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Tonga national football team facts for kids

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Tonga
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) Tu’Ulalupe
Association Tonga Football Association
Confederation OFC (Oceania)
Head coach Kilifi Uele
Captain Hemaloto Polovili
Most caps Kilifi Uele (26)
Top scorer Unaloto Feao (7)
Home stadium Teufaiva Sport Stadium
Tonga Football Association Stadium
FIFA code TGA
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 204 Steady (7 February 2019)
Highest 163 (October 1998–December 1998)
Lowest 211 (April 2018, July 2019)
Elo ranking
Current 233 Steady (3 March 2019)
Highest 180 (August 1979)
Lowest 235 (September 2019)
First international
 Tahiti 8–0 Tonga 
(Suva, Fiji; 29 August 1979)
Biggest win
 Tonga 7–0 Micronesia 
(Nausori, Fiji; 5 July 2003)
Biggest defeat
 Tonga 0–22 Australia 
(Coffs Harbour, Australia; 9 April 2001)

The Tonga men's national football team is a group of football players who represent Tonga in international matches. They are also known as the Tu’Ulalupe. The team is managed by the Tonga Football Association. This association is part of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC).

All About Football in Tonga

Tonga's Football Achievements

Tonga's biggest football success was winning the first ever Polynesia Cup in 1993. They beat teams from Samoa and the Cook Islands. While local players haven't yet joined big international leagues, a Tongan football leader, Joe Topou, became part of the FIFA Executive Committee in 2002.

In July 2023, Tonga was no longer ranked by FIFA. This happened because they had not played any official matches since July 2019.

Building Football in Tonga: The Goal Project

Tonga is working on a special project called the "Goal project." This project helps to build and improve football facilities. The second Goal project will make the national football academy and the association's main office even better. These buildings are in Atele, Tongatapu.

The goal is to make sure the Tonga Football Association has everything it needs. Local matches will be played at the football academy. The project will also help with things like offices, and needs for players, officials, and fans. The football school will become a "House of Football."

Team Look and Sponsors

Kit Sponsors

The team's uniform supplier has changed over the years.

Kit supplier Period
Italy Lotto 2007–2013
2013–2017
Italy Lotto 2018–

Recent Games and Results

You can find more details about Tonga's football matches here: Tonga national football team results.

The Tonga team played several games in 2023 and 2024. In the 2023 Pacific Games, they played against teams like New Caledonia, Cook Islands, Tuvalu, and American Samoa. In 2024, they played in the 2024 OFC Nations Cup qualification and 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches.

Team Coaches Over Time

Here is a list of the coaches who have led the Tonga national football team:

  • Tonga Tongia Nāpa'a (1979)
  • West Germany Rudi Gutendorf (1981)
  • Italy Umberto Mottini (1997–1998)
  • Australia Gary Phillips (2001)
  • Tonga Heinave Kaifa (2002–2003)
  • Serbia and Montenegro Milan Janković (2003–2005)
  • England Ben Perry (2005–2006)
  • Tonga Reece McLaughlin (2006–2007)
  • Australia Chris Williams (2011)
  • Tonga Timote Moleni (2015–2023)
  • Tonga Kilifi Uele (2024–present)

Players of the Team

Current Team Members

These players were chosen for the 2026 World Cup qualification games in September 2024.

The numbers for games played (caps) and goals are correct as of September 9, 2024, after the game against Samoa.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Semisi ‘Otukolo (1999-06-23) 23 June 1999 (age 26) 12 0 Tonga Veitongo
1GK Unaloto Pahulu (2006-10-18) 18 October 2006 (age 18) 0 0 Tonga Folaha

2DF Kulisitofa Kite (2003-01-17) 17 January 2003 (age 22) 7 1 Tonga Veitongo
2DF Petelo Naniseni (2003-12-20) 20 December 2003 (age 21) 7 0 Tonga Navutoka
2DF David-John Tuamoheloa (2004-06-30) 30 June 2004 (age 20) 6 0 New Zealand Manukau United
2DF Petelo Manu (2005-12-19) 19 December 2005 (age 19) 2 0 Tonga Marist
2DF Viliami Tikoipau (2001-01-07) 7 January 2001 (age 24) 2 1 New Zealand Manukau United
2DF Utu'one Lea'aetoa (2005-02-16) 16 February 2005 (age 20) 1 0 Tonga Veitongo

