American Samoa national football team

Early history

In 1983, American Samoa entered a football team in the South Pacific Games for the first time. The territory's official first match took place in Apia, Western Samoa on August 20, 1983, and ended in a 3–1 defeat to Western Samoa. Two days later, the team recorded their first win with a 3–0 victory against Wallis & Futuna however, they were eliminated from the competition at the group stage following a 3–2 loss to Tonga on August 24.^[2][3][4]

The following year, the American Samoa Football Association (ASFA) – now known as Football Federation American Samoa (FFAS) – was founded and took over responsibility for organizing the territory's national team.^[5]

After competing in the 1987 South Pacific Games and the 1994 Polynesia Cup, ASFA became full members of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) allowing them to compete in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers for the first time.^[5] American Samoa registered their first FIFA-recognized international during the 1998 Polynesia Cup in Rarotonga, Cook Islands when they lost 3–0 to Tonga on September 2.^[3][4][6]

Stagnation

Since joining FIFA, the team has been regarded as one of the world's weakest teams^[9] and were, until November 2011, the joint-lowest ranked national team in the FIFA World ranking.^[10]

On November 23, 2011, American Samoa recorded their second and first FIFA-recognized win when they defeated Tonga 2–1 in the first round of qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. It was also the team's 1st victory after 38 consecutive defeats.^[3][9][11]

The team's efforts to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup were chronicled in a 2014 British documentary, Next Goal Wins, directed by Mike Brett and Steve Jamison.^[12][13] In October 2015, the territory achieved its highest position in the FIFA World Rankings when they reached 164th following back-to-back wins against Tonga and the Cook Islands in qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.^[3][14]

After playing in the 2019 Pacific Games, the team went over four years without playing an international match. This hiatus was caused in part by the COVID-19 pandemic which forced the cancellation of the 2020 OFC Nations Cup and led the team to withdraw from 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification. American Samoa was removed from the FIFA World Rankings in July 2023, due to going 5 years without playing an official match. American Samoa finally competed again at the 2023 Pacific Games.^[15]

Home stadium

American Samoa's home ground is the Pago Park Soccer Stadium, however American Samoa have never played there in their history at senior level.^[3] The stadium featured in the 2023 film Next Goal Wins and was used as the national team's training ground in the build-up to the 2011 Pacific Games and the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.^[23] Matches at the stadium must be concluded before 6:30pm because of a village curfew which limits noise and prevents the installation of floodlights. For this reason, the association began planning to build a new facility in Tafuna in 2023. FIFA president Gianni Infantino promised the association $5 million for the project during his visit around Oceania in summer of that year.^[24]

2026

U.S. Virgin Islands  v  American Samoa

March 25 2026 FIFA Series	U.S. Virgin Islands	5–2	American Samoa	Bayamón, Puerto Rico
16:00 UTC−4	J. Ramos 7' Penders 19', 20' Liburd 53' Robinson  79' St. Louis 90+2' (pen.)	Report	Mitchell 80' (pen.), 82'	Stadium: Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium Referee: José Torres (Puerto Rico)

American Samoa  v  Guam

March 28 2026 FIFA Series	American Samoa	0–6	Guam	Bayamón, Puerto Rico
16:00 UTC−4		Report	Mitchell 3' (o.g.) Berg 13', 35' Ochoa 39' (pen.) Taitague 57' Gomez 86'	Stadium: Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium Referee: José Torres (Puerto Rico)

Coaching history

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2026 FIFA Series.

Caps and goals updated as of 9 April 2026, after the game against the Guam.

More information No., Pos. ...

