Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The American Samoa Football Federation (ASFF) is assembling a revitalized national women’s team ahead of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Women’s World Cup Qualifier, scheduled to kick off on November 28, 2025 in the Cook Islands.

According to ASFF Director of Referees Sione Mau, the squad will primarily feature US Nationals and players of American Samoan heritage based on the US mainland, complemented by a select group of locally based athletes who successfully advanced through trials.

Off-island trials were conducted during the first week of April, while local trials took place on 27 September. National team head coach Amanda Cromwell visited the Territory to evaluate over 25 aspiring players, assessing whether the local talent could meet the demands of international competition.

The final decision is anticipated within the next week or two, when a provisional squad of 35 players will be named. These contenders will then face off in a competitive selection phase, as the head coach closely assesses their performances to finalize the national team roster.

The team will then be in camp in the mainland in preparation for the qualifiers in the Cook Island on 28 November.

The growing trend of selecting off-island players to represent Pacific Island FIFA members in international competitions has significantly reshaped the soccer landscape across the region.

Historically, Melanesian nations such as Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu held sway in OFC competitions, consistently outperforming their regional counterparts. In contrast, Polynesian nations — where rugby has traditionally overshadowed soccer—have long struggled to rise above mediocrity. This disparity stems from a limited pool of skilled players and the absence of robust development programs to nurture emerging talent.

In recent years, Polynesian nations such as Samoa, Tonga, and the Cook Islands have begun actively recruiting off-island players to represent them in international competitions. This strategic shift has gradually loosened the long-standing grip Melanesian nations — like Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu — once held over FIFA-sanctioned tournaments in Oceania.

A similar transformation has unfolded in rugby league, where Australia and New Zealand historically dominated the international stage. According to National Rugby League (NRL) statistics, players of Pacific Island heritage made up less than 20% in the early 2000s. By 2020, that figure had surged to 45%, and by 2025, it stands at 48%, reflecting both demographic changes and deliberate recruitment efforts within Pacific communities.

The 2022 Rugby League World Cup marked a turning point high profile players with Pacific heritage embraced the opportunity to honor their roots on the international stage.

The impact was immediate and profound. A star-studded Samoa squad stunned the rugby league world by defeating England for the first time in the semifinals, then etched their names into history by advancing to the World Cup final against Australia, a milestone that redefined the competitive landscape and elevated Pacific pride across the sporting world.

In soccer, the first team to adopt this strategy was Tahiti, which became the first Polynesian nation to win the senior men’s championship in the 2012 OFC Nations Cup, breaking the dominance of Melanesian teams like Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Tahiti’s squad included several players based in France and other overseas territories, reflecting a shift toward recruiting off-island talent.

Polynesian teams such as Samoa, Tonga, and American Samoa began recording competitive wins against Melanesian nations like Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu in OFC tournaments starting around 2024, particularly in youth and World Cup qualifying matches.

On April 30, 2025, American Samoa’s U-16 women’s team made history by defeating Papua New Guinea 1–0 in the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship Qualifiers. The victory not only marked a breakthrough on the pitch — it was the first time American Samoa advanced from a qualifying tournament to compete in a FIFA-sanctioned OFC championship.

Meanwhile, during the main tournament hosted in Samoa, the host nation’s U-16 team — composed almost entirely of diaspora players from Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, with just one local athlete — delivered a commanding performance.

Samoa defeated New Caledonia in the group stage, then eliminated the Solomon Islands in the semifinals to earn a place in the final against a formidable New Zealand side. Though New Zealand ultimately claimed the title, Samoa’s run to the final was a landmark achievement, signaling the rise of Polynesian football in Oceania.

In a recent interview, ASFF Women’s Development Officer and national coach Diane Justus voiced strong support for the evolving approach to player recruitment across Oceania, emphasizing its role in leveling the playing field and raising the overall standard of the game.

"For too long, regional soccer tournaments have been lopsided, with Melanesian teams dominating to the point where the excitement was fading," said Justus, who hails from the Solomon Islands. "Now, with Polynesian nations recruiting off-island talent, they’re challenging that dominance — and the skill level on display is simply thrilling to watch."

Justus praised the strategic inclusion of diaspora players from Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, noting that their presence not only enhances technical ability but also injects fresh energy into the competition. She believes this shift is vital for the growth of women’s football in the Pacific and for inspiring young players across island communities.

Coach Diane Justus emphasized that the challenges of player retention are especially pronounced within the American Samoa national team, which is typically composed of high school students.

The last time American Samoa’s women’s national team—composed primarily of local high school players—competed was during the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Coach Diane Justus noted that the team’s composition often reflects the realities of life in American Samoa, where many players leave after high school to pursue higher education, employment, or military service on the U.S. mainland. This constant cycle of departure makes it difficult to maintain continuity, forcing coaches to rebuild the squad with each new generation.

“We’re constantly rebuilding,” Justus noted. “Every cycle, the ASFF coaching staff is tasked with developing a new batch of players from scratch.”

The inclusion of off-island players has helped bridge the gap, though their participation often depends on availability around school and work commitments. Among those who attended recent national team trials were:

• Makena Corcoran – San Diego Soccer Club

• Talalupe Levale – University of Minnesota Morris Women’s Soccer

• Ayana Kirisimasi – Goalkeeper for Fresno Pacific University Sunbirds

• Makena Siaki – University of Nevada, Las Vegas

• Mattyn Summers-Oviatt and Cassidy Drago – Brigham Young University

These athletes bring valuable experience and technical skill to the squad, helping elevate the level of play and inspire younger players on-island. Their involvement reflects a growing commitment to diaspora engagement and long-term development for women’s football in American Samoa.