Cook Islands
Shirt badge/Association crest
AssociationCook Islands
Football Association
ConfederationOFC (Oceania)
Head coachJess Ibrom
CaptainGrover Harmon
Most capsTony Jamieson (22)
Top scorerTaylor Saghabi (6)
Home stadiumAvarua Tereora Stadium
FIFA codeCOK
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 185 Steady (21 December 2023)[1]
Highest166 (October 2015)
Lowest207 (April–July 2015)
First international
 Papua New Guinea 16–1 Cook Islands 
(Papeete, Tahiti; 11 September 1971)
Biggest win
 Cook Islands 3–0 American Samoa 
(Papeete, Tahiti; 12 June 2000)
 Cook Islands 4–1 Tuvalu 
(Apia, Samoa; 1 September 2007)
 Cook Islands 3–0 Kiribati 
(Boulari, New Caledonia; 1 September 2011)
 Tonga 0–3 Cook Islands 
(Nukuʻalofa, Tonga; 31 August 2015)
Biggest defeat
 Tahiti 30–0 Cook Islands 
(Papeete, Tahiti; 13 September 1971)
OFC Nations Cup
Appearances2 (first in 1998)
Best resultGroup stage, 1998 and 2000

The Cook Islands men's national football team is the men's football team that represents the Cook Islands in international competition since 1971. It is governed by the Cook Islands Football Association which is part of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) and FIFA.

The nation has participated in seven FIFA World Cup qualification attempts since their first attempt back in 1998. They have qualified for the OFC Nations Cup twice in 1998 and 2000 OFC Nations Cup with both appearances seeing no wins from their four games that they have played.

History

Beginnings (1971–1995)

Despite being absent from the first three editions of the South Pacific Games, the geographical proximity of the Cook Islands with French Polynesia, host of the 1971 South Pacific Games, allowed the Cookian team to take part in the tournament. In the first round they were defeated 16–1 by Papua New Guinea and 30–0 by Tahiti, while in the match for fifth place, they fell to Fiji 15–1.

They next played a match in 1995 when proximity allowed them to participate again in the 1995 South Pacific Games. During the tournament they earned their first win, a 2–1 win over Wallis and Futuna, but lost their other four clashes resoundingly.

The two OFC Nations Cup (1996–2001)

The Cook Islands qualified for their first Oceania Nations Cup after finishing second in the 1998 Polynesia Cup, which they hosted. They faced Australia and Fiji in Group B, in what proved to be a tough draw. Australia crushed the Cook Islands 16–0 in their first match, scoring eight goals either side of the interval. In their next match against Fiji, however, the Cook Islands acquitted themselves much better, losing only 3–0, but with two defeats from two matches they failed to make the semi-finals.

In finishing 2nd at the 2000 Polynesia Cup, the Cook Islands also qualified for the OFC Nations Cup. They were drawn in Group A along with the Solomon Islands, and again, Australia. After their heavy defeat at the hands of Australia in the previous tournament, the Cook Islands hoped to avoid a repeat performance. However, they were powerless to prevent their opponents from running rampant, this time to the tune of 17–0. The Solomon Islands were up next, and in this game the Cook Islands had the consolation of scoring their first goal at the Oceania Nations Cup – the only bright spot in an otherwise bleak 5–1 defeat. After two defeats, then, the Cooks Islands again went out at the group stage.

Decline (2002–present)

They next entered qualification for the 2004 tournament however they lost all four matches and failed to progress.

They returned to the South Pacific Games for the 2007 competition where they could only beat Tuvalu 4–1. Four years later, at Nouméa 2011, they defeated Kiribati 3–0, but lost their other three meetings; while in 2012 OFC Nations Cup qualification they drew with American Samoa and fell to Samoa and Tonga.

In the 2016 OFC Nations Cup qualifiers, they beat Tonga 3–1 and Samoa 1–0, but fell in the last game against American Samoa 2-0, which relegated the Cook Islands to third place, surpassed on goal difference by both Samoas.

In March 2022, the Cook Islands played their first match in seven years when they lost 2–0 to the Solomon Islands in qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. However, they had to withdraw from their remaining matches due to a COVID-19 outbreak.[2][3]


On 28 August 2023, Cook Islands resumed their international matches playing against Tahiti but suffered a 9–1 heavy defeat to Tahiti at the Stade Pater Te Hono Nui in Pirae.

