Oceania Qualifiers

Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni said the Government is throwing its full support behind the team.

It's the first time Tonga has qualified for the World Cup after beating Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea and the Cook Islands in the Oceania qualifiers.

Coach Jaqua Pori-Makea-Simpson said it was a big step forward for women's sport in the Kingdom.

Solomon Islands head coach Felipe Vega-Arango sent out the same starting eleven that overcame Tahiti in their previous fixture. Meanwhile, Marcos Gusmao made just one change from Papua New Guinea’s clutch victory over Fiji, Raymond Gunemba replacing Stahl Gubag in attack.

Substitute Ben Waine scored the winner in his first senior international game for New Zealand from a free kick in the 75th minute.

The Wellington Phoenix player had only been on the field for less than 10 minutes when he scored from close range.

Papua New Guinea had not played an international fixture since 2019, whereas the All Whites last played in January.

The Kapuls are ranked 165 on Fifa's ranking, more than 50 places below New Zealand (111).

New Zealand had several chances to score late in the game but could not convert.