New Caledonia national football team explained

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,^[1] making them only the fourth country from the confederation to have reached the global top 100.

History

The New Caledonian Football Federation, although created in 1928,^[2] 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.

Rivalries

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.^[3]

Kit

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
	2004–2006[4]
	2010–2012
	2013–2017
	2017–2019
	2020–2021
	2022–

Results and fixtures

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.

2025

Coaching history

• Guy Elmour (1971–1973)
• Jules Hmeune (1977)
• Rudi Gutendorf (1981)
• Jacques Zimako (1995)
• Michel Clarque (2002)
• Serge Martinengo de Novack (2002–2004)
• Didier Chambaron (2007–2010)
• Christophe Coursimault (2010–2012)
• Alain Moizan (2012–2015)
• Thierry Sardo (2015–2021)
• Dominique Wacalie (2021–2022)
• Johann Sidaner (2022–)

Players

Current squad

The following 23 players were called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification against and on 14 and 17 November 2024, respectively.^[5]

Caps and goals correct as of 10 October 2024, after the match against .

Recent call-ups

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

Player records

^[6]

Players in bold are still active with New Caledonia.

Most appearances

width=30px	Rank	Name	width=50px	Caps	width=50px	Goals	Career
1	Bertrand Kaï	43	23	2008–2022
	César Zeoula	43	13	2008–present
3	Emile Béaruné	42	0	2010–2022
4	Joël Wakanumuné	39	1	2011–2022
	Pierre Wajoka	39	13	2003–2011
6	Iamel Kabeu	34	20	2002–2013
7	Roy Kayara	31	8	2008–2019
8	Rocky Nyikeine	29	0	2011–present
9	Michel Hmaé	28	22	2003–2011
10	André Sinédo	27	1	2002–2011

Top goalscorers

width=30px	Rank	Name	width=50px	Goals	width=50px	Caps	width=50px	Ratio	Career
1	Bertrand Kaï	23	43		2008–2022
2	Michel Hmaé	22	28		2003–2011
3	Iamel Kabeu	20	34		2002–2013
4	Georges Gope-Fenepej	16	24		2011–present
5	Pierre Wajoka	13	39		2003–2011
	César Zeoula	13	43		2008–present
7	Jean-Philippe Saïko	12	10		2016–2022
8	Joris Pibke	11	5		2000–2002
9	Paul Poatinda	10	10		2003–2004
10	Jacques Haeko	9	13		2011–2012

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record										FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year	Round	Position
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	3	2	1	0	7	4
2030	To be determined
2034
Total			–	–	–	–	–	–		31	15	7	9	75	39

FIFA World Cup qualification History
Year	Round	H/A/N	Score	Result
2006	Group 1	N	0 – 0	Draw
	Group 1	A	0 – 2	Loss
	Group 1	N	8 – 0	Win
	Group 1	N	8 – 0	Win
2010	South Pacific Games	N	1 – 0	Win
	South Pacific Games	N	1 – 0	Win
	South Pacific Games	N	3 – 0	Win
	South Pacific Games	N	1 – 1	Draw
	South Pacific Games	N	3 – 2	Win
	South Pacific Games	N	1 – 0	Win
	OFC Nations Cup	A	3 – 3	Draw
	OFC Nations Cup	H	4 – 0	Win
	OFC Nations Cup	A	1 – 1	Draw
	OFC Nations Cup	H	3 – 0	Win
	OFC Nations Cup	H	1 – 3	Loss
	OFC Nations Cup	A	0 – 3	Loss
2014	OFC Nations Cup	N	5 – 2	Win
	OFC Nations Cup	N	3 – 4	Loss
	OFC Nations Cup	N	9 – 0	Win
	Third Round	H	0 – 2	Loss
	Third Round	A	4 – 0	Win
	Third Round	A	6 – 2	Win
	Third Round	H	5 – 0	Win
	Third Round	A	1 – 2	Loss
	Third Round	H	1 – 0	Win
2018	OFC Nations Cup	N	1 – 1	Draw
	OFC Nations Cup	N	7 – 0	Win
	OFC Nations Cup	N	1 – 1	Draw
	Third Round	A	0 – 2	Loss
	Third Round	H	0 – 0	Draw
	Third Round	A	2 – 2	Draw
	Third Round	H	2 – 1	Draw
2022	Group Stage	N	1 – 2	Loss
	Group Stage	N	0 – 1	Loss
	Group Stage	N	1 – 7	Loss
2026	Second Round	N	3 – 1	Win
	Second Round	N	2 – 3	Win
	Second Round	N	1 – 1	Draw

OFC Nations Cup

Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup record										Qualification record
width=100	Year	width=95	Round	width=60	Position	width=20		width=20			width=20		width=20		width=20		width=20
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
bgcolor=silver	2012	bgcolor=silver	Runners-up	bgcolor=silver	2nd	bgcolor=silver	5	bgcolor=silver		3	bgcolor=silver	0	bgcolor=silver	2	bgcolor=silver	19	bgcolor=silver	7	Qualified automatically
2016	Semi-finals	3rd	4	1	2	1	9	3
2024	Qualified but withdrew
Total	Runners-up	6/11	27	12	4	11	65	52		26	13	2	11	71	39

Pacific Games

Pacific Games record
Year	Host	Round
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		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		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
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

Head-to-head record

Up to matches played on 17 November 2024.

Honours

Continental

• OFC Nations Cup
  • Runners-up (2): 2008, 2012
  • Third place (2): 1973, 1980

Regional

• Pacific Games
  • Gold medal (7): 1963, 1969, 1971, 1987, 2007, 2011, 2023
  • Silver medal (4): 1966, 1987, 2003, 2019
  • Bronze medal (2): 1983, 1991
• Melanesia Cup
  • Runner-up (4): 1989, 1990, 1992, 2023

Historical kits

Sources:^{[7] [8] [9] [10] [11]}

External links

• New Caledonian Football Federation
• New Caledonia at OFC
• New Caledonia at FIFA

Notes and References

1. https://web.archive.org/web/20070603154230/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/ranking/lastranking/gender=m/fullranking.html#confederation=23916&rank=173 FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking September 2008
2. Web site: A Little History . Federation of Caledonian Football . 1 February 2022 . 1 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220201135851/https://www.fedcalfoot.com/Un-peu-d-histoire_r14.html . live .
3. Web site: New Caledonia . Footballdatabase.eu . 1 February 2022 . 1 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220201135848/https://www.footballdatabase.eu/fr/club/histoire/3032-nouvellecaledonie . live .
4. Web site: New Caledonia camisa de futebol 2004 – 2006. 8 May 2012. 4 April 2020. 29 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211029134803/https://www.oldfootballshirts.com/pt/teams/n/new-caledonia/old-new-caledonia-football-shirt-s28101.html. live.
5. Web site: Here’s the squad for New Caledonia . Twitter . FCF Foot.
6. Web site: New Caledonia . National Football Teams . 3 May 2021 . 2 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230402152008/https://www.national-football-teams.com/country/131/2023/New_Caledonia.html . live .
7. Web site: FOOTBALL IN NEW CALEDONIA . 2023 .
8. Web site: 2003 .
9. Web site: 2004 . . 16 August 2020 .
10. Web site: 2011 .
11. Web site: 2022 . . 22 September 2022 .