It isn't a big deal, but Cook Islands were removed from the FIFA Rankings, where they were 190th, because they haven't played in four years. Under the old formula, points expired after four years, so teams who hadn't played in four years and teams who had lost all their games in four years could be listed with 0 points. Now that points don't expire, it's necessary to removed inactive teams. I don't know if a Men's National Team had been removed from the FIFA Rankings before.
I was about to say So do they get reinstated as soon as they play a game (e.g. in the OFC Nations Cup), or do they have to go through some formal process?
So where has the Cook Islands' FIFA funding gone to? The President of the local FA, Lee Harmon, is a crook. That might have something to do with it: http://www.cookislandsnews.com/item/72119-fifa-suspends-cifa-boss/72119-fifa-suspends-cifa-boss
If OFC keeps the same WCQ format, they will play in an opening group of four before the OFC Nations Cup. I'm quoting myself from the Oceania forum on March 9:
The Cook Island's NT and U23's haven't been participating in much, but all their women's teams having been playing a bit. Including hosting the recent U19 Womens OFC Championship and the WNT making the semis at the Pacific Games.
That would explain why they haven't lost their vote at the FIFA congress for failing to enter at least two FIFA competitions in the last four years.