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New Caledonia national football team

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This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see New Caledonia women's national football team.

New Caledonia
Shirt badge/Association crest
NicknameLes Cagous (The Kagus)
AssociationFédération Calédonienne de Football (FCF)
ConfederationOFC (Oceania)
Head coachJohann Sidaner
CaptainCésar Zeoula
Most capsCésar Zeoula (46)
Top scorerBertrand Kaï (23)
Home stadiumStade Numa-Daly Magenta
FIFA codeNCL
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 149 Increase 1 (19 November 2025)[1]
Highest93 (August 2013)
Lowest191 (April–May 2016)
First international
 New Caledonia 2–0 New Zealand 
(Nouméa, New Caledonia; 19 September 1951)
Biggest win
 New Caledonia 18–0 Guam 
(Lae, Papua New Guinea; 3 September 1991)
 Micronesia 0–18 New Caledonia 
(Suva, Fiji; 1 July 2003)
Biggest defeat
 Australia 11–0 New Caledonia 
(Auckland, New Zealand; 8 July 2002)
World Cup
Appearances0
OFC Nations Cup
Appearances6 (first in 1973)
Best resultRunners-up, (2008, 2012)
Melanesia Cup / MSG Prime Minister's Cup
Appearances9 (first in 1988)
Best resultMelanesia Cup: Runners-up
(1988, 1989, 1990, 1992)
MSG Prime Minister's Cup: Runners-up
(2023)

The New Caledonia men's national football team is the national team of New Caledonia and is controlled by the Fédération Calédonienne de Football. Although they were only admitted to FIFA in 2004, they have been participating in the OFC Nations Cup since its inception. They have been one of this relatively small region's strongest teams, finishing second in 2008 and 2012, and third in 1973 and 1980. They were the top ranked OFC nation at number 95 in September 2008,[3] making them only the fourth country from the confederation to have reached the global top 100.

History

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The New Caledonian Football Federation, although created in 1928,[4] did not join FIFA or the OFC until 2004, becoming the 205th member of the former.

Previously the New Caledonian selection, due to the attachment of local institutions to the French Football Federation, could only line up during friendly matches or regional competitions, such as the Pacific Games, as well as the Oceania Football Cup, but only as a guest.

The Cagous distinguished themselves during these competitions, winning the Pacific Games on several occasions, and finishing in third place, during the first two editions of the OFC Nations Cup.

After failing to qualify for the 2004 OFC Nations Cup, the New Caledonian Football Federation hired Didier Chambaron as the team's new coach. During the 2007 South Pacific Games in Apia, the Cagous were placed in group A and won over their great rival Tahiti (1–0), this meeting was the first of the playoffs for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. They then won against Tuvalu and the Cook Islands (1–0) and (3–0). For their last group match, they drew against Fiji (1–1). The New Caledonians finished second in their group, and then beat the Solomon Islands (3–2), then in the final won the trophy against Fiji (1–0).

The Pacific Games football tournament serving as the first qualifying round for the World Cup in South Africa, the team found themselves qualified for the second round, where New Zealand blocked their way by taking first place. The Cagous however finish second in front of Fiji and Vanuatu.

In May 2011, the selection faced Reunion twice in Nouméa, matches counting for the preparation of the games of the islands of the Indian Ocean in the Seychelles of the Reunionese. The New Caledonians lost both matches. However, a few months later, during the 2011 Pacific Games, New Caledonia won in the final against the Solomon Islands, with the score of (2–0), after a victory against Tahiti (3–1).

In June 2012, on the occasion of the OFC Nations Cup, the Cagous succeeded in beating New Zealand in the semi-finals, with a score of 2–0 (goals from Bertrand Kai and Georges Gope-Fenepej), but failed in the final against their Tahitian rivals (1–0). Nevertheless, the competition serving as a second qualifying round for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, New Caledonia found itself, along with Tahiti and the semi-finalists New Zealand and the Solomon Islands qualified for the next round.

