New Caledonia National Football Team

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, making them only the fourth country from the confederation to have reached the global top 100.

New Caledonia

Nickname(s)	Les Cagous (The Kagus)
Association	Fédération Calédonienne de Football
Confederation	OFC (Oceania)
Head coach	Johann Sidaner
Captain	Emile Béaruné
Most caps	Bertrand Kaï (43)
Top scorer	Bertrand Kaï (23)
Home stadium	Stade Numa-Daly Magenta
FIFA code	NCL
First colours Second colours Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current	158 1 (4 April 2024)
Highest	93 (August 2013)
Lowest	191 (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)
OFC Nations Cup
Appearances	6 (first in 1973)
Best result	Runners-up, 2008 and 2012

The New Caledonian Football Federation, although created in 1928, 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 draw 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 Oceania 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.

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 Oceania 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.

Givova are the current kit provider for the national team since 2022. 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
Puma	2004–2006
Nike	2010–2012
Erreà	2013–2017
Kappa	2017–2019
Select	2020–2021
Givova	2022–

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

Tahiti   v   New Caledonia

20 March Friendly Match	Tahiti	0–2	New Caledonia	Pirae, Tahiti
20:00 UTC−10		Report	Xowi   69' Rokuad   88'	Stadium: Stade Pater Te Hono Nui

Tahiti   v   New Caledonia

24 March Friendly Match	Tahiti	2–1	New Caledonia	Pirae, Tahiti
	Tinirauarii   30', 76'	Report	Xowi   33'	Stadium: Stade Pater Te Hono Nui

New Caledonia   v   Vanuatu

8 October 2023 MSG Prime Minister's Cup	New Caledonia	4–0	Vanuatu	Nouméa, New Caledonia
17:00 UTC+11:00				Stadium: Stade Numa-Daly Magenta

Papua New Guinea   v   New Caledonia

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

Solomon Islands   v   New Caledonia

14 October 2023 MSG Prime Minister's Cup	Solomon Islands	1–0	New Caledonia	Nouméa, New Caledonia
17:00 UTC+11:00				Stadium: Stade Numa-Daly Magenta

New Caledonia   v   Tonga

18 November 2023 Pacific Games GS	New Caledonia	7–0	Tonga	Honiara, Solomon Islands
16:00	Waya   2', 56', 62' Vakié   5' Zeoula   16' Wélépane   24' Katrawa   26'	Report		Stadium: SIFF Academy Field Referee: Norbert Hauata (Tahiti)

Cook Islands   v   New Caledonia

24 November 2023 Pacific Games GS	Cook Islands	0–8	New Caledonia	Honiara, Solomon Islands
16:00		Report	Zeoula   7', 13' Xowi   64' Waya   75', 78', 81' Katrawa   82', 90+5'	Stadium: SIFF Academy Field Referee: Kavitesh Behari (Fiji)

New Caledonia   v   Vanuatu

28 November 2023 Pacific Games Semi-final	New Caledonia	1–0	Vanuatu	Honiara, Solomon Islands
12:00	Xowi   45+3'	Report		Stadium: Lawson Tama Stadium Referee: Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh (New Zealand)

New Caledonia   v   Solomon Islands

2 December 2023 Pacific Games Final	New Caledonia	2–2 (a.e.t.) (7–6 p)	Solomon Islands	Honiara, Solomon Islands
10:00	Waya   7' Wélépane   45+4'	Report	Orobulu   32', 72'	Stadium: National Stadium Referee: Norbert Hauata (Tahiti)
	Penalties
	Ranchain   Bako   Richard   Waya   Zeoula   Iwa   Waia   Vakié		Lea'alafa   Supa   Kaua   Ohasio   Lea'i   Peter   Kofana   Orobulu

2024

New Zealand   v   New Caledonia

15 June 2024 OFC Nations Cup	New Zealand	v	New Caledonia	Port Vila, Vanuatu
				Stadium: Freshwater Stadium

Vanuatu   v   New Caledonia

18 June 2024 OFC Nations Cup	Vanuatu	v	New Caledonia	Port Vila, Vanuatu
				Stadium: Freshwater Stadium

New Caledonia   v   Solomon Islands

21 June 2024 OFC Nations Cup	New Caledonia	v	Solomon Islands	Port Vila, Vanuatu
				Stadium: Freshwater Stadium

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2023 Pacific Games.

