Formed in the 1960s to participate in tests against popular teams from Australia, PNG debuted internationally in 1976 against Nauru in front of a crowd of over 10,000 at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium in Port Moresby which it won convincingly.

[5] As part of the celebrations for independence in 1975 the first full international test played between the national sides of Papua New Guinea and Nauru in front of a crowd of over 10,000 at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium in Port Moresby was won by PNG by 129 points.

[citation needed] 1977 saw Australian Under 17 squad tour Papua New Guinea, and the PNG team reciprocated in Adelaide, with Australia taking the honours in a close match.

[6] In 1978 Australia's National Football League assumed control of the team and diverted all its funding to juniors and entered a side into the 1979 Teal Cup to create a talent pathway to VFL however the initiative was extremely unsuccessful with the Teal Cup team performing disastrously and no players recruited to the senior VFL.

In 1996 the Mosquitoes played a curtain raiser to an Australian Football League match in Perth overwhelmingly defeating the Central Desert Eagles.

In 2000, the Mosquitoes were invited to play New Zealand in a curtain raiser to a pre-season AFL match in Wellington, but were unable to raise the funds required.

In the 2005 International Cup, PNG again went through the competition unbeaten only to lose the Grand Final to a much improved New Zealand national team.

In the 2008 International Cup, PNG, captained by Alister Sioni again went through the competition unbeaten, this time defeating New Zealand in a thriller.

A spin-off team, the PNG Maruks club, formed in 2019 to play under different eligibility criteria, won the Asian Australian Football Championships in 2019 in their debut year.

[12][13] Strong; Leitch; Bae; Pak; Mackinlay; Wiimot; Amini; Roge Iga; Sinari; Wastell; James; Vele; Peni; Ravu Ope; Pickering; Wapa; Bennett; Waea; Dobson; Bernard Mou; Radcliffe This squad defeated Indigenous Australia twice, once at Ainslie Oval in Canberra.

Joe Buboi; Karo Vala; Vali Leka; Joe Pagleo; Bernard Mou; Michael Bai; Phillip George; Agarobe Tau; Boga Tali[16][17] Squad formed to tour Tasmania for an annual match against Aboriginal Australia[20] but was cancelled due to no funding from Australia.

[21] Veari Maha; S. Mairi; A. Leka; R. Ila; G. Guma; I. Ila; B. Leka; R. Leka (Koboni); B. Tali (Aviat); R. Iga; H. Tokapage; M. Tulungum (Port Moresby); E. Ragi (University); G. Nongkas (Elcom); M. Bai; R. Maisu (Defence Force); P. Waea; A. Tau; B. Kaiae; R. Aup; K. Vala (Lae); L. Au; H. Ofora (Bougainville); P. Amini (Madang); P. Aumi (Rabaul) This side was formed for the first true international against Nauru and to take the strongest club from Australia - 1975 VFL premiers and 1976 VFL Grand Finalist North Melbourne.

Veari Maha; Ian MacKinlay; Steven Kakot; Tiana Ila; Martin Tullungun; Gimana Gurna; Ereman Ragi; Vili Maha; Henry Aisapo; Phillip George; Raymond Maisu; Mea Vui; Michael Bai; Gerea Aopi; Mau Au; Pat Amini (Port Moresby); Peiwa Waea; Karo Vala; Barnabas Kaiei; Chris Bais (Lae); Peter Amini (Rabaul)[22] P. Aumi; W. Gare; D. Haro; P. Pati; W. Maha (Port Moresby); R. Aup; P.Waea; C. Bais; Eomelus, K. Vala; C. Daun, (Lae), Y. Maha; B. Haile; G. Laka; A. Colombus; (Goroka); S. Lowa; B. Malagau; S. Akis; M. Tullungan (Rabaul); G. Vegogo; (Madang); B. Matuy; (Wewak);[25] Anis Tobata; Steven Kotak; Vali Mavara (Rabaul); Rex Kaupa; Andrew Columbus (Goroka); Peiwa Waea; Kassy Akiro (Lae); Joel Matage; James Logha; Andrew Posai; Gerard Lamis; Vali Leka; William Maha; Daniel Kosikien; Nathan Kaumu; Mau Auk; John Wesley; Paul Sipori; Clement Nakmai; Kila Vuivagi; Peter Aumi (National Capital); Robert Kua; Ando Kwalom; Malcolm Bai[28] 1.

In 1977 the Under 17 squad competed against a touring Victorian Under 17 team (the reigning Australian Champions) at Hubert Murray Stadium in front of a crowd of 4,000 spectators.

[35] Squad: Ragii Amini, Roga Raga, William Mahaj, Bui Dulau, Nanai (Port Moresby); Thomas Ravuman, Peter Pati (Aviat); Bruno Galoka, Paul Bagea, Anthony Narang, Steven Topo (Rabaul); Amona Akaru, Michael Keu, Emanuel Penias (Lae); Paga Ropa, Rex Bulua, Malo Mokare, Billy Voro, Asigau Tau Douna (Lae); Nicholas Lupa (Wewak); Stalis Kilo (Kimbe)[36] In June 1978 Papua New Guinea made a reciprocal tour and came within two goals of Australia at Football Park in Adelaide.

[37] Squad: L Matapere, W Maha, M Au, W Kirorok, G Aruai, E Walo, A Iga, M D Mudian, B Nou, W Peny, L Banawa, R Ravu.

T Ha, R Auka, F Ben (Port Moresby); J Lifu (Wewak); Moskik (Madang); P Potalsa, P Naes (Rabaul); A Koriaka, K Gelai (Goroka): P Hatagen, G Maris, D Isori, R Karo (Lae)[38] J. Matage (capt); K. Akiro; P. Aumi; A. Ben; D. Haro; J. Kali; M. Tulungan (Moresby); C. Bais; R. Karo; V. Maha; I. Mari; R. Roga; K. Vala (Lae); P. Pati (v-capt); J. Dau; M. Henry; L. Woiwoi (Rabaul); A. Columbus; M. Dono; M. Haro; P. Karo (Goroka); R. Bob; P. Shapen; T. Waluka (Hagen); A. Sodas (Madang)[39] In 1979, the Under 17 squad travelled to Tasmania to compete in the Australian national underage Teal Cup competition for the first time.

Squad: Alamo Alearu (Boroko); George Ambo (Saints United); Repa Au (Kwikila); Isidore Buetwel (Mongop); Berto Dedei (Kimbe) Katinga Demas (Utu); Robert Edward (Normil); Gamoga Gini (Rigo-ANG); Kana Ila (Koboni); Olo Ila (Koboni Kangas); Roy Kenba (Branch); Heni Kila (Mokele); Pius Kopang (Vunakanau); Kamas Kuian (Sogeri); Mathew Lekani (Hoskins); Tommy Manu (Goroka); Francis Mondo (Vunakanau); Leloi Odana (Tusbab); Vele Rupa (Tusbab); Harison Sale (Namatanai); Ila Tiana (Koboni); Graham Tovili (West United); Tuli Tuli (Boroko); Gerea Vagi (Mokele)[41] The women's national teams were formed in 2006 to compete in the AFL Women's National Championship.

In 2023 the Karakums Under 19s participated in a series of test matches in Brisbane and the Gold Coast against Nauru's national teams and local sides.