Tahiti played its first full match on 21 September 1952, at home againstNew 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 inNew Caledonia againstits national side, losing the first 5–0 and the later two 4–1. They then travelled to the New Hebrides (nowVanuatu) and beatits national side 4–2 twice. In 1969, touring World ChampionsEngland 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 the1994 World Cup, held in the United States. They were placed inGroup A alongsideAustralia and theSolomon Islands, and played their first match away to the Solomon Islands inHoniara on 11 July 1992. Eric Etaeta equalised for Tahiti to make it 1–1 in the 76th minute. On 11 September, Tahiti hosted Australia inPapeete and lost 3–0. The next fixture was again against Australia, and resulted in a 2–0 away defeat inBrisbane 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.
In2012, 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 andSamoa (winner of thequalifying tournament) playing the competition. Tahiti defeated New Caledonia inthe final inLawson Tama Stadium 1–0 with a goal bySteevy Chong Hue and became the first team other than Australia (no longer part of OFC) and New Zealand to be crowned Oceania champions.[10]
By winning the 2012 OFC Nations Cup, Tahiti qualified for the2013 Confederations Cup, held in Brazil, for the first time.[11] On 17 June 2013, Tahiti lost 1–6 toNigeria in the 2013 Confederations Cup inBelo Horizonte, withJonathan 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 againstSpain to equal their largest ever lost againstNew Zealand nine years earlier.[13] On 23 June 2013, Tahiti was beaten 8–0 byUruguay.[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'sunderdog qualities gathered significant respect from the people of Brazil, who always cheered for them in every match.[16] Spanish coachVicente del Bosque, and strikersFernando Torres andDavid Villa – who scored four and three goals respectively against Tahiti – complimented the team's fair play.[17]
After two matches were cancelled due toCOVID-19, the Tahitians returned to thequalifying tournament for the World Cup in Qatar. The Toa Aito lost toSolomon Islands and finished second in Group A. Solomon Islands led in the score in the 20th minute, the Tahitians equalised the score whenAlvin Tehau scored 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]
A historical sporting rivalry exists between the two French Pacific overseas collectivities, Tahiti andNew Caledonia. They compete regularly in regional and, since 2006, international competitions. In 2012, Tahiti led the number of titles won (1OFC Nations Cup, 5 gold medals at theSouth Pacific Games, 2 at the South Pacific mini-games, against 6 gold at the South Pacific Games for New Caledonia). As of their last match in 2018, out of the 62 matches played since 1953, the New Caledonia has 28 wins against 25 for Tahiti and 9 draws.[citation needed]
1 Associate member of OFC - Not a member of FIFA 2 Not a member of OFC and consequently not a member of FIFA 3 Northern Mariana Islands was only an associate member of OFC between 1998 and 2009 - Not a member of FIFA 4 Although not geographically in Oceania, Chinese Taipei was a member of the OFC between 1976–1978 and 1982–1989 Although not geographically in OceaniaIsrael entered OFC World Cup qualification in1986 and1990 due to political reasons, though it never became a formal OFC member.
.svg)
1 (19 November 2025)[2]
French Polynesia 2–2New Zealand 
Spain 10–0Tahiti .jpg)
Adidas
Lotto
Nike
Vanuatu
v
Richard Van Sam (1980)
Leon Gardikiotis (1999–2000)
South Korea
Japan
South Africa
Brazil
Russia
Qatar
Canada
Mexico
Morocco
Portugal
Saudi Arabia
1996
2012
2016
1994
1963
1969
1975
