la3 | pattern_name1 | pattern_name2 | pattern_name3 | pattern_ra1 | pattern_ra2 | pattern_ra3 | pattern_sh1 | pattern_sh2 | pattern_sh3 | pattern_so1 | pattern_so2 | pattern_so3 | Regional cup apps | Regional cup best | Regional cup first | Regional name | rightarm1 | rightarm2 | rightarm3 | shorts1 | shorts2 | shorts3 | socks1 | socks2 | socks3 | Sub-confederation | Top scorer | Type | type | U17WC apps | U17WC best | U17WC first | U20WC apps | U20WC best | U20WC first | UEFAu21Champ apps | UEFAu21Champ best | UEFAu21Champ first | Upright |website | World cup apps | World cup best | World cup first }} 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,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref name="FIFA/Coca-Cola-World-Rankings">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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

File:Alwin Komolong.jpg

Alwin Komolong played numerous football matches for Papua New Guinea

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
Template:Flagicon Joma	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Flagicon Puma	2007–2010
Template:Flagicon Lotto	2011
Template:Flagicon Nike	2012–2014
Template:Flagicon OFC	2014
Template:Flagicon Kukuri	2015
None	2016
Template:Flagicon Adidas	2017–2023
Template:Flagicon Veto	2024–

Results and fixtures

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Coaching history

• Template:Flagicon Richard Tamari Nagai (1996–1998)
• Template:Flagicon John Davani (2002)
• Template:Flagicon Steve Cain (2002)
• Template:Flagicon Ludwig Peka (2003–2004)
• Template:Flagicon Marcos Gusmão (2004–2011)
• Template:Flagicon Frank Farina (2011–2013)
• Template:Flagicon Mike Keeney (2013)
• Template:Flagicon Wynton Rufer (2014–2015)
• Template:Flagicon Flemming Serritslev (2015–2018)
• Template:Flagicon Bob Morris (2019–2021)
• Template:Flagicon Marcos Gusmão (2021–2022)
• Template:Flagicon Santiago Marina (2022–2023)
• Template:Flagicon Warren Moon (2023–2024)
• Template:Flagicon 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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

Template:Updated<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Statistics include official FIFA-recognised matches only.

Players in bold are still active with Papua New Guinea.

Most appearances

Rank	Name	Caps	Goals	Career
1	Emmanuel SimonTemplate:Efn	41	4	2014–present
2	Daniel JoeTemplate:Efn	39	1	2012–present
3	Raymond GunembaTemplate:Efn	37	18	2012–present
4	Ronald WarisanTemplate:Efn	36	0	2014–present
5	Michael Foster	31	7	2003–2022
6	Alwin KomolongTemplate:Efn	30	3	2016–present
7	Tommy Semmy	27	10	2014–present
8	Kolu Kepo	26	4	2016–present
9	Ati Kepo	25	9	2019–present
10	Felix Komolong	23	0	2016–present

Top goalscorers

Rank	Name	Goals	Caps	Ratio	Career
1	Raymond GunembaTemplate:Efn	18	37	{{#expr:18/37 round 2}}	2012–present
2	Reggie Davani	13	17	{{#expr:13/17 round 2}}	2002–2012
3	Tommy Semmy	10	27	{{#expr:10/27 round 2}}	2014–present
4	Nigel DabinyabaTemplate:Efn	9	22	{{#expr:9/22 round 2}}	2014–present
	Ati Kepo	9	25	{{#expr:9/25 round 2}}	2019–present
6	Michael Foster	7	31	{{#expr:7/31 round 2}}	2003–2022
7	Nathaniel Lepani	6	8	{{#expr:6/8 round 2}}	2004–2011
8	Neil Hans	5	8	{{#expr:5/8 round 2}}	2007–2014
	Andrew Lepani	5	12	{{#expr:5/12 round 2}}	2003–2011
	Mauri Wasi	5	14	{{#expr:5/14 round 2}}	2002–2014

