PNG pull out of tournament
Papua New Guinea will not play the 2026 MSG Prime Minister’s Cup, after payments have not been made to the FA.
Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) has confirmed it will not send a national team to the 2026 Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Prime Minister’s Cup in Fiji until all outstanding financial obligations owed to players, officials and stakeholders are settled, according to TVWAN PNG News.
The MSG Prime Minister’s Cup is a tournament between Melanesian countries and sees Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu face off against each other.
This year’s edition will be held in Fiji from September 17 to October 3, but withouth PNG, who won the last women’s edition and came second in the men’s, hosted on home soil.
“This has been a very difficult decision, but it is one that must be made in the best interests of our players,” PNGFA President John Kappi Natto said according to TVWAN.
“Our players and officials have represented Papua New Guinea with pride, discipline and commitment. They fulfilled their obligations to the country, and it is only fair that commitments made to them are honored in return.”
The outstanding payments relate to the 2024 MSG Prime Minister’s Cup in the Solomon Islands, the 2025 tournament hosted in Papua New Guinea, reimbursements owed to PNGFA and stakeholders who supported the staging of the event, and financial commitments required for PNG’s participation in the 2026 competition, according to the news outlet.
Natto stressed that the withdrawal had nothing to do with the tournament itself.
“This decision should not be interpreted as opposition to the MSG Prime Minister’s Cup, the MSG Secretariat, OFC, FIFA, or our Melanesian neighbours. We value the tournament and appreciate the important contribution it makes to football development, regional friendship and cultural cooperation throughout Melanesia.”
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