Cook Islands gain direct entry

Cook Islands has gained automatic entry into the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ OFC preliminary competition in March.

 

Cook Islands was scheduled to play Tonga in a qualifying match on 13 March but the Tongans have withdrawn from the qualifiers due to the devastating impacts of the large volcanic eruption and tsunami which struck on January 15.

 

 The two disasters caused widespread damage and impacted over 80 per cent of the population on the island.  

 

Cook Islands will join the Solomon Islands, Tahiti and Vanuatu in Group A. 

 

By Romeka Romena