Samoa national football team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Samoa

Association	Football Federation Samoa
Confederation	OFC (Oceania)
Head coach	Ryan Stewart
Captain	Andrew Setefano
Most caps	Desmond Fa'aiuaso / Andrew Setefano (20)
Top scorer	Desmond Fa'aiuaso (9)
Home stadium	National Soccer Stadium
FIFA code	SAM
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	197 (7 February 2019)
Highest	146 (December 2007)
Lowest	204 (November 2011)
Elo ranking
Current	220 2 (3 March 2019)
Highest	182 (1979)
Lowest	224 (September 2015)
First international
Solomon Islands 12–0 Western Samoa  (Suva, Fiji; 31 August 1979)
Biggest win
Samoa 10–0 American Samoa  (Honiara, Solomon Islands; 20 November 2023)
Biggest defeat
Tahiti 13–0 Western Samoa  (Honiara, Solomon Islands; 13 July 1981)
OFC Nations Cup
Appearances	2 (first in 2012)
Best result	Group stage, 2012 and 2016

The Samoa men's national association football team (Samoan: Sāmoa soka au) represents Samoa in men's international football and is controlled by the Football Federation Samoa, the governing body for football in Samoa. Samoa's home ground is Toleafoa J. S. Blatter Soccer Stadium in Apia. It was known as the Western Samoa national football team until 1997.

History

Beginnings (1979–1993)

Although they had not taken part in the first five editions of the South Pacific Games, their geographical proximity to Fiji, host of 1979 South Pacific Games, allowed them to participate for the first time. They lost both group stage matches to Wallis and Futuna 3–1 and Solomon Islands 12–0. Four years later, as hosts of the 1983 edition, they beat American Samoa 3–1, drew 3–3 with Tonga and fell again to Wallis and Futuna, but the results allowed them to advance to the next round. In the quarterfinals, Tahiti eliminated them by beating them 2–0.

Samoa entered qualification for the 1988 Summer Olympics however they were defeated by New Zealand over two legs, losing 7–0 at home before being defeated 12–0 in Auckland. In the playoffs for the next round, Samoa lost to Taiwan 5–0 and were eliminated.

Regional Frustrations (1994–2010)

In 1994 they hosted the first edition of the Polynesia Cup, where they beat American Samoa, tied with Tonga and lost to Tahiti to finish in third position. In 1998 they were third again, coming within a point of the Cook Islands in second. Samoa returned to finish third again in the 2000 edition by beating Tonga and American Samoa, but losing to the Cook Islands and Tahiti.

After four tournaments absent, they returned in the 2007 South Pacific Games as hosts. They managed six points by beating Tonga and American Samoa again, but were eliminated after losing to the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

OFC Nations Cup (2011–present)

In 2011, they hosted the OFC Nations Cup qualifying tournament. There, they beat the Cook Islands 3–2, drew 1–1 with Tonga and defeated American Samoa 1–0 to qualify for the first time in their history. At the championship proper, they were beaten 10–1 by Tahiti, 5–0 by Vanuatu and 9–0 by New Caledonia.

In the 2016 qualifiers, they beat American Samoa 3–2 and lost 1–0 to the Cook Islands. In their final game, the Samoan team defeated Tonga 3–0 and qualified on goal difference, because of American Samoa's 2–0 win over the Cookian team. At the tournament, which took place in Papua New Guinea, the Samoan team lost 4–0 to Tahiti, 7–0 to New Caledonia and 8–0 to the local team. Therefore, they finished in last place in their group without a single point.

Kit sponsorship

Kit supplier	Period
Puma	?
Lotto	2003
Uhlsport	2005
Lotto	2007–2013
Nike	2015–2016
Adidas	2017
Lotto	2019–

Results and fixtures

2024

2024 OFC Nations Cup qualification 20 March	Tonga	1–4	Samoa	Nuku'alofa, Tonga
14:00	Kite  90+5'	https://www.oceaniafootball.com/competition-list/ofc-mens-nations-cup-2024-qualifying-stage-2700242469/tonga-samoa-2700704472/	Tumua  11' (pen.) Viliamu  45+1', 60' Stowers  89'	Stadium: Teufaiva Stadium Attendance: 300 Referee: Luke Gardner (New Zealand)

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 Referee: Pari Oito (Tahiti)

2024 OFC Nations Cup 16 June	Tahiti	v	Samoa	Luganville, Vanuatu
11:00				Stadium: Luganville Soccer Stadium

2024 OFC Nations Cup 19 June	Samoa	v	Fiji	Luganville, Vanuatu
11:00				Stadium: Luganville Soccer Stadium

2024 OFC Nations Cup 22 June	Samoa	v	Papua New Guinea	Luganville, Vanuatu
14:00				Stadium: Luganville Soccer Stadium

2026 FIFA World Cup qualification September	TBA	v	Samoa	Apia, Samoa
				Stadium: National Soccer Stadium

Coaching staff

Position	Name
Head coach	Ryan Stewart
Assistant coach	Alastair McLae
Goalkeeping coach	Joseph Kapisi
Team manager	Saolotoga Pula
Technical adviser	Jess Ibrom
Gear manager	Bevan Kapisi
International Scout	Alastair McLae
International Scout	Russ Gurr

