Tonga lost to Cook Islands 0-3, in the first of three games in the first stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Qualifiers, which began at Loto Tonga in Veitongo today, Monday, 31 August.

Four Pacific Islands Tonga, American Samoa, Cook Islands and Samoa have started their bid early for the World Cup by taking part in this tournament, which offers the winner a spot in stage 2, the OFC Nations Cup. They will join the seven remaining Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Member Associations.

The winner of the OFC Nations Cup will qualify for the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017, while the top three teams in each will progress to 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Qualifiers Stage 3.

For stage 3, the teams will be placed into two groups of three, which competes, in a round robin, home-and-away competition. The winners of each group will advance to a single home-and-away series.

The regional winner earns the right to face the fifth-placed CONMEBOL side in the Intercontinental Play-off in November 2017, which for one of the two sides will equal a place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Meanwhile, the second game today was between Samoa and American Samoa.

On 2 September Cook Islands will play against Samoa, while Tonga will play against American Samoa. 

The tournament ends on 4 September with Tonga meeting Samoa, while American Samoa meet Cook Islands.