Caps and goals correct as of 23 March 2023, after the match against   Tahiti.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Rocky Nyikeine	(1992-05-26) 26 May 1992 (age 31)	23	0	Hienghène Sport
16	1GK	Mickaël Ulile	(1997-07-16) 16 July 1997 (age 26)	11	0	Magenta
2	2DF	Gabriel Vakoume	(1989-02-09) 9 February 1989 (age 35)	3	0	Kunié
3	2DF	William Rokaud	(2001-10-03) 3 October 2001 (age 22)	3	1	Magenta
4	2DF	Vincent Vakié	(1990-10-20) 20 October 1990 (age 33)	4	0	Kunié
6	2DF	Martin Makam	(2001-09-15) 15 September 2001 (age 22)	2	0	Magenta
13	2DF	Josué Wélépane	(2000-04-19) 19 April 2000 (age 23)	1	0	Tiga Sport
23	2DF	Gianni Manmieu	(1994-08-03) 3 August 1994 (age 29)	2	0	Kunié
5	3MF	Fonzy Ranchain	(1994-07-22) 22 July 1994 (age 29)	2	0	Hienghène Sport
7	3MF	Morgan Mathelon	(1991-09-12) 12 September 1991 (age 32)	7	0	Tiga Sport
8	3MF	Pierre Bako	(2001-08-09) 9 August 2001 (age 22)	6	1	Gaïtcha
10	3MF	William Read	(2003-01-11) 11 January 2003 (age 21)	3	1	Lössi
11	3MF	César Zeoula	(1989-08-29) 29 August 1989 (age 34)	35	10	US Chauvigny
12	3MF	Shene Wélépane	(1997-12-09) 9 December 1997 (age 26)	13	4	Tiga Sport
15	3MF	Gérard Waia	(2004-12-22) 22 December 2004 (age 19)	1	1	Tiga Sport
17	3MF	Jean-Jacques Katrawa	(1999-08-02) 2 August 1999 (age 24)	3	0	Gaïtcha
18	3MF	Ritchi Iwa	(1999-08-31) 31 August 1999 (age 24)	3	0	Païta
20	3MF	Makalu Xowi	(1999-04-20) 20 April 1999 (age 24)	4	3	Central Sport
21	3MF	Robert Neoere	(1996-04-18) 18 April 1996 (age 27)	3	0	Kunié
9	4FW	Lues Waya	(2001-08-01) 1 August 2001 (age 22)	1	0	USSA Vertou
14	4FW	Titouan Richard	(2000-12-04) 4 December 2000 (age 23)	1	0	Olympique Salaise Rhodia

Recent call-ups

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	Wareen Hlupa	(2004-04-16) 16 April 2004 (age 20)	1	0	Lössi	2023 MSG Prime Minister's Cup
GK	Jean-Gilles Hnamuko	(1996-03-02) 2 March 1996 (age 28)	3	0	Alisontia Steinsel	v.   Tahiti; 23 March 2023
DF	Bernard Iwa	(2000-05-16) 16 May 2000 (age 23)	4	0	Qanono Sport	2023 MSG Prime Minister's Cup
DF	Jules Omei	(2001-07-14) 14 July 2001 (age 22)	3	0	Mont-Dore	2023 MSG Prime Minister's Cup
DF	Sake Forest	(2003-08-13) 13 August 2003 (age 20)	2	0	Tiga Sport	v.   Tahiti; 23 March 2023
DF	Josuah Hlemu	(2000-12-07) 7 December 2000 (age 23)	1	0	Auteuil	v.   Tahiti; 23 March 2023
MF	Cyril Nypie	(2000-04-11) 11 April 2000 (age 24)	6	0	Tiga Sport	v.   Tahiti; 23 March 2023
MF	David Bearune	(1994-06-17) 17 June 1994 (age 29)	3	0	Tiga Sport	v.   Tahiti; 23 March 2023
MF	William Read	(2003-01-11) 11 January 2003 (age 21)	2	0	Lössi	v.   Tahiti; 23 March 2023
FW	Gilbert Kugogne	(2004-05-04) 4 May 2004 (age 19)	1	0	Magenta	v.   Tahiti; 23 March 2023

As of 2 December 2023
Players in bold are still active with New Caledonia.

