Fiji join Vanuatu in MSG Prime Minister’s Cup final after decisive final day

Fiji will face defending champions Vanuatu in the 2026 MSG Prime Minister’s Cup final after a tense final round in Suva saw the Bula Boys come from behind to defeat New Caledonia 2-1, while Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea shared a 1-1 draw.

The two results completed a compelling round-robin stage at HFC Bank Stadium. Vanuatu and Fiji both finished on seven points, but Vanuatu took first place on goal difference, +3 to Fiji’s +2. Solomon Islands finished third on six points, one short of a place in Saturday’s decider.

Fiji 2–1 New Caledonia: Bula Boys show their response

Fiji entered their last group match knowing that a victory was essential. After recovering their campaign with a 2-0 win over Papua New Guinea on Sunday, Stéphane Auvray’s side needed another three points to put themselves level with Vanuatu and give themselves a chance of reaching the final.

It did not begin easily.

New Caledonia took the lead in the 40th minute through Willy Read, who once again showed his value in a young Cagous side. Read had already scored the decisive late goal against PNG earlier in the tournament, and his strike gave New Caledonia a 1-0 half-time advantage.

Fiji, however, produced exactly the reaction the home crowd wanted after the break.

Scott Wara levelled five minutes into the second half, bringing the Bula Boys back into the contest and changing the mood around HFC Bank Stadium. The equaliser gave Fiji momentum, and Maikah Dau completed the turnaround in the 66th minute to make it 2-1.

The hosts then had to manage the closing stages carefully. New Caledonia had no chance of reaching the final, but they remained competitive and were determined to finish their campaign with a result. Fiji held firm, though, securing the win that took them to seven points.

For Fiji, the comeback reflected a much stronger finish to the group stage. After opening with a dramatic 3-3 draw against Solomon Islands and then losing 1-0 to Vanuatu, the Bula Boys closed with consecutive victories over PNG and New Caledonia. The result puts them into the final on home soil and within one win of ending a long wait for another Melanesian regional title.

Papua New Guinea 1–1 Solomon Islands: Kepo answers Lea’i

The earlier match carried major consequences for Solomon Islands. Ben Cahn’s team started the day on five points and knew that a victory over Papua New Guinea would take them to eight points, securing a place in the final ahead of Fiji’s evening match.

They made an ideal start.

Raphael Lea’i converted an early penalty in the fourth minute to put Solomon Islands in front. The goal gave the Bonitos the platform they wanted, and they held their lead through the remainder of the first half.

PNG needed a response to avoid ending the tournament with three consecutive defeats after their encouraging opening win over Vanuatu. Their key moment arrived in the 61st minute, when Ati Kepo equalised to make it 1-1.

Kepo’s goal was an important reminder of his value to the Kapuls. He had also scored against New Caledonia earlier in the tournament, and his intervention ensured PNG did not leave the final day empty-handed.

Neither side could find a winner, however. The draw lifted Solomon Islands to six points—enough to keep their final hopes alive briefly, but not enough once Fiji completed their comeback against New Caledonia later in the evening.

The result left Solomon Islands with a frustrating record: unbeaten in three of their four matches, but with too many draws. Their campaign included a 3-3 comeback against Fiji, a 2-0 win over New Caledonia, another 3-3 draw with Vanuatu and the final 1-1 draw against PNG. Six points was a solid return, but not enough in such a tight five-team competition.

PNG finished fourth with four points. Their opening 2-1 victory over Vanuatu was one of the tournament’s biggest results, but subsequent defeats to New Caledonia and Fiji left them needing a final-day win they could not find.

Final table

Position	Team	Played	Points	Goal difference
1	Vanuatu	4	7	+3
2	Fiji	4	7	+2
3	Solomon Islands	4	6	+2
4	Papua New Guinea	4	4	-2
5	New Caledonia	4	3	-5

The 2026 MSG Prime Minister’s Cup final will now see defending champions Vanuatu meet hosts Fiji at HFC Bank Stadium on Saturday, October 3. Vanuatu will aim to retain the title they won in Port Moresby last year, while Fiji have the opportunity to lift the trophy in front of their home supporters.