Governing Bodies
IT’S 20 YEARS TODAY SINCE THE UNLIKELY WORLD CUP GOAL RECORD
A 31-0 score line in a top flight football such as a World Cup qualifying match looks very unlikely. But it happened on this day 20 years ago! Australia, certainly not among the world football super powers beat American Samoa 31-0 which has since turned an unlikely mark that will surely never be surpassed.
This is the back-story of how the record books were torn to shreds in Coffs Harbour. About six hours north of Sydney, the area’s beachside ambience is more renowned as a summer holiday spot.
But in football circles, the town’s name has become more synonymous with a barely believable 90 minutes.
Newly-minted international striker Archie Thompson scored an unthinkable 13 goals, another world record that seems certain never to be erased.
Unbelievably, Thompson posted a new individual FIFA World Cup scoring record moments before the break to leave the half-time score at 16-0.
It was, of course, the stuff of nightmares for under-siege goalkeeper Nicky Salapu. Also with cause to feel hard done by was David Zdrilic, whose haul of eight goals would have been enough to set a world record in any other previous match since international football began in 1872.
The scoreboard even presented the final score as 32-0, adding insult to American Samoan injury, until someone did a recount.
How and why the record score line happened
Eligibility rules changed shortly before the tournament, meaning the vast majority of American Samoa’s squad was missing.
Work, and even school, commitments ensured further unavailability. Their final squad even included a couple of 15-year-olds who reportedly had not played a 90-minute match before the tournament.
Conversely, Australia’s golden generation was just beginning to bloom. The majority of the squad were based at big clubs in Europe, others were stars of the nation’s former National Soccer League.
The likes of Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell were omitted from the tournament squad. Left on the bench were the likes of 2006 World Cup goalscorer John Aloisi and then-Socceroos all-time leading scorer Damian Mori.
Nevertheless, rarely has there been such disparity between two teams lining up for an international.
Australia were looking to exorcise some demons. Four years earlier, the national team’s seemingly cursed quadrennial push to reach a first World Cup since 1974 reached a new nadir as their unbeaten campaign ended with a hugely unlucky away-goals elimination against IR Iran after leading 2-0.
At the other end of the spectrum, American Samoa had played their first-ever World Cup qualifier just four days earlier, recording a crushing 13-0 loss against Fiji. Boasting less than 50,000 inhabitants, the tiny, unincorporated US island territory sits at the remote eastern end of Oceania.
Off the field, the relative ambitions and resources of the respective teams spoke volumes. Australia’s resort-style hotel boasted a nine-hole golf course and its own playing fields.
American Samoa, on the other hand, were holed up three-to-a-room in an old motel on the noisy main highway that links Sydney and Brisbane.
Australia 31-0 American Samoa – Scorers
Goals: Con Boutsianis 10′, 50′, 84′, Archie Thompson 12′, 23′, 27′, 29′, 32′, 37′, 42′, 45′, 56′, 60′, 65′, 85′, 88′, David Zdrilic 13′, 21′, 25′, 33′, 58′, 66′, 78′, 89′, Aurelio Vidmar 14′, 80′, Tony Popovic 17′, 19′, Simon Colosimo 51′, 81′, Fausto De Amicis 55′
What they said
“The American Samoa team were absolute beginners. In some ways it just did not seem the right thing to do, to walk all over them the way we did, but we had to at least show them the respect of trying our best.”
Archie Thompson
“It was really hard for me to deal with. But I thought if I don’t get back on the field I would never get a win for American Samoa. I had been suffering for a long time to get that win. To be part of this has been a big deal for me.”
Nicky Salapu after helping American Samoa to their first international win.
What next
American Samoa, with Salapu in goal, claimed a well-documented maiden victory in 2011 – subsequently detailed in a highly-regarded documentary – having gone into those Brazil 2014 qualifiers with a record of played 30, lost 30, scored 12 goals and conceded 229.
Four years later, they doubled that tally and only goal difference denied the Polynesians an unthinkable spot in the next round.
Just a few months after defeating world champions France at the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup, Australia again saw their World Cup ambitions end with a final-hurdle defeat, going down 3-1 to Uruguay in an intercontinental play-off. But they turned the tables against the South Americans four years later to reach Germany 2006, and have now qualified for four successive World Cups.
Other World Cup Goal Records
- IR Iran set a new World Cup record with a 19-0 win over Guam in 2000. Australia eclipsed that mark with a 22-0 scoreline against Tonga two days before facing American Samoa.
- The most goals scored in a World Cup qualifier was initially set by Australia’s Gary Cole in 1981 against Fiji, and then equalled by IR Iran’s Karim Bagheri against Maldives in 1997.
-Fifa
The National Institute for Sports (NIS) has announced plans to establish its South-West Zonal Office in Ogun State, citing the state’s outstanding commitment to sports development and youth empowerment.
The Director General of the institute, Philip Shaibu, made this known during a courtesy visit to Governor Dapo Abiodun at the Governor’s Office in Abeokuta, where both parties held what was described as a highly productive discussion on strengthening sports education and development across the region.
Shaibu disclosed that the decision was formalised in a letter to the governor dated October 10, 2025, in which the NIS outlined its ongoing institutional reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
These reforms, he said, include the digitisation of training systems, expansion of coaching certification programmes, and the establishment of sports science laboratories to enhance research and professional development.
