Cook Islands national football team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Cook Islands women's national football team.

Cook Islands

Nickname(s)	Soka Kuki Airani
Association	Cook Islands Football Association
Confederation	OFC (Oceania)
Head coach	Jess Ibrom
Captain	Grover Harmon
Most caps	Tony Jamieson (22)
Top scorer	Taylor Saghabi (7)
Home stadium	Avarua Tereora Stadium
FIFA code	COK
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	191 5 (19 September 2024) [1]
Highest	166 (October 2015)
Lowest	207 (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
Appearances	2 (first in 1998 )
Best result	Group stage (1998, 2000)
Pacific Games
Appearances	5 (first in 1971 )
Best result	Sixth place (1971)
Polynesia Cup
Appearances	2 (first in 1998 )
Best result	Runners-up (1998, 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
Adidas	2002–2004
Lotto	2007–2012
Onu Football	2015–2020
KPI Sports	2020–

Source: ^{[4] [5]}

Results and fixtures

Main article: Cook Islands national football team results

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

Tonga   v   Cook Islands

21 November 2023 Pacific Games	Tonga	1–2	Cook Islands	Honiara, Solomon Islands
16:00  UTC+11	Kendler 71'	Report	Tiputoa 67' Rimene-Albrett 90+2'	Stadium: SIFF Academy Field Referee: David Yareboinen (Papua New Guinea)

Cook Islands   v   New Caledonia

24 November 2023 Pacific Games	Cook Islands	0–8	New Caledonia	Honiara, Solomon Islands
16:00  UTC+11		Report	Zeoula 7', 13' Xowi 64' Waya 75', 78', 81' Katrawa 82', 90+5'	Stadium: SIFF Academy Field Referee: Kavitesh Behari (Fiji)

2024

Samoa   v   Cook Islands

23 March 2024 OFC Nations Cup qualification	Samoa	1–0	Cook Islands	Nuku'alofa, Tonga
11:00	Taualai 88'	Report		Stadium: Teufaiva Stadium Attendance: 300 Referee: Pari Oito (Tahiti)

Cook Islands   v   Tonga

26 March 2024 OFC Nations Cup qualification	Cook Islands	1–0	Tonga	Nuku'alofa, Tonga
14:00	Saghabi 38'	Report		Stadium: Teufaiva Stadium Attendance: 500 Referee: Laurie Fairamoa (Solomon Islands)

Cook Islands   v   Tonga

6 September 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Cook Islands	1–3	Tonga	Apia, Samoa
11:00  UTC+13	Kumsuz 63'	[6] [7]	Tikoipau 27' Polovili 39' (pen.) Kefu 79'	Stadium: FFS Football Stadium Attendance: 300 Referee: Calvin Berg (New Zealand)

Cook Islands   v   American Samoa

9 September Friendly	Cook Islands	1–2	American Samoa	Apia, Samoa
11:00  UTC+13	Kaufononga 83'	Report (OFC)	Mitchell 44' Stefanon 50'	Stadium: FFS Football Stadium Attendance: 400 Referee: Kavitesh Behari (Fiji)

Coaches

• Alex Napa (1996–1998)
• Cormac Gallen-Willcocks (2001–2004)
• Tim Jerks (2004–2010)
• Shane Rufer (2011)
• Paul Farrell-Turepu (2011–2014)
• Drew Sherman (2015–2017)
• Kevin Fallon (2018–2020)
• Alan Taylor (2022)
• Jess Ibrom (2023-)

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2023 Pacific Games. ^[8]

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	1 GK	Tahiri Elikana	(1988-09-14) 14 September 1988 (age 36)	12	0	Nikao Sokattak
20	1 GK	Ngereine Maro	(2005-03-20) 20 March 2005 (age 19)	2	0	Western Suburbs
2	2 DF	Sunai Joseph	(1998-02-20) 20 February 1998 (age 26)	4	0	Tupapa Maraerenga
4	2 DF	Jarves Aperau	(1997-11-21) 21 November 1997 (age 26)	1	0	Puaikura
7	2 DF	Paavo Mustonen	(1989-11-10) 10 November 1989 (age 34)	15	0	Tupapa Maraerenga
8	2 DF	Orin Ruaine-Prattley	(1997-11-03) 3 November 1997 (age 26)	5	0	Brooklyn Northern United
15	2 DF	Avi Enoka	(2001-11-01) 1 November 2001 (age 22)	4	0	Tupapa Maraerenga
16	2 DF	Nuku Mokoroa	(2004-05-15) 15 May 2004 (age 20)	0	0	Nikao Sokattak
19	2 DF	Dwayne Tiputoa	(1997-12-08) 8 December 1997 (age 26)	5	1	Tupapa Maraerenga
5	3 MF	Alex McGregor	(1989-08-27) 27 August 1989 (age 35)	4	0	Central United
10	3 MF	Grover Harmon	(1989-08-09) 9 August 1989 (age 35)	14	1	Tupapa Maraerenga
12	3 MF	Akiona Tairi	(1990-05-16) 16 May 1990 (age 34)	4	0	Titikaveka
13	3 MF	Tremaine Rimene-Albrett	(2002-01-01) 1 January 2002 (age 22)	2	1	Douglas Villa
18	3 MF	Lee Harmon Jr.	(2001-10-23) 23 October 2001 (age 22)	5	0	Tupapa Maraerenga
3	4 FW	Siaosi Kaufononga	(1995-02-20) 20 February 1995 (age 29)	2	0	Tupapa Maraerenga
9	4 FW	Daniel Taokia	(1998-12-22) 22 December 1998 (age 25)	4	0	Tupapa Maraerenga
11	4 FW	Taylor Saghabi	(1990-12-25) 25 December 1990 (age 33)	15	6	Tupapa Maraerenga
14	4 FW	Dalziel Beal	(2005-04-26) 26 April 2005 (age 19)	4	0	Matavera

