Tahiti national football team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Tahiti women's national football team.

The Tahiti men's national football team (French: Équipe de football de Tahiti) represents French Polynesia^[4][5][6][7] and is controlled by the Fédération Tahitienne de Football. The team consists of a selection of players from French Polynesia, not just Tahiti, and has competed in the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) since 1990.

Tahiti

Nickname(s)	Toa Aito (Les guerriers de fer; Iron Warriors)
Association	Tahitian Football Federation
Confederation	OFC (Oceania)
Head coach	Samuel Garcia^[1]
Captain	Teaonui Tehau
Most caps	Teaonui Tehau (35)
Top scorer	Teaonui Tehau (24)
Home stadium	Stade Pater Te Hono Nui
FIFA code	TAH
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	164 2 (21 September 2023)^[2]
Highest	111 (August 2002)
Lowest	196 (April–May 2016)
First international
French Polynesia 2–2 New Zealand  (Papeete, Tahiti; 21 September 1952)
Biggest win
Tahiti 30–0 Cook Islands  (Papeete, Tahiti; 2 September 1971)
Biggest defeat
New Zealand 10–0 Tahiti  (Adelaide, Australia; 4 June 2004)  Spain 10–0 Tahiti  (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; 20 June 2013)
OFC Nations Cup
Appearances	9 (first in 1973)
Best result	Champions, 2012
FIFA Confederations Cup
Appearances	1 (first in 2013)
Best result	Group stage, 2013

Tahiti is traditionally one of the stronger footballing nations of the Pacific Islands, with the second-best record at the football section of the South Pacific Games, with five victories. They were runners-up in the first three instalments of the Nations Cup (1973, 1980 and 1996). The nation went through a period of less success, but showed promise when it qualified for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt. This success was followed up with the title of 2012 OFC Nations Cup, becoming the first team other than Australia and New Zealand to win the competition.

History

Tahiti played its first full match on 21 September 1952, at home against New Zealand, drawing 2–2. Seven days later, the two teams played again and New Zealand won 5–3. On 30 September, they played each other for a third time, and Tahiti gained its first victory, by 2–0. However, it is unknown whether this was a full international match.^[8]

In September 1953, Tahiti played three matches in New Caledonia against its national side, losing the first 5–0 and the later two 4–1. They then travelled to the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu) and beat its national side 4–2 twice. In 1969, touring World Champions England beat Tahiti 4–1 in an exhibition match.^[9] In 1989, under the leadership of Napoleon Spitz, the official federation was created.

Tahiti entered its first World Cup qualification with the aim of reaching the 1994 World Cup, held in the United States. They were placed in Group A alongside Australia and the Solomon Islands, and played their first match away to the Solomon Islands in Honiara on 11 July 1992. Eric Etaeta equalised for Tahiti to make it 1–1 in the 76th minute. On 11 September, Tahiti hosted Australia in Papeete and lost 3–0. The next fixture was again against Australia, and resulted in a 2–0 away defeat in Brisbane on 20 September. On 9 October, in Papeete, Tahiti defeated the Solomon Islands 4–2. Tahiti's first goal was scored as an 8th-minute penalty from Reynald Temarii, a politician and current president of the OFC. However, Tahiti finished second to Australia in the group and did not advance.

2012 OFC Nations Cup

In 2012, the new edition of the tournament occurred in the Solomon Islands with the host country, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Tahiti, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Samoa (winner of the qualifying tournament) playing the competition. Tahiti defeated New Caledonia in the final in Lawson Tama Stadium 1–0 with a goal by Steevy Chong Hue and became the first team other than Australia (no longer part of OFC) and New Zealand to be crowned Oceania champions.^[10]

2013 Confederations Cup

By winning the 2012 OFC Nations Cup, Tahiti qualified for the 2013 Confederations Cup, held in Brazil, for the first time.^[11] Tahiti is the first – and, following the tournament's abolition, only – team which participated in the Confederations Cup but has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup. On 17 June 2013, Tahiti lost 1–6 to Nigeria in the 2013 Confederations Cup in Belo Horizonte, with Jonathan Tehau scoring the goal for Tahiti in the second half with a header from a corner; Tahiti fans still rejoiced in the prospect of scoring a goal in an international tournament.^[12] On 20 June, Tahiti lost 10–0 against Spain to equal their largest ever loss against New Zealand nine years earlier.^[13] On 23 June 2013, Tahiti was beaten 8–0 by Uruguay.^[14]

