New Caledonia national football team

New Caledonia

Nickname(s)	Les Cagous (The Kagus)
Association	Fédération Calédonienne de Football
Confederation	OFC (Oceania)
Head coach	Johann Sidaner
Captain	César Zeoula
Most caps	Bertrand Kaï César Zeoula (43)
Top scorer	Bertrand Kaï (23)
Home stadium	Stade Numa-Daly Magenta
FIFA code	NCL
First colours Second colours Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current	155 5 (24 October 2024)[1]
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 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.

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 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.^[5]

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[6]
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

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

New Zealand  v  New Caledonia

15 June 2024 OFC Nations Cup	New Zealand	Cancelled	New Caledonia	Port Vila, Vanuatu
				Stadium: Freshwater Stadium
Note: On 5 June 2024, New Caledonia withdrew from the 2024 OFC Nations Cup due to the serious crisis in the country.[7]

Vanuatu  v  New Caledonia

18 June 2024 OFC Nations Cup	Vanuatu	Cancelled	New Caledonia	Port Vila, Vanuatu
				Stadium: Freshwater Stadium
Note: On 5 June 2024, New Caledonia withdrew from the 2024 OFC Nations Cup due to the serious crisis in the country.[7]

New Caledonia  v  Solomon Islands

21 June 2024 OFC Nations Cup	New Caledonia	Cancelled	Solomon Islands	Port Vila, Vanuatu
				Stadium: Freshwater Stadium
Note: On 5 June 2024, New Caledonia announced their withdrew from the 2024 OFC Nations Cup due to the serious crisis in the country.[7]

New Caledonia  v  Papua New Guinea

10 October 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	New Caledonia	3–1	Papua New Guinea	Suva, Fiji
16:00 UTC+12	Athale 20' (pen.) Gope-Fenepej 45' Haewegene 83'	Report (FIFA) Report (OFC)	Semmy 78'	Stadium: HFC Bank Stadium Attendance: 1,000 Referee: Campbell-Kirk Waugh (New Zealand)

Solomon Islands  v  New Caledonia

14 November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Solomon Islands	2–3	New Caledonia	Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
13:00 UTC+10	Lea'i 9' Wae 39'	Report	Athale 6' (pen.), 59' (pen.) Waia 69'	Stadium: PNG Football Stadium Referee: Calvin Berg (New Zealand)

Fiji  v  New Caledonia

17 November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Fiji	1–1	New Caledonia	Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
13:00 UTC+10				Stadium: PNG Football Stadium

New Caledonia  v  Tahiti

21 March 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	New Caledonia	–	Tahiti	Wellington, New Zealand
--:-- UTC+12				Stadium: Sky Stadium

The following 23 players were called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification against  Solomon Islands and  Fiji on 14 and 17 November 2024, respectively.^[8]

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

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	1GK	Mickaël Ulile	(1997-07-16) 16 July 1997 (age 27)	14	0	Magenta
	1GK	Thomas Schmidt	(1996-06-04) 4 June 1996 (age 28)	5	0	Tiga Sport
	1GK	Wareen Hlupa	(2004-04-16) 16 April 2004 (age 20)	1	0	Decize
	2DF	Joseph Athale	(1995-07-11) 11 July 1995 (age 29)	15	1	Olympique Saint-Quentin
	2DF	Fonzy Ranchain	(1994-07-22) 22 July 1994 (age 30)	8	0	Gaïca
	2DF	Cameron Wadenges	(2000-08-05) 5 August 2000 (age 24)	1	0	Racing Besançon
	2DF	Alexandre Deplanque	(2001-01-02) 2 January 2001 (age 23)	1	0	Vendée Fontenay
	2DF	Djibril Tufele	(2003-01-25) 25 January 2003 (age 21)	2	0	Lössi
	2DF	Florian Gope	(2004-03-25) 25 March 2004 (age 20)	0	0	Magenta
	3MF	César Zeoula	(1989-08-29) 29 August 1989 (age 35)	41	13	Chauvigny
	3MF	Shene Wélépane	(1997-12-09) 9 December 1997 (age 26)	18	6	Tiga Sport
	3MF	Morgan Mathelon	(1991-09-12) 12 September 1991 (age 33)	12	0	Tiga Sport
	3MF	Didier Simane	(1996-08-03) 3 August 1996 (age 28)	5	0	ASPTT Dijon
	3MF	Mickaël Partodikromo	(1996-02-02) 2 February 1996 (age 28)	1	0	Saint-Sébastien
	3MF	Jekob Jeno	(2000-06-22) 22 June 2000 (age 24)	2	0	Beitar Jerusalem
	3MF	Pierre Bako	(2001-08-09) 9 August 2001 (age 23)	1	0	Vertou
	3MF	Yoan Béaruné	(2002-03-22) 22 March 2002 (age 22)	0	0	Horizon Patho
	4FW	Georges Gope-Fenepej	(1988-10-23) 23 October 1988 (age 36)	22	16	Saint-Pryvé Saint-Hilaire
	4FW	Jean-Jacques Katrawa	(1999-08-02) 2 August 1999 (age 25)	8	3	Sud FC
	4FW	Gérard Waia	(2004-12-22) 22 December 2004 (age 19)	5	1	Tiga Sport
	4FW	Germain Haewegene	(1996-07-13) 13 July 1996 (age 28)	3	1	Magenta
	4FW	Titouan Richard	(2000-12-04) 4 December 2000 (age 23)	3	0	Olympique Salaise Rhodia
	4FW	Bryan Ausu	(1997-11-25) 25 November 1997 (age 27)	1	0	Sud FC