Most appearances

Top goalscorers

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record										FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930 to    2002	Not a FIFA member									Not a FIFA member
2006	Did not qualify									4	2	1	1	16	2
2010										12	7	3	2	22	13
2014										5	3	0	2	19	7
2018										4	1	2	1	9	3
2022										3	0	0	3	2	10
2026	To be determined									To be determined
2030
2034
Total		0/5	–	–	–	–	–	–		28	13	6	9	69	35

FIFA World Cup qualification History
Year	Round	H/A/N	Score	Result
2006	Group 1	N	New Caledonia   0 – 0   Tahiti	Draw
	Group 1	A	New Caledonia   0 – 2   Solomon Islands	Loss
	Group 1	N	New Caledonia   8 – 0   Cook Islands	Win
	Group 1	N	New Caledonia   8 – 0   Tonga	Win
2010	South Pacific Games	N	New Caledonia   1 – 0   Tahiti	Win
	South Pacific Games	N	New Caledonia   1 – 0   Tuvalu	Win
	South Pacific Games	N	New Caledonia   3 – 0   Cook Islands	Win
	South Pacific Games	N	New Caledonia   1 – 1   Fiji	Draw
	South Pacific Games	N	New Caledonia   3 – 2   Solomon Islands	Win
	South Pacific Games	N	New Caledonia   1 – 0   Fiji	Win
	OFC Nations Cup	A	New Caledonia   3 – 3   Fiji	Draw
	OFC Nations Cup	H	New Caledonia   4 – 0   Fiji	Win
	OFC Nations Cup	A	New Caledonia   1 – 1   Vanuatu	Draw
	OFC Nations Cup	H	New Caledonia   3 – 0   Vanuatu	Win
	OFC Nations Cup	H	New Caledonia   1 – 3   New Zealand	Loss
	OFC Nations Cup	A	New Caledonia   0 – 3   New Zealand	Loss
2014	OFC Nations Cup	N	New Caledonia   5 – 2   Vanuatu	Win
	OFC Nations Cup	N	New Caledonia   3 – 4   Tahiti	Loss
	OFC Nations Cup	N	New Caledonia   9 – 0   Samoa	Win
	Third Round	H	New Caledonia   0 – 2   New Zealand	Loss
	Third Round	A	New Caledonia   4 – 0   Tahiti	Win
	Third Round	A	New Caledonia   6 – 2   Solomon Islands	Win
	Third Round	H	New Caledonia   5 – 0   Solomon Islands	Win
	Third Round	A	New Caledonia   1 – 2   New Zealand	Loss
	Third Round	H	New Caledonia   1 – 0   Tahiti	Win
2018	OFC Nations Cup	N	New Caledonia   1 – 1   Papua New Guinea	Draw
	OFC Nations Cup	N	New Caledonia   7 – 0   Samoa	Win
	OFC Nations Cup	N	New Caledonia   1 – 1   Tahiti	Draw
	Third Round	A	New Caledonia   0 – 2   New Zealand	Loss
	Third Round	H	New Caledonia   0 – 0   New Zealand	Draw
	Third Round	A	New Caledonia   2 – 2   Fiji	Draw
	Third Round	H	New Caledonia   2 – 1   New Zealand	Draw
2022	Group Stage	N	New Caledonia   1 – 2   Fiji	Loss
	Group Stage	N	New Caledonia   0 – 1   Papua New Guinea	Loss
	Group Stage	N	New Caledonia   1 – 7   New Zealand	Loss

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
1973	Third place	3rd	5	3	0	2	10	6		No qualification
1980	Third place	3rd	4	3	0	1	14	12
1996	Did not qualify									4	1	0	3	5	9
1998										4	0	0	4	4	10
2000										4	2	0	2	11	11
2002	Group stage	8th	3	0	0	3	1	14		4	3	0	1	25	4
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
2012	Runners-up	2nd	5	3	0	2	19	7		Qualified automatically
2016	Semi-finals	3rd	4	1	2	1	9	3
2024	Qualifield
Total	Runners-up	7/11	27	12	4	11	65	52		26	13	2	11	71	39

Pacific Games

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

MSG Prime Minister's Cup

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

Up to matches played on 21 September 2022.

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	4	4	0	0	32	0	+32	100.00
Estonia	1	0	1	0	1	1	0	0.00
Micronesia	1	1	0	0	18	0	+18	100.00
Fiji	38	12	5	21	68	75	−7	31.58
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
New Zealand	33	11	2	20	46	71	−25	33.33
Papua New Guinea	18	12	2	4	49	16	+33	66.67
Réunion	2	0	0	2	3	7	−4	0.00
Saint Pierre and Miquelon	1	1	0	0	16	1	+15	100.00
Samoa	4	4	0	0	29	0	+29	100.00
Solomon Islands	26	14	2	10	53	30	+23	53.85
Tahiti	62	26	14	22	105	76	+29	41.94
Tonga	5	5	0	0	36	2	+34	100.00
Tuvalu	5	4	0	1	32	2	+30	80.00
Vanuatu	38	23	7	8	97	45	+52	60.53
Wallis and Futuna	3	3	0	0	19	1	+18	100.00
Total	262	128	35	99	685	377	+308	48.85