In all, Tahiti conceded 24 goals and scored 1 to end with a goal differential of −23, the worst of any national team in any major competition.^[15] However, even with the poor record and heavy defeats, Tahiti's underdog qualities gathered significant respect from the people of Brazil, who always cheered for them in every match.^[16] Spanish coach Vicente del Bosque, and strikers Fernando Torres and David Villa – who scored four and three goals respectively against Tahiti – complimented the team's fair play.^[17]

2022 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC)

After two matches canceled due to COVID-19, the Tahitians have finally returned to the qualifying tournament for the World Cup in Qatar. Unfortunately, the Toa Aito couldn't beat Solomon Islands and finished second in Group A. Solomon Islands led in the score in the 20th minute, the Tahitians came back into the match thanks to Alvin Tehau's equalizer in the 26th minute. Solomon Islands then made the difference on the return from the half on a lightning counterattack before taking the lead more widely at the end of the match 1–3.^[18]

Team image

Kit sponsorship

Kit lier	Period
Adidas	2000–2003
Lotto	2004–2012
Nike	2013–2021
Macron	2022–

Results and fixtures

See also: Tahiti national football team results (2000–present)

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2023

Tahiti   v   New Caledonia

20 March Friendly	Tahiti	0–2	New Caledonia	Pirae, Tahiti
20:00 UTC−10		Report	Makalu   69' Rokuad   88'	Stadium: Stade Pater Te Hono Nui

Tahiti   v   New Caledonia

23 March Friendly	Tahiti	2–1	New Caledonia	Pirae, Tahiti
	Tinirauarii   30', 76'		Makalu   33'	Stadium: Stade Pater Te Hono Nui

Tahiti   v   Cook Islands

28 August Friendly	Tahiti	9–1	Cook Islands	Pirae, Tahiti
20:00 UTC−10	Tau   24' Kaspard   29' Tehau   37' Horoi   42' Paama   52' Keck   55', 87', 89' Gitton   76'	Report	Enoka   74'	Stadium: Stade Pater Te Hono Nui

Cook Islands   v   Tahiti

31 August Friendly	Cook Islands	0–3	Tahiti	Pirae, Tahiti
20:00 UTC−10		Report	Keck   24' Kaspard   32' Morgant   45+1'	Stadium: Stade Pater Te Hono Nui

Coaching history

•   Freddy Vernaudon (1973)
•   Richard Vansam (1980)
•   François Ferez (1992)
•   Bernard Vahirua (1992)
•    Umberto Mottini (1995–1996)
•   Gerard Kautai (1996)
•   Richard Vansam (1997)
•   Alain Rousseau (1998)
•   Leon Gardikiotis (1999–2000)
•    Patrick Jacquemet (2001–2003)
•   Gerard Kautai (2004–2007)
•   Eddy Etaeta (2010–2015)
•   Ludovic Graugnard (2015–2018)
•   Naea Bennett (2018-2019)
•   Samuel Garcia (2019–present)

Players

Current squad

Players were called up for the friendly matches.^[19]

