Papua New Guinea defeated Cook Islands 3-0 in their final Pacific Games group match on November 27, 2023. The comfortable victory secured Papua New Guinea's progression to the knockout stages, as they controlled the game from start to finish. PNG scored an early goal to settle nerves and added two more in the second half to put the result beyond doubt. The win was essential for their goal difference and final position in a tight group table. For Cook Islands, the defeat ended their tournament after a campaign that showed glimpses of promise.