Rivalries

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A historical sporting rivalry exists between the two French Pacific overseas collectivities, New Caledonia and Tahiti. They compete regularly in regional and, since 2006, international competitions. In 2012, Tahiti led the number of titles won (1 OFC Nations Cup, 5 gold medals at the South Pacific Games, 2 at the South Pacific mini-games, against 6 gold at the South Pacific Games for New Caledonia). As of their last match in 2018, out of the 62 matches played since 1953, the New Caledonia has 28 wins against 25 for Tahiti and 9 draws.[citation needed]

Kit

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Macron are the current kit provider for the national team since 2025. As of 2012, the national team's home kit is a grey jersey with red shorts and red socks. The away kit is a red jersey with red shorts and white socks.

Kit supplier Period
Germany Puma 2004–2006[5]
United States Nike 2010–2012
Italy Erreà 2013–2017
Italy Kappa 2017–2019
Denmark Select 2020–2021
Italy Givova 2022–2025
Italy Macron 2025–

Results and fixtures

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See also: New Caledonia national football team results (2000–present)

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

2024

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9 December 2024 MSG Prime Minister's Cup New Caledonia  Cancelled  Vanuatu Honiara, Solomon Islands
15:00 UTC+11 Stadium: Lawson Tama Stadium
Note: New Caledonia withdrew from the tournament shortly after the draw
12 December 2024 MSG Prime Minister's Cup Fiji  Cancelled  New Caledonia Honiara, Solomon Islands
13:00 UTC+11 Stadium: Lawson Tama Stadium
Note: New Caledonia withdrew from the tournament shortly after the draw

2025

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21 March 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification New Caledonia  3–0  Tahiti Wellington, New Zealand
15:00 UTC+13
Report Stadium: Sky Stadium
Referee: CK Kawana-Waugh (New Zealand)
24 March 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification New Caledonia  0–3  New Zealand Auckland, New Zealand
19:10 UTC+13 Report
Stadium: Eden Park
Attendance: 25,132
Referee: Ben Aukwai (Solomon Islands)
8 October Friendly Gibraltar  0–2  New Caledonia Europa Point, Gibraltar
19:00 Report
Stadium: Europa Point Stadium
Referee: Michele Beltrano (San Marino)
11 November 2025 MSG Prime Minister's Cup Papua New Guinea  Cancelled  New Caledonia Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
18:00 Stadium: PNG Football Stadium
Note: New Caledonia withdrew from the tournament shortly after the draw
14 November 2025 MSG Prime Minister's Cup New Caledonia  Cancelled  Solomon Islands Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
15:00 Stadium: Sir John Guise Stadium
Note: New Caledonia withdrew from the tournament shortly after the draw

2026

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26 March 2026 FIFA World Cup inter-confederation play-offs New Caledonia  v  Jamaica Guadalajara, Mexico
20:00 UTC−6 Stadium: Estadio Akron

