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A 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.
Article continues belowNew 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.
Sidaner 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.
Squad
New Caledonia World Cup 2026 squad: The March selection
- GK: 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 results
Fixtures
- March 26, 2026: New Caledonia vs Jamaica, Estadio Akron, Zapopan, Mexico
Recent results
- October 8, 2025: Gibraltar 0-2 New Caledonia, Europa Point Stadium, Gibraltar
- March 24: New Caledonia 0-3 New Zealand, Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand
- March 21: New Caledonia 3-0 Tahiti, Sky Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand
- November 17, 2024: Fiji 1-1 New Caledonia, PNG Football Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
- November 14: Solomon Islands 2-3 New Caledonia, PNG Football Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
- October 10: New Caledonia 3-1 Papua New Guinea, HFC Bank Stadium, Suva, Fiji
Manager
Who 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 Player
Who 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 XI
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