He added that Ogun State’s strategic investment in youth and sports infrastructure, coupled with its historical role as the “Gateway to Nigeria,” made it a natural choice for hosting the zonal office that will serve the entire South-West region.
In his response, Governor Abiodun expressed delight at the development, describing it as a significant milestone in his administration’s efforts to promote grassroots sports and talent discovery.
“This decision aligns perfectly with our vision to make Ogun State a leading hub for sports excellence,” the governor said. “We are fully committed to supporting the National Institute for Sports in ensuring the successful take-off and operation of this zonal office.”
Governor Abiodun also reaffirmed this commitment in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, noting that the siting of the NIS Zonal Office in Abeokuta underscores Ogun State’s strategic importance in sports development and youth empowerment within the South-West geo-political zone.
He added: “We assure the NIS leadership of our government’s full cooperation and support toward the successful take-off of this zonal office. This initiative aligns with our vision to promote grassroots sports, talent development, and youth engagement. We look forward to a strong and enduring partnership with the National Institute for Sports as we continue to make Ogun State a true Gateway to sporting excellence and opportunities.”
The establishment of the NIS South-West Zonal Office is expected to further decentralise sports administration, enhance capacity building for coaches and athletes, and strengthen collaboration between the institute and state governments in the region.
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The FIFA Museum in Zurich has launched a new special exhibition titled Innovation in Action: Football Technologies on and off the Pitch, offering visitors an unprecedented glimpse into how innovation is transforming the world’s most popular sport.
Opened on Monday, October 1, 2025, the immersive showcase was developed in collaboration with the FIFA Innovation Team and other departments within world football’s governing body. It explores how cutting-edge technology supports players, referees, and fans—enhancing performance, ensuring fairness, and enriching the overall football experience—while preserving the game’s passion and human spirit.
“What makes this exhibition truly special is that we can give visitors a never-before-seen behind-the-scenes look that allows them to step inside football innovation, experiencing it hands-on rather than just reading about it,” said Marco Fazzone, Managing Director of the FIFA Museum. “We offer a glimpse at technologies and tools that fans don’t normally get to experience up close, while also showing how innovation has evolved over almost 100 years of FIFA World Cup history.”
Organised around five themed sections — Broadcasting & Media, Intelligent Data, Refereeing & Fair Play, Staging the Game, and the Innovation Lab — the exhibition blends rare artefacts with interactive displays. Visitors can relive football’s broadcast evolution, from the black-and-white footage of the 1954 World Cup to today’s ultra-slow motion 4K replays, and even step into a virtual referee booth to experience the pressures of officiating in real time.
Among the standout features is the FIFA Player App, which allows fans to explore Chelsea star Cole Palmer’s performance statistics from the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Final, illustrating how data helps players refine their craft.
Another exhibit showcases Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan’s water bottle from the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 — marked with opponents’ penalty data — revealing how analytics influence critical moments.
Visitors can also view a referee body camera used at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, giving a fresh perspective on decision-making from the official’s point of view.
The exhibition invites visitors to engage directly with football technology. They can test their reflexes and judgment as referees, operate goal-line technology systems, or assume the role of a broadcast director managing live match feeds. Data enthusiasts can analyse player movements, while aspiring innovators can design their own football tech concepts inside the Innovation Lab.
Innovation in Action runs until 31 March 2026 at the FIFA Museum in Zurich. Entry is included with a standard museum ticket.
With its rich mix of storytelling, interactivity, and history, the exhibition promises to be a must-see experience for anyone passionate about the future of the beautiful game.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that football could not solve conflicts, but it must carry a message of peace and unity as Israel’s military operation in Gaza and other global tensions fuel calls for the sport to take a stand.
“At FIFA, we are committed to using the power of football to bring people together in a divided world,” Infantino told a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich where he met Palestinian federation president Jibril Rajoub.
“Our thoughts are with those who are suffering in the many conflicts that exist around the world today, and the most important message that football can convey right now is one of peace and unity.”
Infantino said world football’s governing body could not solve geopolitical crises, but “it can and must promote football around the world by harnessing its unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values.”
“I met Palestinian Football Association (PFA) President Jibril Rajoub today at the Home of FIFA in Zurich to discuss the ongoing situation in the Middle East region,” Infantino later wrote on Instagram.
“I commend President Rajoub and the PFA for their resilience at this time and I reiterated to him FIFA’s commitment to using the power of football to bring people together in a divided world.”
FIFA has faced repeated calls to act over the war in Gaza, with Palestinian officials pressing for Israel to be suspended from international football.
The issue has been under review by FIFA for months, but no decision has been taken. Infantino has consistently said such matters require consensus with the confederations and must be handled with caution.
The comments came a day after FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani noted that any decision over Israel’s participation in European competitions, including World Cup qualifiers, was a matter for UEFA to decide, effectively putting the onus on the European body.
“First and foremost, it (Israel) is a member of UEFA, no different than I have to deal with a member of my region for whatever reason… They have to deal with that,” Montagliani told reporters at the Leaders sports business conference on Wednesday.
Israel are third in Europe’s Group I of the qualifying stage for next year’s World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Amnesty International on Wednesday sent a letter to FIFA and UEFA calling on them to suspend the Israel Football Association.
-Reuters
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