3MF Fineasi Palei (1989-05-20) 20 May 1989 (age 36) 12 0 Australia Launceston City
3MF Christopher Kefu (2003-02-11) 11 February 2003 (age 22) 6 1 Tonga Veitongo
3MF Ulafala Sonasi (2007-07-28) 28 July 2007 (age 17) 4 1 Tonga Marist
3MF Topuluka Tuamoheloa 3 0 New Zealand Lower Hutt_City
3MF Va'inga Teu (2006-02-12) 12 February 2006 (age 19) 2 0 Tonga Fahefa
3MF Tomasi Armitage (2005-05-26) 26 May 2005 (age 20) 1 0 New Zealand Waikato Unicol
3MF Hakeai Fonua (2008-09-01) 1 September 2008 (age 16) 0 0 Tonga Ahau
3MF Herick Funaki (2003-08-07) 7 August 2003 (age 21) 0 0 Tonga Longolongo
3MF Maikeli Lomu (1997-10-29) 29 October 1997 (age 27) 0 0 Tonga Veitongo

4FW Hemaloto Polovili (1997-07-27) 27 July 1997 (age 27) 17 4 Tonga Veitongo
4FW Lisiate Feke (2004-03-25) 25 March 2004 (age 21) 8 0 Tonga Veitongo
4FW Amoni Fifita (2004-06-26) 26 June 2004 (age 20) 8 3 Tonga Makave
4FW Vilikisepi Tai (2006-02-24) 24 February 2006 (age 19) 4 0 Tonga Fahefa
4FW Viliami Tukia (2001-01-07) 7 January 2001 (age 24) 2 0 Fiji Lami
4FW Ata Inia (2000-04-25) 25 April 2000 (age 25) 0 0 Thailand Chanthaburi

Players Called Up Recently

These players have been called to play for the team in the last year.


Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Nimilote Moala (2003-07-18) 18 July 2003 (age 21) 1 0 Tonga Veitongo v.  Cook Islands; 26 March 2024
GK Justin Toetu’u 1 0 Tonga Longolongo 2023 Pacific Games

DF Atieli 'Aho (2007-01-23) 23 January 2007 (age 18) 2 0 Tonga Nukuhetulu v.  Samoa; 9 September 2024 PRE
DF Laulea Taufa (1999-07-14) 14 July 1999 (age 25) 11 0 Tonga Veitongo v.  Cook Islands; 26 March 2024
DF Sione Talia'uli (2006-05-29) 29 May 2006 (age 19) 2 0 Tonga Fasi-Moe-Afi v.  Cook Islands; 26 March 2024
DF Sione Tu’ifangaloka (1999-04-24) 24 April 1999 (age 26) 6 0 Tonga Veitongo 2023 Pacific Games
DF Nicolas Vea (2003-10-31) 31 October 2003 (age 21) 4 0 Tonga Navutoka 2023 Pacific Games
DF Fakaofo Tonga (2004-10-29) 29 October 2004 (age 20) 3 0 Tonga Navutoka 2023 Pacific Games
DF Ta’u Tupou 1 0 Tonga Vava'u 2023 Pacific Games

MF Kamaliele Papani (1984-04-08) 8 April 1984 (age 41) 14 0 Tonga Veitongo v.  Cook Islands; 26 March 2024
MF Vai Lutu (1999-09-30) 30 September 1999 (age 25) 11 0 Tonga Veitongo v.  Cook Islands; 26 March 2024
MF Tuia Falepapalangi (2000-07-15) 15 July 2000 (age 24) 6 0 Tonga Veitongo v.  Cook Islands; 26 March 2024
MF Mohammed Rajani (1999-04-19) 19 April 1999 (age 26) 6 1 Australia Rockdale Ilinden v.  Cook Islands; 26 March 2024
MF Tau’aika Sonasi 5 0 Tonga Marist v.  Cook Islands; 26 March 2024
MF Petueli Tokotaha (2000-09-10) 10 September 2000 (age 24) 6 2 Tonga Navutoka 2023 Pacific Games
MF Petueli Tokotaha (2004-03-25) 25 March 2004 (age 21) 3 0 Tonga Longolongo 2023 Pacific Games
MF Taniela Vaka’uta 2 0 Tonga Folaha 2023 Pacific Games

DF Lafaela Moala (1982-07-22) 22 July 1982 (age 42) 0 0 Unattached v.  Samoa; 9 September 2024 PRE
FW Elias Kendler 4 1 Tonga Haʻamoko United Youth v.  Cook Islands; 26 March 2024
FW Feki Tufi (2000-04-11) 11 April 2000 (age 25) 2 0 Tonga Veitongo v.  Cook Islands; 26 March 2024
FW William Foliaki 0 0 Unknown v.  Cook Islands; 26 March 2024
FW Nuku ‘Esau 3 0 Tonga Navutoka 2023 Pacific Games

Player Records

Players in bold are still playing for Tonga.

