New Caledonia’s World Cup Aspirations Flourish After Historic Victory
GIBRALTAR — Germain Haewegene, a forward for New Caledonia, displayed a beaming smile following his team’s 2-0 friendly victory over Gibraltar. Despite the thrill of scoring, Haewegene was aware of the grueling journey ahead, with a bus set to depart at 2:30 a.m. for a lengthy 12,000-mile trip back home after just competing in a match less than three days prior.
Standing outside the visitors’ locker room at Europa Point Stadium, Haewegene opted for a simple apple instead of protein shakes or rehydration energy drinks. His joy for representing New Caledonia and netting the goal, which he dedicated to his wife and son, overshadowed the fatigue from the trip.
“Scoring brings immense joy, and I take pride in representing my country,” Haewegene shared. “The dedication from my teammates was crucial in this win. Although our time to prepare for departure is short, we will get our bags packed and head to the airport without hesitation. This victory marks our first game in Europe, and winning makes it all the more special. We don’t worry about the long journey back.”
New Caledonia’s journey for World Cup qualification is just beginning, with aspirations to reach the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Known as “Les Cagous“, named after an indigenous flightless bird, New Caledonia secured a spot in the FIFA interconfederation playoffs slated for next March after making it to the Oceania qualification final, where they faced New Zealand and suffered a 3-0 defeat. Nonetheless, their semifinal victory over Tahiti guaranteed them a place in the playoffs.
“Winning against Tahiti holds a special significance,” midfielder Jekob Jeno remarked. “They are our main rivals.”
With a geographical separation of 2,900 miles, Tahiti and New Caledonia share one of sport’s longest local rivalries. While New Zealand claimed Oceania’s direct World Cup slot, New Caledonia now heads to Mexico for the playoffs, aware that just two more victories could lead them to the World Cup finals.
This squad is composed mainly of part-time players from New Caledonia’s Super Ligue, and some who play in the lower tiers of French football. Jeno, having recently joined Romania’s Unirea Slobozia, is the sole player in the squad with experience at a higher level beyond Oceania. New Caledonia, currently ranked 150th globally by FIFA, realizes the challenge ahead to become the smallest nation, surpassing Iceland, to qualify for the World Cup.
“The odds are slim,” admitted coach Johann Sidaner. “Perhaps just a 1% chance of making it to the World Cup, but we will give it our all.”
Having only joined FIFA in 2004, New Caledonia is relatively new to international football. This membership came after the French Football Federation approved their application four years prior. As one of France’s Overseas Territories, New Caledonians possess French nationality, allowing them to participate in French presidential elections. The ties to France also explain why nearly half of Sidaner’s squad plays in France, and why he left his role at Nantes to coach New Caledonia in 2022.
“Choosing to coach here was easy for me,” Sidaner explained. “The people are warm and welcoming, passionate about football, making it a pleasure to manage this team.”
The reigning champions of the New Caledonia Super Ligue, AS Magenta, will compete in this season’s Coupe de France, already receiving a home draw for the seventh round, where they face teams from Ligue 2.
However, relations with France can have their complexities. Following the announcement of the friendly match between Gibraltar and New Caledonia, there was a diplomatic incident regarding flag representation, which led to UEFA prompting Gibraltar to amend the displayed flags.
“Gibraltar was asked to ensure the New Caledonia flag could only be shown alongside the French flag following a complaint,” a source relayed.
The sensitivity surrounding the flags required Gibraltar to acquire a new flagpole for the match, ensuring the French flag was prominently displayed. In 2008, France authorized anthems for the team beyond the traditional La Marseillaise, which remains New Caledonia’s official anthem. This context highlights the significance of New Caledonia’s footballers working to make their mark on the international stage.
“Our football might not be professional, but we are continuously improving,” Jeno voiced. “For many, representing New Caledonia is a profound passion, and our success reflects positively on everyone back home.”
Haewegene, with humor about his prospects of playing full-time in New Caledonia, revealed his real occupation. “I’m not a professional athlete! I am a Paralympic coach, guiding visually impaired sprinters. I had the privilege to attend the Paralympics last year as part of the support team for French athletes and can run 100 meters in 11.3 seconds!”
How does a nation such as New Caledonia travel to meet one of Europe’s smaller teams? Their match against Gibraltar featured teams ranked 250th and 200th, respectively. Gibraltar’s stadium is a dual-purpose venue, also accommodating cricket, situated against the impressive backdrop of the Rock of Gibraltar. New Caledonia was eager to play, having not seen action since their defeat against New Zealand in March.
Gaël Mahé, a FIFA match agent, explained how he coordinated this matchup for New Caledonia. “Finding opponents for this team is challenging, especially during World Cup qualifiers when larger teams have more options.” Gibraltar welcomed the opportunity for a match, providing a fitting solution.
The kickoff is set for 7 p.m. local time, which means it’s 4 a.m. back in Noumea. Having just arrived two evenings prior, the players are likely coping with serious jet lag. To unwind, the team enjoyed amenities like table tennis and video games during their stay.
Once the match commenced, the squad showcased unexpected vigor and determination, ultimately besting Gibraltar with second-half goals from Haewegene and Jean-Jacques Katrawa.
“This victory is significant as it marks our first win against a European side,” coach Sidaner expressed after the match. “Given our long hiatus from playing together, this is a critical step towards our preparation for the playoffs.”
With their sights set on raising performance standards, Sidaner eyes a training camp in France next January, hoping for at least one competitive match before heading to Mexico in March. For now, the players are enjoying their triumph, congregating outside the stadium for photos and celebration before embarking on their taxing trip home.
The travel plans include flights from Malaga to Paris, then to Singapore, and finally back to Noumea, all in economy class, yet the players revel in the moment, singing and laughing on the bus.
“Every young boy dreams of competing in a World Cup—this is our aspiration, and we know we have a real shot,” Haewegene concluded.
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