Winners of OFC Men's Champions League Qualifying for a second-year running, Cook Islands representatives Tupapa Maraerenga FC will carry the familiar underdog tag with them into a sixth group stage campaign.Â
Whilst they have made a habit of dominating the qualifying competition between the champion clubs of OFC's four lowest-ranked member associations in recent times, it has been 25 years since Tupapa Maraerenga FC last won a match at the tournament proper, a 2-1 win over PanSa FC in 2001. Â
“We all want results but sometimes it doesn't happen that way,†says Paavo Mustonen, a former player who will be part of the coaching staff in Fiji. “Playing the best in the region, you get to test yourself. I love that!â€Â
Tupapa Maraerenga FC topped the qualifying tournament in Apia in February with seven points from three games. But they've now been drawn into Group B at the OFC Men's Champions League 2026 with Rewa FC, Galaxy FC, and Lae City FC, where they'll start as firm outsiders to get a result.Â
“We've just got to take it one step at a time,†adds Mustonen. “It's going to be another step up but we're hoping we can pull off a few upsets. Mentally, we'll have to be switched on.â€Â
History Â
Only one club, Lupe Ole Soaga of Samoa, have won a match in the group stage of an OFC Men's Champions League since the qualifying tournament was re-introduced in its current format in 2013.Â
It's led to a familiar tale for Tupapa Maraerenga FC, who have scored just five goals and lost all 12 matches at the group stage since their last and only win at this stage of the competition in 2001. Last year they lost all three of their group stage games by heavy margins in Honiara. Â
The Coach: Jarves AperauÂ
Serving as a player/coach in Fiji, Jarves Aperau has played in one qualifying tournament before for Tupapa Maraerenga FC in 2020. He is also the head coach of the Cook Islands U-16 national team.Â
Should Aperau take to the field, he'll be supported by Paavo Mustonen on the touchline, who himself has played in three qualifying tournaments for Tupapa Maraerenga.Â
The Squad Â
Tupapa Maraerenga FC were able to call upon six loanee players for their qualifying tournament win six months ago, but only two remain, and both Daniel Bunch and Jordan Boon (the stars of that qualifying success), are not in the 22-man squad for their group stage campaign in Fiji. Â
Rather, two Tahitian players have been added to the squad for their OFC Men's Champions League squad, Honoura Maraetefau and Tauhiki Bohl, as well as Samoan defender Key Viliamu from Vaipuna SC.
Of the overall squad, 14 have played in the group stage of the competition before, including ten from last year's campaign in Honiara.
Player to Watch: Honoura Maraetefau Â
24-year-old Tahitian defender Honoura Maraetefau is a major boost for Tupapa Maraerenga's sixth group stage campaign and has five international caps for Tahiti, all of which came in 2023, and two at the 2023 Pacific Games.
He joins from Tahitian powerhouses AS Tefana, who finished top of the Ligue 1 regular season standings for 2026, and previously played for them in the two-legged Tahiti OFC Men's Champions League play-off for Tefana in 2024.
Match ScheduleÂ
Sunday 9th August, 12pm local time
Lae City FC v Tupapa Maraerenga FC
Churchill Park, Lautoka
Wednesday 12th August, 4pm local time
Rewa FC v Tupapa Maraerenga FC
4R Govind Park, Ba
Saturday 15th August, 12pm local time
Tupapa Maraerenga FC v Galaxy FC
4R Govind Park, Ba
How to Watch
OFC Men's Champions League 2026 will be taking place in Fiji from 9-22 August. You can watch the action LIVE and FREE on FIFA+ via DAZN HERE