Coaching history

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Players

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Current squad

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The following players were called up for the friendly match against Gibraltar in 8 October 2025.[6]
Caps and goals correct as of 8 October 2025, after the match against Gibraltar.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Rocky Nyikeine (1992-05-26) 26 May 1992 (age 33) 32 0 New Caledonian Football Federation Gaïca
1GK Thomas Schmidt (1996-06-04) 4 June 1996 (age 29) 5 0 New Caledonian Football Federation Tiga Sport
1GK Warren Hlupa (2004-04-16) 16 April 2004 (age 21) 1 0 French Football Federation Vertou
2DF Morgan Mathelon (1991-09-12) 12 September 1991 (age 34) 16 0 New Caledonian Football Federation Tiga Sport
2DF Bernard Iwa (2000-05-16) 16 May 2000 (age 25) 13 0 New Caledonian Football Federation Lössi
2DF Fonzy Ranchain (1994-07-22) 22 July 1994 (age 31) 12 0 French Football Federation Vertou
2DF Didier Simane (1996-08-03) 3 August 1996 (age 29) 8 0 French Football Federation ASPTT Dijon
2DF William Rokuad (2001-10-03) 3 October 2001 (age 24) 7 1 New Caledonian Football Federation Magenta
2DF Henry Wélépane (2000-04-19) 19 April 2000 (age 25) 0 0 New Caledonian Football Federation Tiga Sport
3MF César Zeoula (1989-08-29) 29 August 1989 (age 36) 46 13 French Football Federation Chauvigny
3MF Shene Wélépane (1997-12-09) 9 December 1997 (age 28) 23 6 New Caledonian Football Federation Tiga Sport
3MF Joseph Athale (1995-07-11) 11 July 1995 (age 30) 22 3 French Football Federation Olympique Saint-Quentin
3MF Jekob Jeno (2000-06-22) 22 June 2000 (age 25) 7 0 Romanian Football Federation Unirea Slobozia
3MF Joris Kenon (1998-01-29) 29 January 1998 (age 27) 7 0 French Football Federation Saint-Philbert-de-Grand-Lieu
3MF Titouan Richard (2000-12-04) 4 December 2000 (age 25) 7 0 French Football Federation Olympique Salaise Rhodia
3MF Pierre Bako (2001-08-09) 9 August 2001 (age 24) 6 0 French Football Federation Vertou
3MF Yoan Béaruné (2002-03-22) 22 March 2002 (age 23) 3 0 New Caledonian Football Federation Horizon Patho
4FW Jean-Jacques Katrawa (1999-08-02) 2 August 1999 (age 26) 12 5 French Football Federation Lucciana
4FW Gérard Waia (2004-12-22) 22 December 2004 (age 20) 10 2 New Caledonian Football Federation Tiga Sport
4FW Lues Waya (2001-08-01) 1 August 2001 (age 24) 7 8 French Football Federation Vertou
4FW Germain Haewegene (1996-07-13) 13 July 1996 (age 29) 7 2 New Caledonian Football Federation Magenta
4FW Bryan Ausu (1997-11-25) 25 November 1997 (age 28) 2 0 French Football Federation Sud
4FW Pierre Iékawé (1997-09-07) 7 September 1997 (age 28) 1 0 New Caledonian Football Federation Tiga Sport

Recent call-ups

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The following players have also been called up to the New Caledonia squad within the last twelve months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Mickaël Ulile (1997-07-16) 16 July 1997 (age 28) 16 0 New Caledonia Magenta v.  Fiji, 17 November 2024
DF Emile Béaruné (1990-02-07) 7 February 1990 (age 35) 42 0 New Caledonia Horizon Patho v.  New Zealand, 24 March 2025
DF Djibril Tufele (2003-01-25) 25 January 2003 (age 22) 2 0 New Caledonia Lössi v.  Tahiti, 21 March 2025 PRE
DF Florian Gope (2004-03-25) 25 March 2004 (age 21) 0 0 New Caledonia Magenta v.  Tahiti, 21 March 2025 PRE
DF Cameron Wadenges (2000-08-05) 5 August 2000 (age 25) 3 0 France Racing Besançon v.  Fiji, 17 November 2024
DF Alexandre Deplanque (2001-01-02) 2 January 2001 (age 24) 2 0 France Pouzages Bocage v.  Fiji, 17 November 2024
MF Mickaël Partodikromo (1996-02-02) 2 February 1996 (age 29) 2 0 New Caledonia Tiga Sport v.  New Zealand, 24 March 2025
MF Jules Omei (2001-07-14) 14 July 2001 (age 24) 6 0 New Caledonia Mont-Dore v.  Tahiti, 21 March 2025 PRE
MF Ilhan Iekawe (2002-07-28) 28 July 2002 (age 23) 0 0 New Caledonia Tiga Sport v.  Tahiti, 21 March 2025 PRE
MF Nathaël Ouka 0 0 New Caledonia Gaïca v.  Tahiti, 21 March 2025 PRE
FW David Béaruné (1994-06-17) 17 June 1994 (age 31) 3 0 New Caledonia Tiga Sport v.  Gibraltar, 8 October 2025 WD
FW Georges Gope-Fenepej (1988-10-23) 23 October 1988 (age 37) 26 18 France Saint-Colomban Locminé v.  New Zealand, 24 March 2025
FW Jaushua Sotirio (1995-10-11) 11 October 1995 (age 30) 0 0 Singapore Hougang United v.  New Zealand, 24 March 2025
Notes
  • INJ Withdrew due to injury
  • PRE Preliminary squad / standby
  • WD Withdrew due to non-injury issue

Player records

[edit]
As of 8 October 2025[7]
Players in bold are still active with New Caledonia.