Most Games Played

Rank Name Caps Goals Career
1 Kilifi Uele 26 3 1996–2017
2 Unaloto Fea'o 17 7 2001–2017
Hemaloto Polovili 17 4 2015–present
4 Lafaele Moala 16 1 2003–2015
5 Folio Moeaki 15 0 2004–2015
Sione Uhatahi 15 1 2007–2019
7 Siu'a Ma'amaloa 14 1 2001–2004
Kamaliele Papani 14 0 2003–present
9 Semisi 'Otukolo 12 0 2017–present
Fineasi Palei 12 0 2011–present

Top Goal Scorers

Rank Name Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Unaloto Fea'o 7 17 0.41 2001–2017
2 Lokoua Taufahema 5 7 0.71 2001–2011
3 Hemaloto Polovili 4 17 0.24 2015–present
4 Amone Suli 3 1 3 2002
Amoni Fifita 3 8 0.38 2023–present
Mark Uhatahi 3 11 0.27 2003–2015
Kilifi Uele 3 26 0.12 1996–2017
8 Ma'ake Uhatahi 2 2 1 2009
Petueli Tokotaha 2 6 0.33 2017–present
Pio Palu 2 7 0.29 2007–2011
Timote Moleni 2 8 0.25 1996–2001
Filisione Taufahema 2 8 0.25 2001–2002

Tournament History

FIFA World Cup

The FIFA World Cup is the biggest football tournament in the world.

FIFA World Cup Qualification
Year Host Result Position Pld W D* L F A Pld W D L F A
1930 to 1990 Not member of FIFA Not member of FIFA
1994  United States Did not enter Did not enter
1998  France Did not qualify 4 2 0 2 3 13
2002  South Korea
 Japan
4 2 0 2 7 30
2006  Germany 4 1 0 3 2 17
2010  South Africa 4 1 0 3 6 10
2014  Brazil 3 1 1 1 4 4
2018  Russia 3 0 0 3 1 8
2022  Qatar Withdrew Withdrew
2026  Canada
 Mexico
 United States
Did not qualify 2 1 0 1 4 3
2030  Morocco
 Portugal
 Spain
To be determined To be determined
2034  Saudi Arabia
Total 0/8 24 8 1 15 27 85

OFC Nations Cup

The OFC Nations Cup is the main football tournament for teams in Oceania.

Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup record Qualification record
Year Result Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
New Zealand 1973 Did not enter Did not enter
New Caledonia 1980
Pacific Community 1996 Did not qualify 3 1 1 1 4 4
Australia 1998 4 1 1 2 5 9
French Polynesia 2000 4 1 0 3 4 15
New Zealand 2002 4 1 0 3 7 18
Australia 2004 4 1 0 3 2 17
Pacific Community 2008 4 1 0 3 6 10
Solomon Islands 2012 3 1 1 1 4 4
Papua New Guinea 2016 3 0 0 3 1 8
Fiji Vanuatu 2024 2 0 0 2 1 5
Total 0/11 31 7 3 21 34 90

Pacific Games

The Pacific Games is a multi-sport event for countries in the Pacific region.

Team Records Against Other Countries

This information is correct up to matches played on September 6, 2024. Tonga national football team results

Awards and Achievements

Regional Awards

  • Polynesia Cup
    • Second Place (1): 1994

Old Team Uniforms

2001 Home
2001 Away
2009 Home
2009 Away
2011 Home
2011 Away
2015 Home
2015 Away
2017 Home
2017 Away
2019 Home
2019 Away
2023 Home
2023 Away

More About Tonga Football

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Tonga para niños

  • Tonga national under-23 football team
  • Tonga national under-20 football team
  • Tonga national under-17 football team
  • Tonga women's national football team
  • Tonga women's national under-20 football team
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