The Cook Islands, a group of 15 South Pacific islands, first joined FIFA in 1994. Since then they have competed in a number of international tournaments, launching their first campaign for FIFA World Cup™ qualification in 1996.

Football is still very much in a state of development on the islands, and FIFA's GOAL project has supported the national association in building and developing sports facilities. The latest achievement is a national training centre in Matavera that is home to a new Football Academy and two international standard pitches.

Despite their best efforts, Cook Islands were on the receiving end of some rough results yet again in 2006 FIFA World Cup™ qualifiers.
Drawn into a group alongside Tahiti, Solomon Islands, Tonga and New Caledonia, the Cook Islanders only scored once while letting in 17 goals.

They finished up bottom of the pile and will hope for better luck next time.
Current national team coach Tim Jerks has embarked upon a careful preparatory programme ahead of the XIII South Pacific Games - Samoa 2007 and will draw most of his squad from clubs in Australia, New Zealand and, of course, the Cook Islands.

Long-serving goalkeeper Tony Jamieson will be the key man in the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ qualifiers alongside Thomas Le Mouton, who features for New Zealand outfit Albany United.