Player records

As of 26 March 2024 ^[9]

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	Taylor Saghabi	17	7	2011–present
4	Paavo Mustonen	15	0	2007–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	7	17	0.41	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										Qualification
Year	Host	Round	Pld	W	D	L	F	A		Pos.	Pld	W	D	L	F	A
1930 to 1994		Not a FIFA member								Not a FIFA member
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	Did not qualify								First round	1	0	0	1	1	3
2030	Morocco   Portugal   Spain	To be determined								To be determined
2034	Saudi Arabia
Total		–	–	–	–	–	–	–	0/7	21	3	1	17	17	66

OFC Nations Cup

Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup record											Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Squad		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1973	Did not enter										Did not enter
1980
1996
1998	Group stage	6th	2	0	0	2	0	19	Squad		4	2	1	1	8	11
2000		6th	2	0	0	2	1	22	Squad		4	3	0	1	8	5
2002	Withdrew										Withdrew
2004	Did not qualify										4	0	0	4	1	17
2008											4	1	0	3	4	9
2012											3	0	1	2	4	6
2016											3	2	0	1	4	2
2024											2	1	0	1	1	1
Total	Group stage	2/11	4	0	0	4	1	41	—		24	9	2	13	20	51

Pacific Games

Pacific Games record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1963 to 1969	did not enter
1971	Group Stage	6th	3	0	0	3	2	61
1975 to 1991	did not enter
1995	Group stage	7th	4	1	0	3	2	37
2003	did not enter
2007	Group stage	8th	4	1	0	3	4	9
2011		9th	4	1	0	3	4	15
2015	N/A – tournament was U23
2019	did not enter
2023 [note 1]	Group stage	8th	2	1	0	1	2	9
Total	5/16	0 Titles	17	4	0	13	14	131

1. The Cook Islands men's national team were withdrew by the federation after the elimination from the group stage citing travelling issues for coming back from Honiara. The team didn't play the 5th place semi-final, nor the 7th place final

Polynesia Cup

Polynesia Cup record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1994	did not enter
1998	Runners-up	2nd	4	2	1	1	8	11
2000	Runners-up	2nd	4	3	0	1	8	5
Total	2/3	0 Titles	8	5	1	2	16	16

Head-to-head record

Up to matches played on 5 September 2024.

Team v t e	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	4	0	0	4	0	28	−28	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]	7	3	1	3	9	9	0	42.86
Solomon Islands	5	0	0	5	2	37	−35	0.00
Tahiti	10	0	0	10	1	76	−75	0.00
Tonga	11	5	2	4	16	15	+1	45.45
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	54	13	4	37	49	262	−213	24.07

Source: Results
Notes:

1. Includes results as Western Samoa.

Historical kits

1995 Home

1995 Away

2001 Home

2007 Home

2007 Away

2011 Home

2015 Home

2015 Away

2022 Home

2022 Away

Honours

Regional

• Polynesia Cup
  • Runners-up (2): 1998, 2000

Sources

^{[10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19]}

See also

• Cook Islands national under-20 football team
• Cook Islands national under-17 football team
• Cook Islands women's national football team
• Cook Islands women's national under-17 football team

References

1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 19 September 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
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. "Cook Islands vs Tonga". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
7. "Cook Islands vs Tonga". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
8. "Match report" (PDF). OFC.
9. "Cook Islands". National Football Teams.
10. "1999".
11. "1999".
12. "2001".
13. "2007".
14. "2007". Facebook .
15. "2011".
16. "2015".
17. "2015".
18. "2022". 19 March 2022.
19. "2022".

External links

• Cook Islands Football Association
• Cook Islands at OFC
• Cook Islands at FIFA
• Pictorial History of Cook Island Football Kits