Kit sponsorship

Kit supplier Period
Germany Adidas2002–2004
Italy Lotto2007–2012
New Zealand Onu Football2015–2020
Australia KPI Sports 2020–

Source:[4][5]

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2023

28 August Friendly Tahiti  9–1  Cook Islands Pirae, Tahiti
20:00 UTC−10
  • Tau 24'
  • Kaspard 29'
  • Tehau 37'
  • Horoi 42'
  • Paama 52'
  • Keck 55', 87', 89'
  • Gitton 76'
 Report
  • Enoka 74'
 Stadium: Stade Pater Te Hono Nui
31 August Friendly Cook Islands  0–3  Tahiti Pirae, Tahiti
20:00 UTC−10 Report
Stadium: Stade Pater Te Hono Nui

Coaches

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2023 Pacific Games.[6]

Caps and goals are correct as of 30 November 2023, after the match against Samoa.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Tahiri Elikana (1988-09-14) 14 September 1988 12 0 Cook Islands Nikao Sokattak
20 1GK Ngereine Maro (2005-03-20) 20 March 2005 2 0 Netherlands RPC Eindhoven
2 2DF Sunai Joseph (1998-02-20) 20 February 1998 4 0 Cook Islands Tupapa Maraerenga
4 2DF Jarves Aperau (1997-11-21) 21 November 1997 1 0 Cook Islands Puaikura
7 2DF Paavo Mustonen (1989-11-10) 10 November 1989 15 0 Cook Islands Tupapa Maraerenga
8 2DF Orin Prattley (1997-11-03) 3 November 1997 5 0 New Zealand Brooklyn Northern United
15 2DF Avi Enoka (2001-11-01) 1 November 2001 4 0 Cook Islands Tupapa Maraerenga
16 2DF Nuku Mokoroa (2004-05-15) 15 May 2004 0 0 Cook Islands Nikao Sokattak
19 2DF Dwayne Tiputoa (1997-12-08) 8 December 1997 5 1 Cook Islands Tupapa Maraerenga
5 3MF Alex McGregor (1989-08-27) 27 August 1989 4 0 New Zealand Central United
10 3MF Grover Harmon (1989-08-09) 9 August 1989 14 1 Cook Islands Tupapa Maraerenga
12 3MF Akiona Tairi (1990-05-16) 16 May 1990 4 0 Cook Islands Titikaveka
13 3MF Tremaine Rimene-Albrett (2002-01-01) 1 January 2002 2 1 New Zealand Douglas Villa
18 3MF Lee Harmon Jr. (2001-10-23) 23 October 2001 5 0 Cook Islands Tupapa Maraerenga
3 4FW Siaosi Kaufononga (1995-02-20) 20 February 1995 2 0 Cook Islands Tupapa Maraerenga
9 4FW Daniel Taokia (1998-12-22) 22 December 1998 4 0 Cook Islands Tupapa Maraerenga
11 4FW Taylor Saghabi (1990-12-25) 25 December 1990 15 6 Cook Islands Tupapa Maraerenga
14 4FW Dalziel Beal (2005-04-26) 26 April 2005 4 0 Cook Islands Matavera

Player records

As of 30 November 2023[7]
Players in bold are still active with Cook Islands.

Most appearances

Rank Name Caps Goals Career
1 Tony Jamieson 22 0 2000–2011
2 John Pareanga 20 2 1998–2011
3 Paavo Mustonen 15 0 2007–present
Taylor Saghabi 15 6 2011–present
5 Joseph Chambers 14 0 1996–2004
Grover Harmon 14 1 2009–present
7 Mark Jamieson 13 1 2000–2004
Christian Tauira 13 0 1998–2004
9 Tahiri Elikana 12 0 2011–present
Joseph Miitamariki 12 0 2007–2011
Stenter Mani 12 2 1996–2001
James Nand 12 0 1996–2001
Daniel Shepherd 12 1 2000–2007
Nikorima Te Miha 12 2 1998–2011

