Cook Islands vs Tonga Preview & Prediction | 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (OFC) | Preliminary Round
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The preliminary round of OFC qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup features the four lowest ranked sides with two semi-finals and a final during this September international break for the one remaining place in the two groups of four that make up the second round of qualification.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Thursday 5th September, 2024 - UK – 11:00pm / US ET – 6:00pm / US PT – 3:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – FIFA+ / US – FIFA+
COOK ISLANDS PREVIEW: FINDING THEIR LEVEL
Under the management of Jess Ibrom, Cook Islands are currently ranked 186th in the FIFA rankings. In their most recent competitive football, they finished second in the three-team qualifying group for the OFC Nations Cup back in March.
They suffered a 1-0 defeat to Samoa in their first game, albeit with a late winning goal and being down to ten men for over 40 minutes of the match, but then managed a slender defeat of their now upcoming opponents, Tonga, in that other game.
TONGA PREVIEW: ONE OF THE WEAKEST
In that game against Tonga, Tonga had a man sent off of their own but not until the 12th minute of second-half stoppage-time but Taylor Saghabi had put Cook Islands ahead in that game in the first-half.
Nicknamed ‘Tu’Ulalupe’, Tonga are ranked 200th in the world and are a weaker side than Cook Islands but, as shown in that OFC Nations Cup qualifying match, the margins are fine between the two sides.
COOK ISLANDS TEAM NEWS: IMPORTANCE OF HARMON
35-year-old attacking midfielder and captain Grover Harmon is Cook Islands’ most important player and he could prove to be the key piece of difference in quality between them and Tonga.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-1-2): Maro; Remuera, Rimene-Albrett, Ruaine-Prattley; Burrow, Wichman, Simiona, Moore; G. Harmon; L. Harmon, Saghabi
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
TONGA TEAM NEWS: FULLY FIT AND AVAILABLE
Tonga do have a fully fit and available squad for this crucial playoff semi-final clash with Cook Islands with midfielder Vai Lutu able to play despite his OFC Nations Cup red card.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Otukolo; Taufa, Rajani, Papani, Talia’uli; Naniseni, Tu’amoheloa; Tai, Fifita, Kite; Kendler
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
COOK ISLANDS VS TONGA PREDICTION
The previous encounter between these two sides earlier this year is expected to be a good indication for what the standard and type of game may well be in this one. There are higher stakes for this one with it being FIFA World Cup qualification and the likelihood is a naturally cagey affair with the obvious lack of quality meaning a low-scoring affair, albeit backing a similar outcome to the other month would also make sense.
COOK ISLANDS VS TONGA TIP: COOK ISLANDS TO WIN & UNDER 3.5 GOALS