Most appearances

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César Zeoula is the most capped player of the national team.
Rank Name Caps Goals Career
1 César Zeoula 46 13 2008–present
2 Bertrand Kaï 43 23 2008–2022
3 Emile Béaruné 42 0 2010–present
4 Pierre Wajoka 39 13 2003–2011
Joël Wakanumuné 39 1 2011–2022
6 Iamel Kabeu 34 20 2002–2013
7 Rocky Nyikeine 32 0 2011–present
8 Roy Kayara 31 8 2008–2019
9 Michel Hmaé 28 22 2003–2011
10 André Sinédo 27 1 2002–2011

Top goalscorers

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Rank Name Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Bertrand Kaï 23 43 0.53 2008–2022
2 Michel Hmaé 22 28 0.79 2003–2011
3 Iamel Kabeu 20 34 0.59 2002–2013
4 Georges Gope-Fenepej 18 26 0.69 2011–present
5 Pierre Wajoka 13 39 0.33 2003–2011
César Zeoula 13 46 0.28 2008–present
7 Jean-Philippe Saïko 12 10 1.2 2016–2022
8 Joris Pibke 11 5 2.2 2000–2002
9 Paul Poatinda 10 10 1 2003–2004
10 Jacques Haeko 9 13 0.69 2011–2012

Competitive record

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FIFA World Cup

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FIFA World Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pos. Pld W D L GF GA
Uruguay 1930 Not member of FIFA Not member of FIFA
Italy 1934
France 1938
Brazil 1950
Switzerland 1954
Sweden 1958
Chile 1962
England 1966
Mexico 1970
West Germany 1974
Argentina 1978
Spain 1982
Mexico 1986
Italy 1990
United States 1994
France 1998
South Korea Japan 2002
Germany 2006 Did not qualify 3rd 4 2 1 1 16 2
South Africa 2010 2nd 12 7 3 2 22 13
Brazil 2014 2nd 11 7 0 4 36 13
Russia 2018 2nd 8 2 4 2 13 8
Qatar 2022 4th 3 0 0 3 2 10
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined 2nd (PO) 5 3 1 1 10 7
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030 To be determined
Saudi Arabia 2034
Total 0/5 – – – – – – — 43 21 9 13 99 53

OFC Nations Cup

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Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
New Zealand 1973 Third place 3rd 5 3 0 2 10 6 No qualification
New Caledonia 1980 Third place 3rd 4 3 0 1 14 12
1996 Did not qualify 4 1 0 3 5 9
Australia 1998 4 0 0 4 4 10
French Polynesia 2000 4 2 0 2 11 11
New Zealand 2002 Group stage 8th 3 0 0 3 1 14 4 3 0 1 25 4
Australia 2004 Did not qualify 4 2 1 1 16 2
2008 Runners-up 2nd 6 2 2 2 12 10 6 5 1 0 10 3
Solomon Islands 2012 Runners-up 2nd 5 3 0 2 19 7 Qualified automatically
Papua New Guinea 2016 Semi-finals 3rd 4 1 2 1 9 3
Fiji Vanuatu 2024 Qualified but withdrew[b]
Total Runners-up 6/11 27 12 4 11 65 52 26 13 2 11 71 39

Pacific Games

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Pacific Games record
Year Host Round Pld W D* L GF GA
1963 Fiji Gold medal 2 2 0 0 10 3
1966 New Caledonia Silver medal 4 3 0 1 17 2
1969 Papua New Guinea Gold medal 5 4 1 0 20 3
1971 Tahiti Gold medal 4 3 1 0 12 2
1975 Guam Silver medal 5 4 0 1 16 4
1979 Fiji Fourth place 5 3 0 2 26 8
1983 Samoa Bronze medal 6 4 0 2 16 11
1987 New Caledonia Gold medal 6 5 0 1 26 4
1991 Papua New Guinea Bronze medal 5 3 0 2 13 8
1995 Tahiti Group stage 4 2 0 2 19 3
2003 Fiji Silver medal 6 4 1 1 29 3
2007 Samoa Gold medal 6 5 1 0 10 3
2011 New Caledonia Gold medal 7 6 0 1 36 3
2015 Papua New Guinea See New Caledonia national under-23 football team
2019 Samoa Silver medal 6 5 0 1 23 2
2023 Solomon Islands Gold medal 4 3 1 0 18 2
Total 8 titles 69 52 5 13 268 59