• Match date: 20 and 23 March 2023
• Opposition:   New Caledonia
• Caps and goals correct as of: 23 March 2022, after the match against   New Caledonia.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	1GK	Anapa Debruyne	(2003-09-22) 22 September 2003 (age 20)	0	0	Dragon
	1GK	Moana Pito	(2000-01-25) 25 January 2000 (age 23)	0	0	Tefana
	1GK	Teave Teamotuaitau	(1992-04-17) 17 April 1992 (age 31)	9	0	Vénus
	2DF	Kévin Barbe	(1997-09-02) 2 September 1997 (age 26)	8	1	Vénus
	2DF	Matatia Paama	(1992-10-03) 3 October 1992 (age 31)	11	0	Pirae
	2DF	Hennel Tehaamoana	(1999-04-12) 12 April 1999 (age 24)	0	0	Free agent
	2DF	Tevaihau Tehuritaua	(1990-03-04) 4 March 1990 (age 33)	0	0	Dragon
	2DF	Tevaitini Teumere	(2003-04-02) 2 April 2003 (age 20)	0	0	Pirae
	2DF	Taumihau Tiatia	(1991-07-25) 25 July 1991 (age 32)	5	0	Pirae
	2DF	Teiki Vaea	(1995-09-01) 1 September 1995 (age 28)	0	0	Dragon
	3MF	Heimano Bourebare	(1989-05-15) 15 May 1989 (age 34)	28	1	Pirae
	3MF	Terai Bremond	(2001-05-16) 16 May 2001 (age 22)	2	0	Vénus
	3MF	Louis Gitton	(2002-04-02) 2 April 2002 (age 21)	1	0	Pirae
	3MF	Tehauarii Holozet	(2002-06-03) 3 June 2002 (age 21)	0	0	Tefana
	3MF	Ariiura Labaste	(2002-07-26) 26 July 2002 (age 21)	0	0	Pirae
	3MF	Kavai'ei Morgant	(2001-10-08) 8 October 2001 (age 22)	0	0	Trélissac
	3MF	Frank Papaura	(2001-11-28) 28 November 2001 (age 21)	6	2	Free agent
	4FW	Benoit Mathon	(1989-04-05) 5 April 1989 (age 34)	0	0	Pirae
	4FW	Manuarii Shan	(2004-02-23) 23 February 2004 (age 19)	0	0	Vénus
	4FW	Sandro Tau	(1997-04-30) 30 April 1997 (age 26)	4	1	Pirae
	4FW	Roonui Tehau	(1999-12-15) 15 December 1999 (age 23)	2	0	Vénus
	4FW	Teaonui Tehau	(1992-09-01) 1 September 1992 (age 31)	33	24	Vénus
	4FW	Roonui Tinirauarii	(1997-03-14) 14 March 1997 (age 26)	1	0	Pirae

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up within the last twelve months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up

Player records

As of 24 March 2023^[20]

Players in bold are still active with Tahiti.

Most capped players Rank Name Caps Goals Career 1 Teaonui Tehau 35 24 2011–present 2 Angelo Tchen 34 1 2001–2018 3 Heimano Bourebare 30 1 2011–present 4 Steevy Chong Hue 28 8 2010–2016 Xavier Samin 0 2001–2013 6 Alvin Tehau 26 9 2010–present 7 Jonathan Tehau 25 5 2011–2017 Vincent Simon 1 2004–2016 9 Felix Tagawa 22 14 2000–2004 10 Stanley Atani 21 5 2010–2019

Top goalscorers Rank Name Goals Caps Ratio Career 1 Teaonui Tehau 24 35 0.69 2011–present 2 Felix Tagawa 14 22 0.64 2000–2004 3 Naea Bennett 12 16 0.75 1996–2010 4 Alvin Tehau 9 26 0.35 2010–present 5 Steevy Chong Hue 8 28 0.29 2010–2016 6 Lorenzo Tehau 7 20 0.35 2010–2017 7 Tamatoa Tetauira 5 11 0.45 2016–present Hiro Poroiae 5 12 0.42 2007–2013 Stanley Atani 5 21 0.24 2010–2019 Jonathan Tehau 5 25 0.2 2011–2017

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record										FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930 to 1954	did not exist									did not exist
1958 to 1990	did not enter									did not enter
1994	did not qualify									4	1	1	2	5	8
1998										4	0	1	3	2	12
2002										4	3	0	1	14	6
2006										9	3	3	3	7	25
2010										4	1	1	2	2	6
2014										9	4	0	5	20	17
2018										7	3	2	2	14	7
2022										2	0	0	2	1	4
2026	to be determined									to be determined
Total		0/22								43	15	8	20	65	85

FIFA Confederations Cup

FIFA Confederations Cup record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1992 to 1995	No OFC representative invited
1997 to 2009	did not qualify
2013	Group stage	8th	3	0	0	3	1	24
2017	did not qualify
Total	Group stage	1/10	3	0	0	3	1	24

OFC Nations Cup

Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup record										Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1973	Runners-up	2nd	5	2	2	1	7	4		No qualification
1980	Runners-up	2nd	4	3	0	1	23	9
1996	Runners-up	2nd	4	2	0	2	3	12		3	3	0	0	10	1
1998	Fourth place	4th	4	1	0	3	8	10		4	4	0	0	27	1
2000	Group stage	5th	2	0	0	2	2	5		Qualified as host
2002	Third place	3rd	5	3	0	2	8	9		Qualified automatically
2004	Group stage	5th	5	1	1	3	2	24		4	2	2	0	5	1
2008	Did not qualify									4	1	1	2	2	6
2012	Champions	1st	5	5	0	0	20	5		Qualified automatically
2016	Group stage	5th	3	1	2	0	7	3
2024	To be determined									To be determined
Total	1 Title	9/10	37	18	5	14	80	81		15	10	3	2	44	9

