Members of the Papua New Guinea U16 Men’s National Football Team are in Honiara.
They arrived from Port Moresby on Monday to compete in the OFC U16 Men’s Championship, the official qualifying tournament for the FIFA U17 World Cup Qatar 2026.
Led by Head Coach Mathew Witu, the 23-man squad will represent PNG on the regional stage, with the goal of securing one of the two qualification spots for next year’s world cup tournament.
Achieving that milestone would mark a historic first for PNG men’s youth football.
Coach Witu said the team is ready to take on the challenge:
“Our boys have put in the work and are ready to compete. This is an opportunity not just to represent the country, but to make history. We’ll give it everything we have.”
Farewelling the team on Friday, PNGFA President John Kapi Natto challenged the players to seize the moment:
“You can rewrite our history by creating your own history and qualify for the U17 Men’s World Cup in Qatar 2026.”
The squad has been in intensive preparations over recent weeks, undergoing technical drills, tactical sessions, strength training, and team-building activities. PNGFA’s technical department and the PNG High-Performance Sport staff have worked closely with the players to ensure they are match-ready.
The OFC U16 Men’s Championship kicks off on Friday at the Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara, with PNG placed in a competitive group alongside Melanesian rivals Fiji, the Cook Islands and Tahiti.
PNG U16 Fixtures – Group Stage
Venue: Lawson Tama Stadium, Honiara
- Match 1: PNG vs Cook Islands | 17/08/25 | 12pm (11am PNG time)
- Match 2: PNG vs Tahiti | 20/08/25 | 12pm (11am PNG time)
- Match 3: PNG vs Fiji | 23/08/25 | 3pm (2pm PNG time)
– PNG FA