Coaching history

Players

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

Caps and goals correct as of 18 July 2019, after the game against Vanuatu.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Joel Bartley	(2005-04-13) 13 April 2005 (age 19)	0	0	Sydney United 58
22	1GK	Osa Savelio	(2000-05-02) 2 May 2000 (age 24)	0	0	Lupe o le Soaga
2	2DF	Luke Tolo-Kent	(2003-04-29) 29 April 2003 (age 21)	0	0	Miramar Rangers
3	2DF	Luke Salisbury	(2004-09-15) 15 September 2004 (age 20)	0	0	Roslyn-Wakari
4	2DF	Taine Wilson	(2004-11-08) 8 November 2004 (age 20)	0	0	Quincy Hawks
5	2DF	Kaleb De Groot-Green		0	0	Dunedin City Royals
6	2DF	Andrew Setefano	(1987-08-10) 10 August 1987 (age 37)	15	0	Lupe o le Soaga
14	2DF	Legend Spencer		0	0	FC Minneapolis
7	3MF	Va'a Taualai	(1998-06-04) 4 June 1998 (age 26)	2	0	Lupe o le Soaga
11	3MF	Falaniko Nanumea	(2002-01-17) 17 January 2002 (age 22)	2	0	Vailima Kiwi
13	3MF	Samuelu Malo	(1999-04-04) 4 April 1999 (age 25)	0	0	Vailima Kiwi
15	3MF	Alman Kwan	(2003-01-18) 18 January 2003 (age 21)	0	0	Vaivase-Tai
16	3MF	Darren Talilai	(1995-10-23) 23 October 1995 (age 29)	0	0	Lupe o le Soaga
18	3MF	Tuuga Malaeamanu		0	0	Adidas SC
19	3MF	Reupena Fasi		0	0
8	4FW	Dauntae Mariner	(2000-01-25) 25 January 2000 (age 24)	0	0	Brisbane Strikers
9	4FW	Michael Tumua Leo	(2003-01-15) 15 January 2003 (age 21)	2	0	Lupe o le Soaga
10	4FW	Pharrell Trainor	(2006-06-20) 20 June 2006 (age 18)	3	1	Viktoria Griesheim
12	4FW	Ethan Stowers	(2005-10-26) 26 October 2005 (age 19)	0	0	Faatoia United
17	4FW	Dilo Tumua	(2000-03-15) 15 March 2000 (age 24)	0	0	Lupe o le Soaga

Player records

Players in bold are still active with Samoa.

Most appearances

Top goalscorers

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record										FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930 to 1986	Not a FIFA member									Not a FIFA member
as  Western Samoa										as  Western Samoa
1990	Did not enter									Did not enter
1994	Withdrew									Withdrew
as  Samoa										as  Samoa
1998	Did not qualify									2	1	0	1	2	2
2002										4	1	0	3	9	18
2006										4	1	0	3	5	11
2010										4	2	0	2	9	8
2014										6	2	1	3	6	27
2018										6	2	0	4	6	22
2022	Withdrew									Withdrew
2026	To be determined									To be determined
2030
2034
Total	–	0/11	–	–	–	–	–	–		26	9	1	16	37	88

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
as  Western Samoa
1973	Did not enter										Did not enter
1980
1996	Did not qualify										3	1	1	1	5	10
as  Samoa
1998	Did not qualify										4	2	0	2	8	7
2000											4	2	0	2	13	6
2002											4	2	0	2	8	9
2004											4	1	0	3	5	11
2008											4	2	0	2	9	8
2012	Group stage	8th	3	0	0	3	1	24	Squad		3	2	1	0	5	3
2016	Group stage	8th	3	0	0	3	0	19	Squad		3	2	0	1	6	3
2024	Qualified										2	2	0	0	5	1
Total	Group stage	3/11	6	0	0	6	1	43	—		31	16	2	13	64	58

Pacific Games

Pacific Games record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1963	Did not enter
1966
1969
1971
1975
1979	Group stage	10th	3	0	0	3	3	19
1983	Quarter-finals	6th	4	1	1	2	7	8
1987	Did not enter
1991
1995
2003
2007	Group stage	5th	4	2	0	2	9	8
2011	Did not enter
2015	N/A – tournament was U23
2019	Group stage	8th	4	1	0	3	3	22
2023	Group stage	7th	4	21	0	2	141	3
Total	Quarter-finals	5/16	19	6	1	12	36	60

1. Cook Islands forfeited the tournament before the seventh place final, Samoa received a 3-0 walkover win.

Head-to-head record

As of 18 July 2019

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	American Samoa	10	10	0	0	44	5	+39	30
2	Australia	1	0	0	1	0	11	−11	0
3	Chinese Taipei	1	0	0	1	0	5	−5	0
4	Cook Islands	6	2	1	3	8	9	−1	7
5	Fiji	5	0	0	5	2	22	−20	0
6	Guam	1	0	0	1	2	4	−2	0
7	New Caledonia	4	0	0	4	0	29	−29	0
8	New Zealand	2	0	0	2	0	19	−19	0
9	Papua New Guinea	5	0	0	5	3	26	−23	0
10	Solomon Islands	3	0	0	3	0	20	−20	0
11	Tahiti	7	0	0	7	3	43	−40	0
12	Tonga	11	6	3	2	21	9	+12	21
13	Tuvalu	1	0	0	1	0	3	−3	0
14	Vanuatu	5	0	0	5	1	36	−35	0
15	Wallis and Futuna	2	0	0	2	2	5	−3	0

Includes results as Western Samoa.

See also

In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Samoa para niños