# Cook Islands national football team

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 OFC 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 OFC 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

### 2024
## 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-)

## Players
### Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match window in September 2024.
Caps and goals are correct as of 9 September 2024, after the match against American Samoa.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
| 1GK | Tahiri Elikana | (1988-09-14) 14 September 1988 (age 36) | 13 | 0 | Nikao Sokattak |
| 1GK | Ngereine Maro | (2005-03-20) 20 March 2005 (age 19) | 5 | 0 | Western Suburbs |
| 2DF | Paavo Mustonen | (1989-11-10) 10 November 1989 (age 35) | 18 | 0 | Tupapa Maraerenga |
| 2DF | Emiel Burrow | (1992-05-17) 17 May 1992 (age 32) | 10 | 0 | Oratia United |
| 2DF | Orin Ruaine-Prattley | (1997-11-03) 3 November 1997 (age 27) | 9 | 0 | Brooklyn Northern United |
| 2DF | Dwayne Tiputoa | (1997-12-08) 8 December 1997 (age 27) | 8 | 1 | Tupapa Maraerenga |
| 2DF | Tamaiva Mateariki | (1999-02-05) 5 February 1999 (age 25) | 2 | 0 | Tupapa Maraerenga |
| 2DF | John Noovao | (2004-09-18) 18 September 2004 (age 20) | 1 | 0 | Tupapa Maraerenga |
| 3MF | Grover Harmon | (1989-08-09) 9 August 1989 (age 35) | 18 | 1 | Tupapa Maraerenga |
| 3MF | Tremaine Rimene-Albrett | (2002-01-01) 1 January 2002 (age 23) | 6 | 1 | Douglas Villa |
| 3MF | Thane Beal | (1997-03-26) 26 March 1997 (age 27) | 5 | 0 | Westvale Olympic |
| 3MF | Oscar Wichman | (2005-07-01) 1 July 2005 (age 19) | 3 | 0 | Tupapa Maraerenga |
| 3MF | Ngametua Tuakana | (2005-02-28) 28 February 2005 (age 19) | 2 | 0 | Tupapa Maraerenga |
| 3MF | Taci Kumsuz | (1999-01-06) 6 January 1999 (age 26) | 1 | 1 | St George City |
| 3MF | Kerim Kumsuz | (1992-08-27) 27 August 1992 (age 32) | 0 | 0 | Tupapa Maraerenga |
| 4FW | Taylor Saghabi | (1990-12-25) 25 December 1990 (age 34) | 19 | 7 | Tupapa Maraerenga |
| 4FW | Josh Karika | (1989-09-15) 15 September 1989 (age 35) | 7 | 0 | Matavera |
| 4FW | Siaosi Kaufononga | (1995-02-20) 20 February 1995 (age 29) | 3 | 1 | Tupapa Maraerenga |
| 4FW | Tupaia Ringi | (2003-03-14) 14 March 2003 (age 21) | 2 | 0 | Canberra Olympic |

### Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the Cook Islands squad within the last twelve months.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
| DF | Sunai Joseph | (1998-02-20) 20 February 1998 (age 26) | 5 | 0 | Tupapa Maraerenga | v. Tonga; 26 March 2024 |
| DF | Nuku Mokoroa | (2004-05-15) 15 May 2004 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Nikao Sokattak | v. Tonga; 26 March 2024 |
| MF | Lee Harmon Jr. | (2001-10-23) 23 October 2001 (age 23) | 7 | 0 | Tupapa Maraerenga | v. Tonga; 26 March 2024 |

## Player records

    As of 9 September 2024
    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 | 19 | 7 | 2011–present |
| 4 | Grover Harmon | 18 | 1 | 2009–present |
| 4 | Paavo Mustonen | 18 | 0 | 2007–present |
| 6 | Joseph Chambers | 14 | 0 | 1996–2004 |
| 7 | Tahiri Elikana | 13 | 0 | 2011–present |
| 7 | Mark Jamieson | 13 | 1 | 2000–2004 |
| 7 | Christian Tauira | 13 | 0 | 1998–2004 |
| 10 | Stenter Mani | 12 | 2 | 1996–2001 |
| 10 | Joseph Miitamariki | 12 | 0 | 2007–2011 |
| 10 | James Nand | 12 | 0 | 1996–2001 |
| 10 | Daniel Shepherd | 12 | 1 | 2000–2007 |
| 10 | Nikorima Te Miha | 12 | 2 | 1998–2011 |

### Top goalscorers

| Rank | Name | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
| 1 | Taylor Saghabi | 7 | 19 | 0.37 | 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 |
| 4 | Stenter Mani | 2 | 12 | 0.17 | 1996–2001 |
| 4 | Nikorima Te Miha | 2 | 12 | 0.17 | 1998–2011 |
| 4 | John Pareanga | 2 | 20 | 0.1 | 1998–2011 |

## Competition record
### FIFA World Cup

| FIFA World Cup | FIFA World Cup | FIFA World Cup | FIFA World Cup | FIFA World Cup | FIFA World Cup | FIFA World Cup | FIFA World Cup | FIFA World Cup | | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification |
| Year | Host | Round | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | | Pos. | Pld | W | D | L | F | A |
| 1930 to 1994 | 1930 to 1994 | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member |
| 1998 | France | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | First round | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 2002 | South Korea Japan | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | | First round | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 25 |
| 2006 | Germany | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | | First round | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 17 |
| 2010 | South Africa | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | | First round | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 9 |
| 2014 | Brazil | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | | First round | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| 2018 | Russia | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | | First round | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| 2022 | Qatar | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew |
| 2026 | Canada Mexico United States | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | First round | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 2030 | Morocco Portugal Spain | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined |
| 2034 | Saudi Arabia | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined |
| Total | Total | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | | 0/7 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 17 | 17 | 66 |

### OFC Nations Cup

| Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup record | Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup record | Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup record | Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup record | Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup record | Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup record | Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup record | Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup record | Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup record | Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification 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 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 1980 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 1996 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 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 | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew |
| 2004 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 17 |
| 2008 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 9 |
| 2012 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| 2016 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| 2024 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 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 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1971 | Group Stage | 6th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 61 |
| 1975 to 1991 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1995 | Group stage | 7th | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 37 |
| 2003 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | 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 | N/A – tournament was U23 | N/A – tournament was U23 | N/A – tournament was U23 | N/A – tournament was U23 | N/A – tournament was U23 | N/A – tournament was U23 | N/A – tournament was U23 |
| 2019 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 2023 | Group stage | 8th | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 9 |
| Total | Group stage | 5/16 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 13 | 14 | 131 |

### Polynesia Cup

Polynesia Cup record :
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
| 1994 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | 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 | 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 |
* ↑ 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