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Cook Islands national football team facts for kids

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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
Shirt badge/Association crest
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 190 Steady (7 February 2019)
Highest 166 (October 2015)
Lowest 207 (April–July 2015)
Elo ranking
Current 223 Decrease 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, 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.

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 Adidas 2002–2004
Italy Lotto 2007–2012
New Zealand Onu Football 2015–2020
Australia KPI Sports 2020–

Source:

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

2024

Coaches

  • Cook Islands Alex Napa (1996–1998)
  • Cook Islands Cormac Gallen-Willcocks (2001–2004)
  • Australia Tim Jerks (2004–2010)
  • New Zealand Shane Rufer (2011)
  • Cook Islands Paul Farrell-Turepu (2011–2014)
  • Wales Drew Sherman (2015–2017)
  • New Zealand Kevin Fallon (2018–2020)
  • England Alan Taylor (2022)
  • New Zealand 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.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Tahiri Elikana (1988-09-14) 14 September 1988 (age 36) 13 0 Cook Islands Nikao Sokattak
1GK Ngereine Maro (2005-03-20) 20 March 2005 (age 20) 5 0 New Zealand Western Suburbs
2DF Paavo Mustonen (1989-11-10) 10 November 1989 (age 35) 18 0 Cook Islands Tupapa Maraerenga
2DF Emiel Burrow (1992-05-17) 17 May 1992 (age 33) 10 0 New Zealand Oratia United
2DF Orin Ruaine-Prattley (1997-11-03) 3 November 1997 (age 27) 9 0 New Zealand Brooklyn Northern United
2DF Dwayne Tiputoa (1997-12-08) 8 December 1997 (age 27) 8 1 Cook Islands Tupapa Maraerenga
2DF Tamaiva Mateariki (1999-02-05) 5 February 1999 (age 26) 2 0 Cook Islands Tupapa Maraerenga
2DF John Noovao (2004-09-18) 18 September 2004 (age 20) 1 0 Cook Islands Tupapa Maraerenga
3MF Grover Harmon (1989-08-09) 9 August 1989 (age 35) 18 1 Cook Islands Tupapa Maraerenga
3MF Tremaine Rimene-Albrett (2002-01-01) 1 January 2002 (age 23) 6 1 New Zealand Douglas Villa
3MF Thane Beal (1997-03-26) 26 March 1997 (age 28) 5 0 Australia Westvale Olympic
3MF Oscar Wichman (2005-07-01) 1 July 2005 (age 19) 3 0 Cook Islands Tupapa Maraerenga
3MF Ngametua Tuakana (2005-02-28) 28 February 2005 (age 20) 2 0 Cook Islands Tupapa Maraerenga
3MF Taci Kumsuz (1999-01-06) 6 January 1999 (age 26) 1 1 Australia St George City
3MF Kerim Kumsuz (1992-08-27) 27 August 1992 (age 32) 0 0 Cook Islands Tupapa Maraerenga
4FW Taylor Saghabi (1990-12-25) 25 December 1990 (age 34) 19 7 Cook Islands Tupapa Maraerenga
4FW Josh Karika (1989-09-15) 15 September 1989 (age 35) 7 0 Cook Islands Matavera
4FW Siaosi Kaufononga (1995-02-20) 20 February 1995 (age 30) 3 1 Cook Islands Tupapa Maraerenga
4FW Tupaia Ringi (2003-03-14) 14 March 2003 (age 22) 2 0 Australia 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 27) 5 0 Cook Islands Tupapa Maraerenga v.  Tonga; 26 March 2024
DF Nuku Mokoroa (2004-05-15) 15 May 2004 (age 21) 0 0 Cook Islands Nikao Sokattak v.  Tonga; 26 March 2024
MF Lee Harmon Jr. (2001-10-23) 23 October 2001 (age 23) 7 0 Cook Islands Tupapa Maraerenga v.  Tonga; 26 March 2024

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 19 7 2011–present
4 Grover Harmon 18 1 2009–present
Paavo Mustonen 18 0 2007–present
6 Joseph Chambers 14 0 1996–2004
7 Tahiri Elikana 13 0 2011–present
Mark Jamieson 13 1 2000–2004
Christian Tauira 13 0 1998–2004
10 Stenter Mani 12 2 1996–2001
Joseph Miitamariki 12 0 2007–2011
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 19 0.37 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
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
Fiji Vanuatu 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
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
Solomon Islands 2023 Group stage 8th 2 1 0 1 2 9
Total 5/16 0 Titles 17 4 0 13 14 131

Polynesia Cup

Polynesia Cup record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
Samoa1994 did not enter
Cook Islands 1998 Runners-up 2nd 4 2 1 1 8 11
French Polynesia 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

Cook Islands national football team results

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

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de las Islas Cook para niños

  • 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
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