Jump To:SquadFixtures and resultsManagerStar PlayerBest XICopy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterFour Four TwoGet FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member features.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.You are now subscribedYour newsletter sign-up was successfulWant to add more newsletters?Five times a weekFourFourTwo DailyFantastic football content straight to your inbox! From the latest transfer news, quizzes, videos, features and interviews with the biggest names in the game, plus lots more.Signup +Once a week...And its LIVE!Sign up to our FREE live football newsletter, tracking all of the biggest games available to watch on the device of your choice. Never miss a kick-off!Signup +Join the clubGet full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in.Subscribe to our newsletterA New Caledonia World Cup 2026 squad might have seemed like a distant dream just a few months ago but the Kagus are just two matches away from the finals.World Cup 2026 will already feature old Caledonia thanks to Scotland's first qualification since 1998, and New Caledonia joining them would be a remarkable achievement for the tiny archipelago irrespective of the expansion of the tournament to 48 teams.New Caledonia take on Jamaica in the semi-final inter-confederation play-offs Path 1. The winning team will face DR Congo in the final with an irresistible prize up for grabs. They won't be among the World Cup favourites but they'll earn a berth in Group K along with with Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan, and the promise of matches in both the United States and Mexico this summer.Article continues below You may like Jamaica World Cup 2026 squad: Rudolph Speids latest selection ahead of the World Cup qualifying inter-confederation play-offs DR Congo World Cup 2026 squad: Sebastian Desabre's latest selection ahead of the March international break Suriname World Cup 2026 squad: Henk ten Cate's first selection ahead of the World Cup qualifying inter-confederation play-offs New Caledonia have never played at the World Cup finals. They lost all three of their World Cup 2022 qualifiers against New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji in Doha four years ago but they're now 180 minutes away from a remarkable piece of history.Johann Sidaner's team topped their second-round group in 2026 qualifying, during which they unbeaten against Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. New Caledonia coasted past Tahiti in the next round before they were defeated by New Zealand in the play-off final in Auckland.Treat yourself to your favourite World Cup 2026 shirtadidas Men's FIFA...adidas Men's FIFA World Cup 2026 Spain Home T-Shirt in Dark Blue Size: XS $35Viewat Finish Lineadidas Men's FIFA...adidas Men's FIFA World Cup 2026 Spain Home T-Shirt in Dark Blue Size: Large $35Viewat Finish LineAdidas Men's...Adidas Men's White Argentina National Team Fifa x World Cup 2026 Home Replica Jersey - White $99.99Viewat Macy'sSpain 26 Home...Spain 26 Home Jersey $100Viewat Adidas USSpain 26 Home...Spain 26 Home Authentic Jersey $150Viewat Adidas USSidaner has named a squad loaded with players from the local league and the lower leagues in France. Joseph Athale and Germaine Haewegene both play for Tahiti United in Tahiti, Angelo Fulgini for Al-Taawoun in Saudi Arabia and Jekob Jeno for second division Israeli outfit Hapoel Rishon LeZion.All three of Sidaner's goalkeepers play in the New Caledonia Super Ligue, the nation's 10-team top division, whose 2026 season is just a few weeks old and will run until May. Mickael Ulile plays in goal for AS Magenta, New Caledonia's most successful club.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.SquadNew Caledonia World Cup 2026 squad: The March selectionGK: Rocky Nyikeine (Gaica)GK: Mickael Ulile (Magenta)GK: Thomas Schmidt (Tiga Sport)DF: Bernard Iwa (Lossi)DF: Henri Welepane (Tiga Sport)DF: Fonzy Ranchain (Vertou)DF: Morgan Mathelon (Tiga Sport)DF: William Rokuad (Normanville)DF: Didier Simane (ASPTT Dijon)DF: Joseph Athale (Tahiti United)MF: Pierre Bako (Vertou)MF: Jekob Jeno (Hapoel Rishon LeZion)MF: Joris Kenon (Saint Philbert-de-Grand-Lieu)MF: Cesar Zeoula (Chauvigny)MF: Shene Welepane (Tiga Sport)MF: Titouan Richard (Olympique Salaise Rhodia)MF: Yoan Bearune (Horizon Patho)MF: David Bearune (Tiga Sport)MF: Angelo Fulgini (Al-Taawoun)FW: Jean-Jacques Katrawa (Lucciana)FW: Georges Gope-Fenepej (Saint-Colomban Locmine)FW: Lues Waya (Vertou)FW: Gerard Waia (Vertou)FW: Germain Haewegene (Tahiti United)FW: Pierre Iekawe (Tiga Sport)FW: Bryan Ausu (Sud)Fixtures and resultsFixturesMarch 26, 2026: New Caledonia vs Jamaica, Estadio Akron, Zapopan, MexicoRecent resultsOctober 8, 2025: Gibraltar 0-2 New Caledonia, Europa Point Stadium, GibraltarMarch 24: New Caledonia 0-3 New Zealand, Eden Park, Auckland, New ZealandMarch 21: New Caledonia 3-0 Tahiti, Sky Stadium, Wellington, New ZealandNovember 17, 2024: Fiji 1-1 New Caledonia, PNG Football Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New GuineaNovember 14: Solomon Islands 2-3 New Caledonia, PNG Football Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New GuineaOctober 10: New Caledonia 3-1 Papua New Guinea, HFC Bank Stadium, Suva, FijiManagerWho is New Caledonia's manager?48-year-old Johann Sidaner played for fifth-tier French outfit Vertou in the suburbs of Nantes, where he was born and has spent the vast majority of his professional life. Sidaner managed his former team before pursuing age-level coaching roles at Nantes between 2011 and 2022.He was appointed as the head coach of New Caledonia at the end of his time at Nantes and, with a helping hand from the expansion of the World Cup finals to 48 teams, has guided the nation to the cusp of a maiden appearance at the greatest show on earth.Sidaner has named four Vertou players in his squad to play Jamaica and, they hope, DR Congo.New Caledonia's Star PlayerWho is New Caledonia's star player?New Caledonia's captain and most-capped player is 36-year-old winger Cesar Zeoula, who has played 46 times for his country and has 13 goals to his name as he approaches two decades as a senior international.Born in Dumbea in New Caledonia's South Province, the veteran plays for fifth-tier Chauvigny in France. Zeoula has been based in France since 2011, taking in a host of lower-league clubs including Laval and Cognac.Zeoula's experience will be invaluable in March's play-offs in Mexico. He is one of only three players in Sidaner's squad with more than 25 caps.Best XITOPICSFIFA World CupWorld Cup 2026Chris NeeChris is a Warwickshire-based freelance writer, Editor-in-Chief of AVillaFan.com, author of the High Protein Beef Paste football newsletter and owner of Aston Villa Review. He supports Northern Premier League Midlands Division club Coventry Sphinx.
