PNG will not assemble a national team for the 2026 Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Prime Minister’s Cup unless outstanding financial obligations to players, officials and stakeholders are fully settled.
PNGFA President John Kapi Natto said the association would not nominate or assemble a national team for the tournament, which is scheduled to be hosted by Fiji from September 17 to October 3, until outstanding player allowances, prize money, reimbursements and other financial commitments from previous competitions have been addressed.
The outstanding obligations include payments arising from the 2024 MSG Prime Minister’s Cup in Solomon Islands, including allowances owed to players and team officials.
They also include outstanding payments from the 2025 MSG Prime Minister’s Cup hosted in Papua New Guinea, where the PNG Bilums won the inaugural women’s title while the PNG Kapuls finished runners-up in the men’s competition.
PNGFA said there are also outstanding reimbursements owed to the association and other stakeholders who contributed financially or in-kind to the successful staging of the 2025 tournament in Papua New Guinea.
In addition, the association said all financial commitments associated with PNG’s participation in the 2026 competition must be secured before any national team departs for Fiji.
Natto said the decision had not been taken lightly but was necessary to protect the welfare and interests of players and officials who had represented the country.
“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,” Natto said.
He said PNGFA could not ask players and officials to participate in another regional tournament while previous allowances, reimbursements and other agreed entitlements remained unpaid.
The PNGFA president said the position was also consistent with the association’s responsibilities as Papua New Guinea’s national governing body for football.
As a FIFA Member Association, PNGFA said it has a responsibility to safeguard football, protect the interests of players and administer the sport responsibly and transparently.
Despite the decision, Natto stressed that PNGFA remained supportive of the MSG Prime Minister’s Cup and its role in promoting football development, regional cooperation and unity among Melanesian nations.
“This decision should not be interpreted as opposition to the MSG Prime Minister’s Cup, the MSG Secretariat, OFC, FIFA, or our Melanesian neighbours,” he said.
Natto also acknowledged the achievements of PNG’s national teams at the 2025 tournament, saying the Bilums’ historic championship victory and the Kapuls’ runners-up finish had brought pride to the country.
He said PNGFA remained hopeful that discussions with the relevant authorities and stakeholders would result in a timely resolution.
“We remain ready and willing to participate once all outstanding obligations have been resolved,” Natto said.
The 2026 MSG Prime Minister’s Cup is scheduled to take place in Fiji from September 17 to October 3.
PNGFA said it would continue advocating for the welfare of its national players and officials while working with stakeholders to resolve the outstanding financial matters.
