Samoa_national_football_team
Samoa national football team
Men's national association football team representing Samoa
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.
| 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 | ||
| |||
| FIFA ranking | |||
| Current | 181  5 (4 April 2024)[1] | ||
| Highest | 146 (December 2007) | ||
| Lowest | 204 (November 2011) | ||
| 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 | ||
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.
2024
v Samoa
| 20 March 2024 OFC Nations Cup qualification | Tonga | 1–4 | Samoa | Nuku'alofa, Tonga |
| 14:00 | Kite  90+5' |
Report |
|
Stadium: Teufaiva Stadium Attendance: 300 Referee: Luke Gardner (New Zealand) |
v 
Cook Islands
| 23 March 2024 OFC Nations Cup qualification | Samoa | 1–0 | Cook Islands | Nuku'alofa, Tonga |
| 11:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Teufaiva Stadium Referee: Pari Oito (Tahiti) |
v Samoa
| 16 June 2024 OFC Nations Cup | Tahiti | v | Samoa | Luganville, Vanuatu |
| 11:00 | Stadium: Luganville Soccer Stadium |
v 
Fiji
| 19 June 2024 OFC Nations Cup | Samoa | v | Fiji | Luganville, Vanuatu |
| 11:00 | Stadium: Luganville Soccer Stadium |
v 
Papua New Guinea
| 22 June 2024 OFC Nations Cup | Samoa | v | Papua New Guinea | Luganville, Vanuatu |
| 14:00 | Stadium: Luganville Soccer Stadium |
Samoa
| September 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | TBA | v | Samoa | Apia, Samoa |
| Stadium: National Soccer Stadium |
 |
| 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
Terry Epa (1996–2001)
Vic Fernandez (2001–2002)- Malo Vaga (2002)
David Brand (2002/2005)
Rudi Gutendorf (2003)- Falevi Umutaua (2007)
Tunoa Lui (2011)- Malo Vaga (2012–2014)
- Phineas Young (2014–2016)
Scott Easthope (2016–2018)- Paul Ualesi (2019)
- Matt Calcott (2021–2022)
Ryan Stewart (2023–present)
The following players were called up for the 2023 Pacific Games.[3]
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 23) | 0 | 0 | Lupe o le Soaga |
| 2 | 2DF | Luke Tolo-Kent | (2003-04-29) 29 April 2003 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Miramar Rangers |
| 3 | 2DF | Luke Salisbury | (2004-09-15) 15 September 2004 (age 19) | 0 | 0 | Roslyn-Wakari |
| 4 | 2DF | Taine Wilson | (2004-11-08) 8 November 2004 (age 19) | 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 36) | 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 25) | 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 28) | 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 17) | 3 | 1 |  Viktoria Griesheim |
| 12 | 4FW | Ethan Stowers | (2005-10-26) 26 October 2005 (age 18) | 0 | 0 | Faatoia United |
| 17 | 4FW | Dilo Tumua | (2000-03-15) 15 March 2000 (age 24) | 0 | 0 | Lupe o le Soaga |
- As of 23 March 2024[4]
- Players in bold are still active with Samoa.
Most appearances
| Rank | Name | Caps | Goals | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Desmond Fa'aiuaso | 20 | 9 | 2001–2016 |
| Andrew Setefano | 20 | 0 | 2011–present | |
| 3 | Filipo Bureta | 14 | 0 | 2001–2016 |
| Lionel Taylor | 14 | 1 | 2004–2016 | |
| 5 | Junior Michael | 13 | 5 | 1996–2007 |
| 6 | Silao Malo | 12 | 2 | 2011–2016 |
| 7 | Pualele Lemana | 11 | 3 | 2001–2004 |
| Mike Saofaiga | 11 | 0 | 2011–2019 | |
| 9 | Jarrell Sale | 10 | 0 | 2007–2015 |
| Penitito Tumua | 10 | 2 | 2004–2011 | |
Top goalscorers
| Rank | Name | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Desmond Fa'aiuaso | 9 | 20 | 0.45 | 2001–2016 |
| 2 | Michael Tumua Leo | 5 | 5 | 1 | 2023–present |
| Junior Michael | 5 | 13 | 0.38 | 1996–2007 | |
| 4 | Tama Fasavalu | 3 | 4 | 0.75 | 2002–2004 |
| Dilo Tumua | 3 | 5 | 0.6 | 2023–present | |
| Pualele Lemana | 3 | 11 | 0.27 | 2001–2004 | |
| 7 | Albert Bell | 2 | 3 | 0.67 | 2011 |
| Chris Cahill | 2 | 3 | 0.67 | 2007 | |
| Luke Gosche | 2 | 3 | 0.67 | 2011–2012 | |
| Vito Laloata | 2 | 3 | 0.67 | 2015–2019 | |
| Peniamina Timo | 2 | 5 | 0.4 | 2001–2002 | |
| Johnny Hall | 2 | 6 | 0.33 | 2015–2016 | |
| Ben Lemana | 2 | 6 | 0.33 | 1996–2001 | |
| Andrew Mobberley | 2 | 9 | 0.22 | 2015–2019 | |
| Penitito Tumua | 2 | 10 | 0.2 | 2004–2011 | |
| Silao Malo | 2 | 12 | 0.17 | 2011–2016 | |
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 |
- Cook Islands forfeited the tournament before the seventh place final, Samoa received a 3-0 walkover win.
As of 18 July 2019[5]
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | WPCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Samoa |
10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 5 | +39 | 100.00 |
| Australia |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | −11 | 0.00 |
 Chinese Taipei |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | −5 | 0.00 |
| Cook Islands |
6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 9 | −1 | 33.33 |
| Fiji |
5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 22 | −20 | 0.00 |
| Guam |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 0.00 |
| New Caledonia |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 29 | −29 | 0.00 |
| New Zealand |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 19 | −19 | 0.00 |
| Papua New Guinea |
5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 26 | −23 | 0.00 |
| Solomon Islands |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 20 | −20 | 0.00 |
| Tahiti |
7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 43 | −40 | 0.00 |
| Tonga |
11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 21 | 9 | +12 | 54.55 |
 Tuvalu |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | −3 | 0.00 |
| Vanuatu |
5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 36 | −35 | 0.00 |
 Wallis and Futuna |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 0.00 |
| Total | 64 | 18 | 4 | 42 | 86 | 246 | −160 | 28.13 |
Includes results as Western Samoa.
- "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- "Samoa Football Shirts". OldFootballShirts.com. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- "Match report" (PDF). OFC.
- "World Football Elo Ratings: Samoa". Elo Ratings. Archived from the original on 20 January 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2017.