Notes Template:Notelist

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record										FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year	Result	Position	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr		Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr
1930 to 1966	Not a FIFA member									Not a FIFA member
1970 to 1994	Did not enter									Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 1998	Did not qualify									3rd	6	2	1	3	5	13
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2002	Did not enter									Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 2006	Did not qualify									3rd	4	2	1	1	17	6
Template:Flagicon 2010	Disqualified									Disqualified
Template:Flagicon 2014	Did not qualify									4th	3	0	1	2	2	4
Template:Flagicon 2018										3rd	9	3	3	3	19	13
Template:Flagicon 2022										3rd	4	2	0	2	5	5
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2026										7th	3	0	1	2	5	8
Template:FlagiconTemplate:FlagiconTemplate:Flagicon 2030	To be determined									To be determined
Template:Flagicon 2034
Total		Template:Tooltip									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

Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup record											Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Squad		Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip
Template:Flagicon 1973	Did not enter										No qualification
Template:Flagicon 1980	Group stage	6th	3	1	0	2	6	22	Template:N/a
Template:Flagicon 1996	Did not qualify										4	1	1	2	2	4
Template:Flagicon 1998											4	1	1	2	3	6
Template:Flagicon 2000											4	0	0	4	4	19
Template:Flagicon 2002	Group stage	7th	3	0	1	2	2	12	Squad		4	4	0	0	20	2
Template:Flagicon 2004	Did not qualify										4	2	1	1	17	6
Template:Flagicon 2008	Disqualified										Disqualified
Template:Flagicon 2012	Group stage	7th	3	0	1	2	2	4	Squad		Qualified automatically
Template:Flagicon 2016	Runners-up	2nd	5	2	3	0	13	4	Squad
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 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

Pacific Games record
Year	Round	Position	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip
Template:Flagicon 1963	1st round	5th	1	0	0	1	1	3
Template:Flagicon 1966	Fourth place	4th	4	1	0	3	14	14
Template:Flagicon 1969	Third place	3rd	6	3	1	2	11	10
Template:Flagicon 1971	Fourth place	4th	3	1	1	1	19	11
Template:Flagicon 1975	Group stage	6th	2	0	0	2	3	9
Template:Flagicon 1979	Quarter-finals	5th	3	1	1	1	15	3
Template:Flagicon 1983	Fourth place	4th	4	1	0	3	22	10
Template:Flagicon 1987	Third place	3rd	6	3	2	1	26	4
Template:Flagicon 1991	Group stage	5th	3	1	1	1	3	2
Template:Flagicon 1995	Group stage	6th	3	1	1	1	11	5
Template:Flagicon 2003	Group stage	6th	4	1	1	2	12	7
Template:Flagicon 2007	Disqualified
Template:Flagicon 2011	Group stage	6th	4	2	1	1	22	4
Template:Flagicon 2015	See Papua New Guinea national under-23 team
Template:Flagicon 2019	Fourth place	4th	5	3	1	1	17	3
Template:Flagicon 2023	Group stage	6th	4	2	1	1	7	3
Total	Third place	14/16	52	20	11	30	183	88

MSG Prime Minister's Cup

MSG Prime Minister's Cup record
Year	Round	Position	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip
Template:Flagicon 1988	Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 1989	Fourth place	4th	4	1	1	2	5	4
Template:Flagicon 1990	Fifth place	5th	4	0	0	4	1	5
Template:Flagicon 1992	Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 1994	Third place	3rd	4	1	1	2	2	4
Template:Flagicon 1998	Fourth place	4th	4	1	1	2	3	6
Template:Flagicon 2000	Fifth place	5th	4	0	0	4	4	19
Template:Flagicon 2022	Champions	1st	4	3	1	0	7	5
Template:Flagicon 2023	Fourth place	4th	3	0	0	3	2	7
Total	Winner	7/9	27	6	4	17	24	50

Honours

Continental

• OFC Nations Cup
  • Template:Silver2 Runners-up (1): 2016

Regional

• Pacific Games
  • Template:Bronze3 Bronze medal (2): 1969, 1987
• Melanesia Cup / MSG Prime Minister's Cup
  • Template:Gold1 Champions (1): 2022
  • Template:Bronze3 Third place (1): 1994

Summary

Competition	Template:Gold1	Template:Silver2	Template:Bronze3	Total
OFC Nations Cup	0	1	0	1
Total	0	1	0	1

Head-to-head record

{{#lst:Papua New Guinea national football team results|Record by opponent}}

Historical kits

Sources:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

• Papua New Guinea women's national soccer team

External links

• Papua New Guinea Football Association
• Papua New Guinea at OFC
• Papua New Guinea at FIFA
• National football team of Papua New Guinea picture