Pacific Games Pacific Games record Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA   1963 Third place 3rd 2 1 0 1 19 2   1966 Champions 1st 4 4 0 0 14 3   1969 Runners-up 2nd 5 3 1 1 19 7   1971 Third place 3rd 4 2 1 1 41 5   1975 Champions 1st 5 4 0 1 12 6   1979 Champions 1st 5 5 0 0 33 2   1983 Champions 1st 5 5 0 0 25 2   1987 Runners-up 2nd 5 3 1 1 9 4   1991 Group stage 6th 3 1 0 2 15 5   1995 Champions 1st 6 6 0 0 35 2   2003 Fourth place 4th 6 3 0 3 25 7   2007 Group stage 6th 4 1 1 2 2 6   2011 Third place 3rd 6 3 1 2 28 9   2015 Runners-up 2nd 5 3 1 1 34 4   2019 Group Stage 5th 5 3 0 2 19 6 Total 5 Titles 15/15 70 47 6 17 330 70

Polynesia Cup Polynesia Cup record Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA   1994 Champions 1st 3 3 0 0 10 1   1998 Champions 1st 4 4 0 0 27 1   2000 Champions 1st 4 4 0 0 30 2 Total 3 Titles 3/3 11 11 0 0 67 4 Coupe de l'Outre-Mer Coupe de l'Outre-Mer record Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA   2008 Group stage 7th 3 0 0 3 0 3   2010 Group stage 6th 3 0 2 1 3 6   2012 Sixth place 6th 4 2 0 2 6 7 Total 0 Titles 3/3 10 2 2 6 9 16

Head-to-head record

Main article: Tahiti national football team records and statistics

Honours

• OFC Nations Cup
  •   Champions (1): 2012
  •   Runner-up (3): 1973, 1980, 1996
  •   Third place (1): 2002
• Pacific Games
  •   Champions (5): 1966, 1975, 1979, 1983, 1995

See also

•  Association football portal

• Tahiti national rugby union team

Notes

References

1. "Sélection de Tahiti: Samuel Garcia est le nouvel entreineur". Fedération Tahitienne de Football. FTF. 21 May 2018. from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
2. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
3. Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 15 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
4. "Trophies in paradise". The Football Ramble. 2 October 2012. from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
5. "Tahiti ready for Confederations Cup". The Scotsman. 9 June 2013. from the original on 3 February 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
6. "IN THE LAND OF GIANTS – Tahiti set for Confederations Cup adventure". Football Republik. 14 June 2013. from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
7. "Tahiti national football team". Road To Brazil. Archived from the original on 5 July 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
8. "Tahiti International Matches". Rsssf.com. from the original on 9 August 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
9. "England's matches: unofficial 1946 onwards". England Football Online. from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
10. . FIFA.com. FIFA. 10 June 2012. Archived from the original on 15 June 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
11. . FIFA.com. FIFA. 14 March 2013. Archived from the original on 17 March 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
12. "Nigeria 6−1 Tahiti". BBC Sport. BBC. 17 June 2013. from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
13. "Spain 10−0 Tahiti". BBC Sport. BBC. 20 June 2013. from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
14. "Uruguay 8−0 Tahiti". BBC Sport. BBC. 23 June 2013. from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
15. . FIFA.com. FIFA. 1 July 2013. Archived from the original on 22 September 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
16. "Técnico confirma 'carisma' do Taiti e cumprimenta jornalistas na despedida". UOL Esporte (in Portuguese). 23 June 2013. from the original on 25 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
17. "Nada de pancadaria: 'fair play' do Taiti em goleada arranca elogios da Fúria". Globo Esporte (in Portuguese). 21 June 2013. from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
18. "Qatar 2022 : Tahiti s'incline 3-1 face à Salomon". TNTV News. TNTV. 24 March 2022. from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
19. "Convocation des TOA AITO". Fédération tahitienne de football. 14 March 2023. from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
20. "Tahiti". National Football Teams.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tahiti national football team.

• Official Web Site
• Tahiti at OFC
• Tahiti at FIFA