Samoa will join New Zealand’s All Whites in their FIFA Men’s World Cup qualifying group in October.
Samoa have advanced to the second round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Oceania qualifiers with an extra-time victory over Tonga in Apia.
Main photo: A jubilant Samoa side are through to the second round of Oceania’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Photo credit: OFC Media / Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
A Jefferson Fa’amatau header in stoppage time of the first half of extra time settled a back-and-forth affair and sent Jess Ibrom’s side into Group B when qualifying resumes next month.
It was the home side that dominated for most of the opening half, though were unable to sufficiently test Semisi Otukolo in the Tonga goal.
Nathan Viliamu had a good early chance, reacting first when Otukolo failed to claim a cross from out wide, though the forward was unable to keep his effort down, and the ball sailed over the bar.
Captain Andrew Setefano had two good chances in quick succession to break the deadlock. First, denied by an outstanding close range save by Otukolo, who made himself big to deny the defender from a matter of yards out, before Setefano’s header from a corner was cleared a combination of goalkeeper and crossbar.
Samoa’s profligacy was punished in the dying minutes of the half, as coach Kilifi Uele’s side grabbed a crucial opening goal.
Ulafala Sonasi was on hand to make the most of the Samoan’s defence’s failure to clear their lines, latching onto a brilliant ball from captain Hemaloto Polovili and finishing well past Paul Taupau.
Samoa reacted well in the early stages of the second period.
Luke Salisbury fired over before Jarvis Vaai smacked an effort against the crossbar from the inside-left position as Jess Ibrom’s side looked for a quick response.
Dauntae Mariner was the next to go close to an equaliser. His left-footed free-kick whistled past Otukolo’s left post with the ‘keeper struggling to get across.
Tonga were content to sit deep and hit on the break, and it almost paid dividends when Sonasi found himself on the edge of the Samoa area, only to shoot tamely at Taupau.
With only minutes left on the clock — and to delight of the increasingly nervous home support — Samoa finally found their leveller.
A corner from the right was headed out as far as Luke Salisbury, and the left back’s looping shot evaded Otuloko, crossing the line via the underside of the crossbar.
It would prove to be the final action of regulation time, as the game headed to extra time, with both sides showing significant signs of fatigue.
With the heat not letting up, both teams could be forgiven for a ponderous extra-time period.
Samoa’s Harry Chote went close, heading centimetres wide from a free-kick when left unattended.
Deep into stoppage time of the first period of extra time, Samoa found the goal they were desperate for.
A free kick on the left from Jarvis Vaai drifted into the box and Jefferson Fa’amatau’s flicked header found a way past Otukolo.
American Samoa beat Cook Islands in friendly
Before the main game, American Samoa secured a first senior men’s victory in nine years, as they overcame Cook Islands 2-1 in an international friendly.
Looking to rebound from the disappointment that both teams experienced on Friday, the sides started slowly, as the first half took time to spark into life.
Ali’i Mitchell broke the deadlock with a minute left in regulation time in the opening period to give Shani Simpson’s side a crucial lead.
Benjamin Stefanon doubled that lead early in the second half before a late Cook Islands goal through Siaosi Kaufononga proved to be nothing more than a consolation.
Acknowledgement
We thank OFC Media for providing information for this story.
Results
Game played on Monday September 9, 2024
Tonga 1 (Ulafala Sonasi 45+1′)
Samoa 2 (Luke Salisbury 87′, Jefferson Fa’amatau 105+3′)
*After extra time
Friendly international
Cook Islands 1 (Siaosi Kaufononga 83′)
American Samoa 2 (Ali’i Mitchell 44′, Benjamin Stefanon 50′)
American Samoa 0
Samoa 2 (Dilo Tumua 60′ pen, Jarvis Vaai 90+8′)
How the World Cup qualification process works
The FIFA World Cup official draw held in Zurich in July determined two groups of four:
Group A
- New Caledonia
- Papua New Guinea
- Solomon Islands
- Fiji
Group B
- New Zealand
- Tahiti
- Vanuatu
- Winners of round 1 (Samoa)
Round Two
The FIFA international window in October will see Suva, Fiji host Group A matches and Port Vila, Vanuatu host Group B matches.
Make a note in your diary for Thursday October 10, for back-to-back matches in Suva with New Caledonia playing Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands meeting Fiji in Group A.
The next day, New Zealand and Tahiti meet in Port Vila and on Saturday October 12, VFF Freshwater Stadium will be packed to the rafters as Vanuatu play the winner of Round One.
The group stage will be completed during November’s FIFA international window, with New Zealand and Papua New Guinea hosting the final round of matches, after which the top two teams will advance to the semi-finals.
Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea will host Match Day 4 in Group A on Thursday November 14 and Match Day 5 on Sunday November 17.
FMG Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, New Zealand, will host Match Day 4 in Group B on Friday November 15 and Go Media Stadium, Mt Smart, in Auckland will host Match Day 5 on Monday November 18.
Semi-finals and final
The Oceania Qualifiers will conclude in New Zealand during the March 2025 FIFA international window and determine which side qualifies directly for the FIFA World Cup.
The winner of Group A will face the runner-ups of Group B and the winner of Group B will face the runner-ups of Group A in the semi-finals, on Friday March 21, before the two winners meet in what shapes to be one of the biggest matches in OFC history on Monday March 24, with the winner earning direct entry to the FIFA World Cup.
The runners-up will earn a second chance to qualify for the FIFA World Cup via the FIFA Intercontinental Playoff – a six-nation tournament to determine the final two qualifying teams.
This story was first published on September 9, 2024.
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