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Kai Yandall		1	0	Nashville SC
20	1GK	Nicholas Tuiasosopo		1	0
23	1GK	Nicky Salapu	(1980-09-13) 13 September 1980 (age 45)	24	0	PanSa East F.C.
2	2DF	Vaha Tua	(2002-11-06) 6 November 2002 (age 23)	4	0	Vaiala Tonga SC
4	2DF	Ben Stefanon	(2004-11-20) 20 November 2004 (age 21)	4	1	Christopher Newport Captains
5	2DF	Austin Kaleopa	(2001-11-24) 24 November 2001 (age 24)	9	0	Utulei Youth
15	2DF	Matthew Stefanon		0	0
18	2DF	Malachi Drago		2	0
19	2DF	Dylan Salapu		1	0	Pierce Raiders
7	3MF	Peter Lauvao	(2003-12-11) 11 December 2003 (age 22)	3	0	Vaiala Tonga SC
8	3MF	Ali'i Mitchell	(1994-08-12) 12 August 1994 (age 31)	7	4
9	3MF	Johnica Collins	(2006-01-12) 12 January 2006 (age 20)	2	0	Pago Youth FC
12	3MF	Leaga Lealuga	(2005-06-27) 27 June 2005 (age 20)	5	1	PanSa East F.C.
13	3MF	Billjae Vaitoelau	(2002-04-13) 13 April 2002 (age 24)	6	1	Royal Puma
14	3MF	Kenai Mauga		1	0	Melbourne High School
16	3MF	Michael Paselio		0	0
22	3MF	Michael Settle	(2001-12-03) 3 December 2001 (age 24)	4	0	Pago Youth FC
6	4FW	Tor Lawrence Mana'o	(1999-05-27) 27 May 1999 (age 27)	5	0
10	4FW	Daniel Lee	(2007-02-17) 17 February 2007 (age 19)	5	0	Royal Puma
11	4FW	Fiamatai Itamua	(2007-05-27) 27 May 2007 (age 19)	2	0	Pago Youth FC
17	4FW	Petu Pouli	(2005-12-18) 18 December 2005 (age 20)	8	0	Vaiala Tonga SC

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Most appearances

Youngest player

• Jaiyah Saelua – 15 years 300 days vs. Fiji on 15 May 2004^[29]

Oldest player

• Nicky Salapu – 43 years 359 days vs. Samoa on 6 September 2024

Top goalscorers

First goal

• Duane Atuelevao – 12 March 2002 vs. Tonga

Most goals in a match

• Demetrius Beauchamp – 2 vs. Samoa on 31 August 2015^[30]
• Ali'i Mitchell – 2 vs. United States Virgin Islands on 25 March 2026

FIFA World Cup

Following FIFA affiliation in 1998,^[5] American Samoa first entered the qualifying competition for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. They have entered the qualifiers for each subsequent edition but have never made it beyond the first stage. The closest they came to reaching the second phase was in qualifying for the 2018 edition when they won two of their three matches and narrowly missed out on progressing on goal difference.^[14]

More information FIFA World Cup, Qualification ...

FIFA World Cup										Qualification
Year	Host	Round	Pld	W	D	L	F	A		Pos.	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Source
1930 to 1998		Not a FIFA member	Not a FIFA member
2002	Japan South Korea	Did not qualify								Group – 5th	4	0	0	4	0	57	[32]
2006	Germany	First round group – 5th[A]	4	0	0	4	1	34		[33]
2010	South Africa	First round group – 5th[B]	4	0	0	4	1	38		[34]
2014	Brazil	First round group – 3rd[C]	3	1	1	1	3	3		[35]
2018	Russia	First round group – 2nd[D]	3	2	0	1	6	4		[14]
2022	Qatar	Withdrew								Withdrew
2026	Canada Mexico United States	Did not qualify								First round	1	0	0	1	0	2
2030	Morocco Portugal Spain
2034	Saudi Arabia
Total			0	0	0	0	0	0		0/6	19	3	1	15	11	138	—

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Notes

OFC Nations Cup

Before becoming full members of OFC in 1998,^[5] American Samoa entered the 1994 Polynesia Cup which acted as the qualifying round for Polynesian national teams for the 1996 OFC Nations Cup. This was the territory's first time competing for a place in OFC's flagship competition for senior men's national teams.^[6]

The OFC Men's Nations Cup has often acted as part of the FIFA World Cup qualification process for Oceanian national teams and, as a result, American Samoa have competed in the qualifiers for both competitions in every edition since 1998. They have yet to qualify for either competition.

