Bilums World Cup preps underway

The Papua New Guinea Women’s National Football Team, the PNG Bilums, has commenced its preparations for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 OFC Qualifiers, scheduled to be held in Fiji from 27 February to 7 March.

A 40-member provisional squad has been assembled in Lae and is currently training at the PNGFA Academy at 11-mile, as part of a structured national team program aimed at ensuring full readiness for the regional competition.

The squad is under the guidance of Head Coach Ericson Komeng, with assistance from assistant coach Edna Thomas and goalkeeper coach David Kaura, who are overseeing technical preparation, performance standards, and player development throughout the camp period.

PNGFA has also rendered the service of the PNG High Performance Sport to assist the team with high performance sessions in preparation for the qualifiers.

The final squad will be named on 14 February, before players observe a short break from 14–17 February.

The team will reconvene in Port Moresby for final medical assessments on 18 February, followed by another Training Camp from 19–23 February.

The Bilums will depart for Fiji on 24 February 2026 ahead of the official tournament window.

PNG has been drawn in Group B, alongside Vanuatu, host nation Fiji, and New Caledonia, setting up a highly competitive group stage.

The OFC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers 2026 form part of Oceania’s pathway toward the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027, with the Bilums aiming to deliver a strong performance on the regional stage.