New Zealand were playing in their 5th OFC Nations Cup final, having won in
1973,
1998 and
2002 and having lost in
2000. The two nations had met in official
FIFA matches four times before the 2016 OFC Nations Cup Final. The first two matches were in 1997 as part of the
second round of
Oceanian 1988 FIFA World Cup qualification. In the return match held in
Auckland, New Zealand, New Zealand won 7–0. The third match between the two nations was in the
2002 OFC Nations Cup and New Zealand won 9–1. The fourth and most recent game between New Zealand and Papua New Guinea before the 2016 OFC Nations Cup final, was in Group B of the
2012 OFC Nations Cup. New Zealand won 2–1 and that meant they led the head-to-head record between themselves and Papua New Guinea 3–1 before the 2016 OFC Nations Cup Final. ==Route to the final==