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	Rocky Nyikeine	(1992-05-26) 26 May 1992 (age 32)	29	0	Gaïca	v.  Papua New Guinea, 10 October 2024
DF	Gabriel Vakoume	(1989-02-09) 9 February 1989 (age 35)	3	0	Kunié	2023 Pacific Games
DF	William Rokaud	(2001-10-03) 3 October 2001 (age 23)	3	1	Magenta	2023 Pacific Games
DF	Vincent Vakié	(1990-10-20) 20 October 1990 (age 34)	4	0	Kunié	2023 Pacific Games
DF	Martin Makam	(2001-09-15) 15 September 2001 (age 23)	2	0	Magenta	2023 Pacific Games
DF	Josué Wélépane	(2000-04-19) 19 April 2000 (age 24)	1	0	Tiga Sport	2023 Pacific Games
DF	Gianni Manmieu	(1994-08-03) 3 August 1994 (age 30)	2	0	Kunié	2023 Pacific Games
MF	Joris Kenon	(1998-01-29) 29 January 1998 (age 26)	4	0	US SPDGL	v.  Papua New Guinea, 10 October 2024
MF	Jules Omei	(2001-07-14) 14 July 2001 (age 23)	6	0	Mont-Dore	v.  Papua New Guinea, 10 October 2024
MF	Ilhan Iekawe	(2002-07-28) 28 July 2002 (age 22)	0	0	Tiga Sport	v.  Papua New Guinea, 10 October 2024
MF	William Read	(2003-01-11) 11 January 2003 (age 21)	3	1	Lössi	2023 Pacific Games
MF	Ritchi Iwa	(1999-08-31) 31 August 1999 (age 25)	3	0	Païta	2023 Pacific Games
MF	Makalu Xowi	(1999-04-20) 20 April 1999 (age 25)	4	3	Central Sport	2023 Pacific Games
MF	Robert Neoere	(1996-04-18) 18 April 1996 (age 28)	3	0	Kunié	2023 Pacific Games
FW	Lues Waya	(2001-08-01) 1 August 2001 (age 23)	5	7	Vertou	2023 Pacific Games

As of 17 November 2024^[9]

Players in bold are still active with New Caledonia.

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									3	2	1	0	7	4
2030										To be determined
2034
Total		0/5	–	–	–	–	–	–		31	15	7	9	75	39

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
2026	Second Round	N	New Caledonia  3 – 1  Papua New Guinea	Win
	Second Round	N	New Caledonia  2 – 3  Solomon Islands	Win
	Second Round	N	New Caledonia  1 – 1  Fiji	Draw

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	Qualified but withdrew[a]
Total	Runners-up	6/11	27	12	4	11	65	52		26	13	2	11	71	39

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 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 17 November 2024.

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
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	33	11	2	20	46	71	−25	33.33
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[b]	4	4	0	0	29	0	+29	100.00
Solomon Islands	29	15	3	11	58	35	+23	51.72
Tahiti	64	27	14	23	108	78	+30	42.19
Tonga	6	6	0	0	43	2	+41	100.00
Tuvalu	5	4	0	1	32	2	+30	80.00
Vanuatu[c]	40	25	7	8	102	45	+57	62.50
Wallis and Futuna	3	3	0	0	19	1	+18	100.00
Total	274	136	37	101	720	387	+333	49.64

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

• 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

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:^{[10][11][12][13][14]}

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