Papua New Guinea national soccer team
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Nickname(s) | Kapuls (Cuscus) | |
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Association | Papua New Guinea Football Association | |
Confederation | OFC (Oceania) | |
Head coach | Marcos Gusmão | |
Captain | David Muta | |
Most caps | Michael Foster (29) | |
Top scorer | Reggie Davani Raymond Gunemba (13) | |
Home stadium | Hubert Murray Stadium | |
FIFA code | PNG | |
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FIFA ranking | ||
Current | 168 ![]() | |
Highest | 153 (June 2017) | |
Lowest | 206 (October–November 2015) | |
First international | ||
![]() ![]() (Suva, Fiji; 29 August 1963)[2] | ||
Biggest win | ||
![]() ![]() (Nouméa, New Caledonia; 15 December 1987) | ||
Biggest defeat | ||
![]() ![]() (Nouméa, New Caledonia; 26 February 1980) ![]() ![]() (Jakarta, Indonesia; 15 February 1976) | ||
OFC Nations Cup | ||
Appearances | 4 (first in 1980) | |
Best result | Runners-up, 2016 |
Medal record | ||
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Pacific Games | ||
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1969 Port Moresby | Team |
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1987 Nouméa | Team |
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2015 Port Moresby | Team |
The Papua New Guinea national football team is the national 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 June 2019, the country was ranked 171 out of 211 countries. This was a drop of 2 places from May 2019.[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
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 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.
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.
Kit sponsorship
Kit supplier | Period |
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1998–2000[7] |
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2007–2010 |
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2011–2012 |
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2013–2015 |
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2017– |
Results and fixtures
For all past match results of the national team, see the team's results page.
In March 2022, Papua New Guinea will play their first matches since they took part in the 2019 Pacific Games.
2022
18 March 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | Papua New Guinea ![]() | 0–1 | ![]() | Doha, Qatar |
17:00 UTC+3 |
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Stadium: Qatar SC Stadium Referee: Saoud Ali Al-Adba (Qatar) |
21 March 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | Papua New Guinea ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() | Doha, Qatar |
17:00 UTC+3 |
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Stadium: Qatar SC Stadium |
24 March 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | Fiji ![]() | 1–2 | ![]() | Doha, Qatar |
20:00 UTC+3 |
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Stadium: Al Arabi Stadium |
27 March 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | Solomon Islands ![]() | 3–2 | ![]() | Doha, Qatar |
17:00 UTC+3 | Stadium: Al Arabi Stadium |
24 September 2022 MSG Prime Ministers Cup | Vanuatu ![]() | 0–1 | ![]() | Port Villa, Vanuatu |
Report |
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Stadium: Korman Stadium |
27 September 2022 MSG Prime Ministers Cup SF | Papua New Guinea ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() | Luganville, Vanuatu |
Report | Stadium: Luganville Soccer Stadium |
Coaching history
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–present)
Current squad
The following players were called up for the FIFA World Cup qualification matches in March 2022.[8][9]
Caps and goals correct as of 27 March 2022, after the match against Solomon Islands.
Player records
- As of 30 September 2022[10]
- Players in bold are still active with Papua New Guinea.
Most capped players
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Top goalscorers
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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 | |
1930 to 1994 | Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 3rd | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 13 | ||||||||
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Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 3rd | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 6 | ||||||||
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Disqualified | Disqualified | ||||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 4th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||||||||
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3rd | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 13 | |||||||||
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3rd | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | |||||||||
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To be determined | To be determined | ||||||||||||||
Total | 0/22 | 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.
OFC Nations Cup
Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup record | Qualification record | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | ||
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Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
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Group stage | 6th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 22 | No qualification | |||||||
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Did not qualify | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | |||||||||
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4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | ||||||||||
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4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 19 | ||||||||||
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Group stage | 7th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 2 | ||
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Did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 6 | |||||||||
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Disqualified | Disqualified | ||||||||||||||
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Group stage | 7th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | Qualified automatically | |||||||
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Runners-up | 2nd | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 4 | Qualified as host | |||||||
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Cancelled | Cancelled | ||||||||||||||
Total | Runners-up | 4/10 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 23 | 42 | 20 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 46 | 37 |
- *Denotes draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.
Pacific Games
Pacific Games record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
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1st round | 5th | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
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Fourth place | 4th | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 14 |
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Third place | 3rd | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 10 |
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Fourth place | 4th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 11 |
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Group stage | 6th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 9 |
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Quarter-finals | 5th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 3 |
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Fourth place | 4th | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 10 |
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Third place | 3rd | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 26 | 4 |
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Group stage | 5th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
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Group stage | 6th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 5 |
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Group stage | 6th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 7 |
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Disqualified | |||||||
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Group stage | 6th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 4 |
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See Papua New Guinea national under-23 football team | |||||||
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Fourth place | 4th | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 3 |
Total | Third place | 13/15 | 48 | 18 | 10 | 29 | 176 | 85 |
Head-to-head record
Up to matches played on 20 July 2019.
Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | WPCT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 0 | +37 | 100.00 |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 11 | −9 | 0.00 |
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2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 0.00 |
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2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0.00 |
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2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1 | +19 | 100.00 |
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1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | +10 | 100.00 |
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18 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 34 | −19 | 11.11 |
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1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | +9 | 100.00 |
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2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 50.00 |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | −7 | 0.00 |
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2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 1 | +29 | 100.00 |
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1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 100.00 |
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4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 17 | −12 | 25.00 |
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16 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 14 | 47 | −33 | 18.75 |
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5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 18 | −15 | 20.00 |
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1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | +19 | 100.00 |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | −4 | 0.00 |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | −5 | 0.00 |
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5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 3 | +23 | 100.00 |
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2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 9 | −4 | 0.00 |
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21 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 26 | 34 | −8 | 23.81 |
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15 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 17 | 47 | −30 | 6.67 |
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1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 100.00 |
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4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 2 | +18 | 75.00 |
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20 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 27 | 32 | −5 | 40.00 |
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3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 | +15 | 100.00 |
Total | 135 | 45 | 24 | 66 | 316 | 292 | +24 | 33.33 |
Notes:
See also
References
- ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 18 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
- ^ "Papua New Guinea International Matches".
- ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 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 Ranking". FIFA. 4 April 2019. Archived from the original on 3 November 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
- ^ "Fake & Counterfeit Shirts from all over camisa de futebol 1998 - 2000". 12 August 2019.
- ^ "PNGFA announces squad for FIFA World Cup Qatar™ 2022 OFC Qualifier". PNGfootball.com. Papua New Guinea Football Association.
- ^ "Haro called in to replace Essacu". PNGfootball.com. Papua New Guinea Football Association.
- ^ "Papua New Guinea". National Football Teams.