MSG Prime Minister's Cup

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MSG Prime Minister's Cup record
Year Host Position Pld W D* L GF GA
1988 Solomon Islands Fourth place 4 1 0 3 6 5
1989 Fiji Runners-up 4 3 0 1 9 5
1990 Vanuatu Runners-up 4 2 1 1 5 3
1992 Vanuatu Runners-up 3 2 1 0 4 2
1994 Solomon Islands Fourth place 4 1 0 3 5 9
1998 Vanuatu Fifth place 4 0 0 4 4 10
2000 Fiji Fourth place 4 2 0 2 11 11
2022 Vanuatu Sixth place 2 0 0 2 0 2
2023 New Caledonia Runners-up 3 2 0 1 7 2
2024 Solomon Islands Withdrew
Total Runners-up 32 13 2 17 51 49

Head-to-head record

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Up to matches played on 8 October 2025.

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD WPCT
 American Samoa 4 4 0 0 33 0 +33 100.00
 Australia 4 0 0 4 1 23 −22 0.00
 Bulgaria 1 0 0 1 3 5 −2 0.00
 Cook Islands 5 5 0 0 40 0 +40 100.00
 Estonia 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0.00
 Fiji 39 12 6 21 69 76 −7 30.77
 Gibraltar 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 100.00
 Guadeloupe 2 0 1 1 1 5 −4 0.00
 Guam 3 3 0 0 37 1 +36 100.00
 Malaysia 1 0 0 1 1 2 −1 0.00
 Martinique 3 0 1 2 1 7 −6 0.00
 Mauritius 1 0 0 1 1 3 −2 0.00
 Mayotte 2 1 0 1 3 4 −1 50.00
 Micronesia 1 1 0 0 18 0 +18 100.00
 New Zealand 34 11 2 21 46 74 −28 32.35
 Papua New Guinea 20 14 2 4 55 18 +37 70.00
 Réunion 2 0 0 2 3 7 −4 0.00
 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 1 1 0 0 16 1 +15 100.00
 Samoa[c] 4 4 0 0 29 0 +29 100.00
 Solomon Islands 29 15 3 11 58 35 +23 51.72
 Tahiti 65 28 14 23 111 78 +33 43.08
 Tonga 6 6 0 0 43 2 +41 100.00
 Tuvalu 5 4 0 1 32 2 +30 80.00
 Vanuatu[d] 40 25 7 8 102 45 +57 62.50
 Wallis and Futuna 3 3 0 0 19 1 +18 100.00
Total 277 138 37 102 725 390 +335 49.82
Source: 1951–99 results and 2000–present results
Notes:
  1. ^ New Caledonia sporting nationality. At the time, no other flag other than the French flag was used
  2. ^ Withdrew before the tournament started due to the social unrest in the country.
  3. ^ Includes results as Western Samoa.
  4. ^ Includes results as New Hebrides.

Honours

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Continental

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Regional

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Awards

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Summary

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Competition 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Total
OFC Nations Cup 0 2 2 4
Total 0 2 2 4

Historical kits

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1987 Home
1998 Home
2002 Home
2003 Home
2003 Away
2004 Third
2006 Home
2006 Away
2007 Home
2007 Away
2008 Home
2010 Home
2011
2012 Home
2012 Away
2016 Home
2016 Away
2017 Home
2019
2019
2019
2019
2022
2022
2022
2022
2022

Sources:[8][9][10][11][12]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 19 November 2025. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  2. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 10 December 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  3. ^ FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking September 2008
  4. ^ "A Little History". Federation of Caledonian Football. Archived from the original on 1 February 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  5. ^ "New Caledonia camisa de futebol 2004 – 2006". 8 May 2012. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  6. ^ "La liste des 23 cagous pour GIBRALTAR est connue. OFFICIEL FCF - Sélection A". www.fedcalfoot.com. FCF Foot.
  7. ^ "New Caledonia". National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  8. ^ "FOOTBALL IN NEW CALEDONIA". 2023. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  9. ^ "2003".
  10. ^ "2004". YouTube. 16 August 2020.
  11. ^ "2011".
  12. ^ "2022". YouTube. 22 September 2022.
[edit]
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