Port Moresby 2015 confirm venues for football tournament at Pacific Games

Port Moresby 2015 have announced the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium and Bisini Field will play host to football matches at the Pacific Games ©Port Moresby 2015

Male and female football matches at this year’s bumper Pacific Games will be held at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium and Bisini Field, Port Moresby 2015 have announced.

The newly-constructed Bisini Field will host 22 matches, while the other 10 will be played at the 18,000 capacity stadium, purpose built for when Papua New Guinea staged the 1969 South Pacific Games.

Following their introduction into the continental Games for the first time in the event’s 52-year history, it has been confirmed that New Zealand will participate in the men’s competition, which will offer teams the chance to earn qualification for next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The men’s event will feature eight teams while the women’s will include seven, and both will offer the extra Olympic-qualifying incentive.

Football fans in the country will have the opportunity to take in 32 matches in total, with tickets again priced reasonably in a bid to draw as many spectators to the Games as possible.

Tickets start at just K10 (£2.36/$3.70/€3.29) per day, while fans who are eager to watch every game can purchase a football package for K150 (£35/$55/€49).

The Sir Hubert Murray Stadium is currently being renovated and will house around 18,000 spectators come Games time ©Port Moresby 2015

It forms part of Port Moresby 2015's plan to have sell-out crowds for all sports, although those who cannot attend the event in person will be able to view the action on large screen to be set up across the country.

The tournament itself begins the day before the Opening Ceremony, on July 3, while the Torch Relay will also be welcomed at the venue following the completion of its mammoth 100-day journey, where it will have visited 22 different provinces.

As well as playing host to football, the Sir Hubert Murray venue will stage rugby sevens, rugby league and the Closing Ceremony at the Games, which are due to run from July 4 to 18 in the Papua New Guinean capital.

The event itself is set to be the biggest in Papua New Guinea’s history, with as many as 3,000 athletes from 23 nations due to compete across 28 different sports.