From picking up a football for the first time at age 10 to representing the Cook Islands on the international stage, Teretia Teinaki’s football journey has continued to evolve, and now she is taking her next steps as a leader in the women’s game.
The Cook Islands defender recently graduated from the FIFA Women in Football Leadership Programme, an initiative designed to empower women in football and equip them with the skills, knowledge and confidence to take on leadership roles within the sport.
Running from January to November 2026, the programme brought together women from across the global football community through a combination of workshops, mentoring and in-person learning. Teretia attended both components of the programme, travelling to Paris, France, before completing the second stage in Rabat, Morocco, during the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2026™.
The Morocco gathering brought together 50 participants, including graduates and new participants, alongside FIFA Chief Women’s Football Officer Dame Sarai Bareman, FIFA Council Member Dr Johanna Wood and representatives from FIFA’s Women’s Football division.
For Teretia, one of the most memorable aspects was hearing the experiences of women from around the world.
“To be honest, it’s probably just listening to all the stories and experiences that my peers have gone through to get to where they are now,” she said.
“Also, another memorable part was going to France and Morocco.”
Having represented the Cook Islands across every age group since her first U-17 call up in 2017, Teretia has earned 13 senior appearances in FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers and the OFC Women’s Nations Cup.
Her involvement in football extends beyond playing, with the qualified referee and coach recently coaching the Cook Islands U-14 Girls Academy squad at the McCartney Tournament in Taupō, New Zealand.
Now, she hopes to bring the lessons from the programme back home.
“One thing I want to bring to my football community is to never say no to any opportunity that rises. Take it on board, whether you think you’re not ready for it.”
Surrounded by women driving change across the game, Teretia said the experience left her inspired to contribute even more to football in the Cook Islands.
“I felt inspired by those around me and inspired to make the change, with the experiences and the knowledge that they shared, using some ideas and filtering it into our own.”
Photo Credit: OFC Media via Phototek & FIFA via Getty Images