More information Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup, Qualification record ...

Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup										Qualification record
Year	Host	Round	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA		Pos.	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Source
1973	New Zealand	Did not enter								Did not enter
1980	New Caledonia
1996	—N/a[E]	Did not qualify								4th[F]	3	0	0	3	3	7	[36]
1998	Australia	5th[G]	4	0	0	4	3	23		[6]
2000	Tahiti	5th[H]	4	0	0	4	2	29		[37]
2002	New Zealand	5th	4	0	0	4	2	29		[38]
2004	Australia	5th[I]	4	0	0	4	1	34		[33]
2008	—N/a[E]	5th[J]	4	0	0	4	1	38		[34]
2012	Solomon Islands	3rd[K]	3	1	1	1	3	3		[35]
2016	Papua New Guinea	2nd[L]	3	2	0	1	6	4		[14]
2024	Fiji Vanuatu	Did not enter	Did not enter
Total			0	0	0	0	0	0			29	3	1	25	21	167	—

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Notes

Pacific Games

American Samoa first entered the South Pacific Games in 1983. This was the first time a team representing the territory had competed in association football and they recorded one win from their three games in the group stage by beating Wallis and Futuna 3–0 – the only time American Samoa have recorded a win in the competition – but that wasn't enough to progress to the next round.^[2] American Samoa would go onto enter the 1987 edition where they were again eliminated in the group stage, losing all four of their matches.^[39]

It would be another 20 years before they again entered the competition. The 2007 edition was the last known as the South Pacific Games before becoming the Pacific Games four years later and it was also part of the qualification process for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In their third appearance in the competition, American Samoa were again eliminated at the group stage, losing all four matches.^[34] The same fate befell American Samoa in the 2011 Pacific Games as they lost all five games to finish bottom of their group.^[40]

In 2015, the Pacific Games was an age-restricted tournament that doubled as the OFC Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament and no team representing American Samoa took part. Four years later, they were again eliminated at the group stage however, a 1–1 draw with Tuvalu ended a 32-year losing streak in the competition.^[41]

More information Pacific Games, Year ...

Pacific Games
Year	Host	Round	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Source
1963 to 1979		Did not enter
1983	Western Samoa	Group stage	3	1	0	2	6	6	[2]
1987	New Caledonia		4	0	0	4	1	42	[39]
1991 to 2003		Did not enter
2007[M]	Samoa	Group stage	4	0	0	4	1	38	[34]
2011	New Caledonia		5	0	0	5	0	26	[40]
2015	Papua New Guinea	Did not enter[N]
2019	Samoa	Group stage	5	0	1	4	2	36	[41]
2023	Solomon Islands		4	0	0	4	2	31
Total			25	1	1	23	12	179

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Notes

Head-to-head record

The following table shows the American Samoa national football team's all-time international record. The statistics are composed of FIFA World Cup, OFC Nations Cup, Polynesia Cup and Pacific Games matches, as well as international friendlies.

More information Pld, W ...

Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	WPCT
Australia	1	0	0	1	0	31	−31	0.00
Cook Islands	5	2	1	2	8	9	−1	40.00
Fiji	4	0	0	4	0	39	−39	0.00
Guam	2	0	0	2	0	8	−8	0.00
Northern Mariana Islands	1	0	0	1	0	4	−4	0.00
New Caledonia	4	0	0	4	0	33	−33	0.00
Papua New Guinea	3	0	0	3	0	37	−37	0.00
Samoa[a]	12	0	0	12	5	56	−51	0.00
Solomon Islands	4	0	0	4	1	40	−39	0.00
Tahiti	4	0	0	4	2	40	−38	0.00
Tonga	10	2	0	8	12	34	−22	20.00
Tuvalu	2	0	1	1	1	5	−4	0.00
U.S. Virgin Islands	1	0	0	1	2	5	−3	0.00
Vanuatu	4	0	0	4	1	39	−38	0.00
Wallis and Futuna	2	1	0	1	4	5	−1	50.00
Total	59	5	2	52	36	385	−349	8.47

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Performance by competition

Notes

Performance by venue