Cook Islands national football team facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

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

Quick facts for kids
Cook Islands

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

190

(7 February 2019)

Highest

166 (October 2015)

Lowest

207 (April–July 2015)

Elo ranking

Current

223

2 (3 March 2019)

Highest

170 (1971)

Lowest

224 (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 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.

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:

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

Friendly 28 August	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'	https://tps.ftf.pf/games/15395	Enoka 74'	Stadium: Stade Pater Te Hono Nui

Friendly 31 August	Cook Islands	0–3	Tahiti	Pirae, Tahiti
20:00 UTC−10		https://tps.ftf.pf/games/15398	Keck 24' Kaspard 32' Morgant 45+1'	Stadium: Stade Pater Te Hono Nui

2023 Pacific Games 21 November	Tonga	1-2	Cook Islands	Honiara, Solomon Islands
16:00 UTC+11	Kendler 71'	https://sol2023.gems.pro/gems_local/Temp/ScoreSheet_b29ad456-4f68-4a04-9292-2f00d1f14c9d_20231121111154940.pdf	Tiputoa 67' Rimene-Albrett 90+2'	Stadium: SIFF Academy Field Referee: David Yareboinen (Papua New Guinea)

2023 Pacific Games 24 November	Cook Islands	0-8	New Caledonia	Honiara, Solomon Islands
16:00 UTC+11		https://sol2023.gems.pro/gems_local/Temp/ScoreSheet_3bd4f65e-afa6-426b-a6a8-e16adc7df143_20231126004738517.pdf	Zeoula 7', 13' Xowi 64' Waya 75', 78', 81' Katrawa 82', 90+5'	Stadium: SIFF Academy Field Referee: Kavitesh Behari (Fiji)

2024

2024 OFC Nations Cup qualification 23 March	Samoa	1–0	Cook Islands	Nuku'alofa, Tonga
11:00	Taualai 88'	https://www.oceaniafootball.com/competition-list/ofc-mens-nations-cup-2024-qualifying-stage-2700242469/samoa-cook-islands-1-0-2700704473/		Stadium: Teufaiva Stadium Attendance: 300 Referee: Pari Oito (Tahiti)

2024 OFC Nations Cup qualification 26 March	Cook Islands	1–0	Tonga	Nuku'alofa, Tonga
14:00	Saghabi 38'	https://www.oceaniafootball.com/competition-list/ofc-mens-nations-cup-2024-qualifying-stage-2700242469/cook-islands-tonga-1-0-2700704474/		Stadium: Teufaiva Stadium Attendance: 500 Referee: Laurie Fairamoa (Solomon Islands)

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.

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 (age 36)	12	0	Nikao Sokattak
20	1GK	Ngereine Maro	(2005-03-20) 20 March 2005 (age 19)	2	0	Western Suburbs

2	2DF	Sunai Joseph	(1998-02-20) 20 February 1998 (age 26)	4	0	Tupapa Maraerenga
4	2DF	Jarves Aperau	(1997-11-21) 21 November 1997 (age 27)	1	0	Puaikura
7	2DF	Paavo Mustonen	(1989-11-10) 10 November 1989 (age 35)	15	0	Tupapa Maraerenga
8	2DF	Orin Prattley	(1997-11-03) 3 November 1997 (age 27)	5	0	Brooklyn Northern United
15	2DF	Avi Enoka	(2001-11-01) 1 November 2001 (age 23)	4	0	Tupapa Maraerenga
16	2DF	Nuku Mokoroa	(2004-05-15) 15 May 2004 (age 20)	0	0	Nikao Sokattak
19	2DF	Dwayne Tiputoa	(1997-12-08) 8 December 1997 (age 26)	5	1	Tupapa Maraerenga

5	3MF	Alex McGregor	(1989-08-27) 27 August 1989 (age 35)	4	0	Central United
10	3MF	Grover Harmon	(1989-08-09) 9 August 1989 (age 35)	14	1	Tupapa Maraerenga
12	3MF	Akiona Tairi	(1990-05-16) 16 May 1990 (age 34)	4	0	Titikaveka
13	3MF	Tremaine Rimene-Albrett	(2002-01-01) 1 January 2002 (age 22)	2	1	Douglas Villa
18	3MF	Lee Harmon Jr.	(2001-10-23) 23 October 2001 (age 23)	5	0	Tupapa Maraerenga

3	4FW	Siaosi Kaufononga	(1995-02-20) 20 February 1995 (age 29)	2	0	Tupapa Maraerenga
9	4FW	Daniel Taokia	(1998-12-22) 22 December 1998 (age 25)	4	0	Tupapa Maraerenga
11	4FW	Taylor Saghabi	(1990-12-25) 25 December 1990 (age 33)	15	6	Tupapa Maraerenga
14	4FW	Dalziel Beal	(2005-04-26) 26 April 2005 (age 19)	4	0	Matavera

Player records

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
5	Grover Harmon	14	1	2009–present
7	Mark Jamieson	13	1	2000–2004
7	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
2	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	To be determined								First round	TBD
2030	Morocco Portugal Spain									To be determined
2034	Saudi Arabia									To be determined
Total		–	–	–	–	–	–	–	0/7	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
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	Group stage	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										To be determined
Total	Group stage	2/10	4	0	0	4	1	41	—	22	8	2	12	19	50	2026To be determined

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	Group stage	9th	4	1	0	3	4	15
2015	N/A – tournament was U23
2019	did not enter
2023	Group stage	8th	2	1	0	1	2	9
Total	5/16	0 Titles	17	4	0	13	14	131