Top goalscorers

Rank Name Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Taylor Saghabi 6 15 0.4 2011–present
2 Joseph Ngauora 3 8 0.38 2009–2011
Campbell Best 3 11 0.27 2009–2015
4 Teariki Mateariki 2 6 0.33 2004–2007
Stenter Mani 2 12 0.17 1996–2001
Nikorima Te Miha 2 12 0.17 1998–2011
John Pareanga 2 20 0.1 1998–2011

Competition record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record Qualification
Year Host Round Pld W D L F A Pos. Pld W D L F A
1930 to 1994 Did not enter Did not enter
1998  France Did not qualify First round 2 0 0 2 1 4
2002  South Korea
 Japan		 First round 4 0 0 4 2 25
2006  Germany First round 4 0 0 4 1 17
2010  South Africa First round 4 1 0 3 4 9
2014  Brazil First round 3 0 1 2 4 6
2018  Russia First round 3 2 0 1 4 2
2022  Qatar Withdrew Withdrew
2026  Canada
 Mexico
 United States of America		 To be determined First round
2030  Morocco
 Portugal
 Spain
 Argentina
 Paraguay
 Uruguay
2034  Saudi Arabia
2038  United Nations
Total – 0/26 – – – – – – – 20 3 1 17 16 65

OFC Nations Cup

Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup record Qualification record
Year Result Position Pld W D* L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA
New Zealand 1973 Did not enter Did not enter
New Caledonia 1980
Pacific Community 1996
Australia 1998 Group stage 6th 2 0 0 2 0 19 Squad 4 2 1 1 8 11
French Polynesia 2000 6th 2 0 0 2 1 22 Squad 4 3 0 1 8 5
New Zealand 2002 Withdrew Withdrew
Australia 2004 Did not qualify 4 0 0 4 1 17
Pacific Community 2008 4 1 0 3 4 9
Solomon Islands 2012 3 0 1 2 4 6
Papua New Guinea 2016 3 2 0 1 4 2
Vanuatu 2024 To be determined To be determined
Total Group stage 2/10 4 0 0 4 1 41 — 22 8 2 12 19 50

Pacific Games

Pacific Games record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
1963 to 1969 did not enter
French Polynesia 1971 Group Stage 6th 3 0 0 3 2 61
1975 to 1991 did not enter
French Polynesia 1995 Group stage 7th 4 1 0 3 2 37
Fiji 2003 did not enter
Samoa 2007 Group stage 8th 4 1 0 3 4 9
New Caledonia 2011 9th 4 1 0 3 4 15
Papua New Guinea 2015 N/A – tournament was U23
Samoa 2019 did not enter
Total Group stage 4/15 15 3 0 12 12 122

Head-to-head record

Up to matches played on 31 August 2023.

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD WPCT
 American Samoa 4 2 1 1 8 6 +2 50.00
 Australia 2 0 0 2 0 33 −33 0.00
 Fiji 4 0 0 4 2 26 −24 0.00
 Kiribati 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 100.00
 New Caledonia 3 0 0 3 0 20 −20 0.00
 New Zealand 1 0 0 1 0 2 −2 0.00
 Papua New Guinea 2 0 0 2 1 20 −19 0.00
 Samoa[lower-alpha 1] 6 3 1 2 9 8 +1 50.00
 Solomon Islands 5 0 0 5 2 37 −35 0.00
 Tahiti 10 0 0 10 1 76 −75 0.00
 Tonga 8 3 2 3 12 11 +1 37.50
 Tuvalu 1 1 0 0 4 1 +3 100.00
 Vanuatu 1 0 0 1 1 8 −7 0.00
 Wallis and Futuna 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 100.00
Total 49 11 4 34 45 249 −204 22.45
Source: Results
Notes:
  1. ↑ Includes results as Western Samoa.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  2. ↑ "Cook Islands vs Solomon Islands". Elevensports. 23 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  3. ↑ "Update on FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Oceania Qualifiers". Oceania Football Confederation. 23 March 2022. Archived from the original on 23 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  4. ↑ "Antigo(a) Cook Islands camisas de futebol". Archived from the original on 14 June 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  5. ↑ "KPI Sports". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  6. ↑ "Match report" (PDF). OFC.
  7. ↑ "Cook Islands". National Football Teams.
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