As New Caledonia prepare for their FIFA World Cup 2026™ Play-Off Tournament semi-final against Jamaica in Guadalajara, we’ve decided to a look at Les Cagous other results against international sides outside the OFC region.
Since playing their first full international in 1951 against New Zealand, New Caledonia have played nine different international opponents from outside the OFC region affiliated with a FIFA-recognized confederation, on 15 occasions.
Two of those nine international opponents have also come from the CONCACAF region – Guadeloupe and Martinique – whom New Caledonia’s semi-final opponents Jamaica are affiliated with.
From their 15 matches against non-Oceania opposition, New Caledonia has four victories, three draws, and eight defeats.
First win over European opposition
Gibraltar 0-2 New Caledonia | Gibraltar (A) | October 2025
New Caledonia became the first Pacific Island nation and just the second current OFC member to beat UEFA opposition with a 2-0 win over Gibraltar in October 2025 – their most recent match prior to the World Cup play-off semi-final.
Both goals came in the second half; Jean-Jacques Katrawa and Germain Haéwégéné scoring as New Caledonia created a special slice of history for the region. Heading to Guadalajara in March, the result should be a major confidence booster as coach Johan Sidaner and his side look to orchestrate another upset.
Dominance over Oceania’s Northern neighbors
New Caledonia 11-1 Guam | Nouméa (H) | August 1979
Guam 0-8 New Caledonia | Lae (N) | September 1991
New Caledonia 9-0 Guam | Nouméa (H) | August 2011
All of New Caledonia’s other three international victories against opposition outside of OFC, have come by big margins against Guam.
Whilst Guam are also situated in the Pacific Ocean, they have been affiliated with AFC (Asian Football Confederation) since 1991, and all three of their meetings have come at the Pacific Games. New Caledonia have averaged nine goals per game across their three fixtures, including an 11-1 win at home in Nouméa in 1979.
Luckless record against Caribbean opponents
New Caledonia 0-4 Guadeloupe | Paris (N) | September 2008
New Caledonia 1-1 Martinique | Paris (N) | September 2008
New Caledonia 1-1 Guadeloupe | Paris (N) | September 2010
New Caledonia 0-4 Martinique | Paris (N) | September 2010
New Caledonia 0-2 Martinique | Paris (N) | September 2012
New Caledonia are winless from five previous international fixtures against Caribbean opposition, Guadeloupe and Martinique – ahead of their World Cup play-off semi-final.
All five fixtures against both fellow French overseas territories have come at the Coupe de l’Outre-Mer, a football tournament for French departments and overseas territories, played three times between 2008-2012.
Whilst neither Martinique or Guadeloupe are FIFA-affiliated, they are members of CONCACAF and have made regular appearances at the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Les Cagous best results have been 1-1 draws with either nation, against Martinique in 2008, and Guadeloupe in 2010.
They have also beaten Caribbean nation St Pierre & Miquelon 16-1 at the same tournament in Northern France in 2012, although they aren’t affiliated with CONCACAF.
International opposition touring the Pacific
New Caledonia 3-5 Bulgaria | Nouméa | February 1973
New Caledonia 2-4 Reunion | Nouméa (H) | May 2011
New Caledonia 1-3 Reunion | Nouméa (H) | May 2011
New Caledonia 1-2 Malaysia | Nouméa (H) | June 2016
New Caledonia 1-1 Estonia | Nouméa (H) | November 2017
New Caledonia 1-3 Mauritius | Lautoka (N) | March 2019
Five international opponents from three different confederations have previously made the long trip to the Pacific to face New Caledonia.
The most notable of their results is a 1-1 draw with European side Estonia in 2017, the first time a Pacific Island nation had gained a result against UEFA opposition. Their first match against non-OFC opposition also came against Bulgaria in Nouméa way back in 1973, almost pulling off a shock result in a 5-3 defeat.
They’ve also played CAF opposition twice, losing both games in a two-match series with Reunion in 2011, and a friendly with Mauritius in 2019.
Looking ahead to Jamaica
Ranked #50 on the current FIFA Men’s World Rankings, Jamaica are the highest-ranked opposition New Caledonia will have ever faced from outside the OFC region when they meet in their FIFA World Cup 2026™ Play-off Semi-final.
Previously, the highest-ranked nation New Caledonia had played were Estonia – ranked #80 in November 2017, whilst the highest-ranked win they have achieved against a nation from outside OFC was against #195 Guam in August 2011.
The odds therefore stand against Les Cagous when they play the Reggae Boyz in Guadalajara, but they haven’t been strangers to upsetting those odds before.
Fixture Details:
FIFA World Cup 2026™ Play-offs Path A Semi-final
New Caledonia vs Jamaica | Friday 27th March | 14:00 NCT (Thursday 26th March, 21:00 local time) | Guadalajara Stadum, Mexico