Qualification history
Like a number of neighbouring Oceania nations Samoa debuted in 1998 FIFA World Cup™ qualifying. Since then they have won a match in each of their first three campaigns, before securing two wins against Tonga and American Samoa last time around. However, Samoa has yet to seriously come close to reaching the second stage of qualifying.

The current crop
Samoa’s last competitive internationals came during the FIFA World Cup qualifiers in 2007 which doubled as the South Pacific Games, which was hosted by the Polynesian nation. Since then Samoan football has been in a rebuilding phase on and off the field with a FIFA normalisation committee rectifying administrative issues faced by the Federation.

The key players
Striker Desmond Fa'aiuaso, who last year played in the New Zealand national league, has appeared in two FIFA World Cup campaigns, having scored four in just his second international against American Samoa. The slightly-built and pacy forward had a time away from the game playing the national sport – Rugby Union – before returning in the New Zealand national league in 2009. Also in attack is striker Fereti Gosche, who has scored consistently in the local competition with domestic cup winners Moaula United.

Coach: Tunoa Lui
Best performance in a FIFA competition: None
Former stars: Ben Lemana, Etena Tokuma