Tuvalu national football team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Tuvalu

Association	Tuvalu Islands Football Association
Confederation	OFC (Oceania)
Head coach	Osamesa Mesako
Most caps	Katepu Sieni (16)
Top scorer	Alopua Petoa (9)
Home stadium	Tuvalu Sports Ground
FIFA code	TUV
First colours
Elo ranking
Current	211 3 (3 March 2019)
Highest	178 (August 1979)
Lowest	215 (July 2019)
First international
Tahiti 18–0 Tuvalu  (Suva, Fiji; 29 August 1979)
Biggest win
Unofficial  Chagos Islands 1–6 Tuvalu  (London, England; 9 June 2018) Official  Tuvalu 4–0 American Samoa  (Nouméa, New Caledonia; 27 August 2011)  Tonga 0–4 Tuvalu  (Honiara, Solomon Islands; 27 November 2023)
Biggest defeat
Tahiti 18–0 Tuvalu  (Suva, Fiji; 29 August 1979)
ConIFA World Football Cup
Appearances	1 (first in 2018)
Best result	Group stage (2018)

The Tuvalu national football team is the international football team of Tuvalu. Football in Tuvalu is played at the club and international level. The Tuvalu national team draws players from the Tuvalu A-Division and trains at the Tuvalu Sports Ground at Funafuti. The national team competes in the Pacific Games, and is controlled by the Tuvalu Islands Football Association, which is an associate member of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) but not a member of FIFA.

Memberships

Tuvalu is a member of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), but not of FIFA. In September 2008, Tuvaluan Prime Minister Apisai Ielemia and the President of the Tuvalu Football Association, Tapugao Falefou, visited the headquarters of FIFA in Zürich, hoping to gain full membership in the organisation. In December 2013, OFC General Secretariat Tai Nicholas named Tuvalu's lack of a regulation pitch as the main factor preventing the country from being accepted into FIFA. The Tuvalu Football Association continues to seek membership of FIFA with the Dutch Support Tuvalu Foundation assisting Tuvalu with the FIFA application and with the development of football in Tuvalu. Since November 2016, Tuvalu has been a member of the Confederation of Independent Football Associations (CONIFA) but, as of 2022, is no longer listed as one of their members.

CONIFA Membership

In November 2016 Tuvalu became a member of the Confederation of Independent Football Associations (CONIFA). On 7 March 2018 it was announced that Tuvalu would replace Kiribati in the 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup in London. On 9 June 2018, Tuvalu recorded their biggest ever victory in a 6–1 win over the Chagos Islands. Sometime around 2020, Tuvalu would leave CONIFA and they are no longer listed as members of the organisation.

Dutch Support Tuvalu Foundation

Logo of Dutch Support Tuvalu Foundation

The national football team of Tuvalu received support from the Dutch Support Tuvalu Foundation, which is a foundation in the Netherlands.

On 18 August 2013, the Tuvalu national football team went on a three-month tour of the Netherlands. During this tour they played at least 20 friendly matches against local amateur football clubs. Former NAC Breda and De Graafschap coach Leen Looijen was the team's mentor during training in the Netherlands, with the tour organised by the Dutch Support Tuvalu Foundation.

The Tuvalu team and the activities of the Dutch Support Tuvalu Foundation are the focus of Mission Tuvalu (Missie Tuvalu) (2013) a feature documentary directed by Jeroen van den Kroonenberg.

Competition History

1979 South Pacific Games

The Tuvaluan team, captained by Karl Tili, played three international matches at the 1979 South Pacific Games, with Kokea Malu as the coach. In Tuvalu's first international match, they were defeated by Tahiti 18–0; which is still its worst defeat to this day. However, in their next match, the team recorded a large 5–3 victory against Tonga. The victory against Tonga sent the team to the next round, where Tuvalu was defeated by New Caledonia 10–2. The next game was against Kiribati, which was drawn 3–3; however Tuvalu won the penalty shootout 4–2 to advance to the semi-finals of the consolation tournament for fifth place; in that round Tuvalu was defeated by Guam 8–2, who eventually won sixth place after losing the fifth-place match.

2003 South Pacific Games

In a warm-up match for the 2003 South Pacific Games, Tuvalu played a friendly game against Fiji and were defeated 9–0.

Tuvalu also participated in four games at the 2003 South Pacific Games again held in Fiji, with Tim Jerks as the coach. After defeating Kiribati 3–2 in their opening game, Tuvalu played Fiji again, but were defeated with a more respectable 4–0. In the game against Vanuatu, Tuvalu was narrowly defeated 1–0. In the final game of the tournament against Solomon Islands, the Tuvaluan squad was defeated 4–0. Tuvalu finished fourth out of five in Pool A, above Kiribati.

Team Tuvalu, Pacific Games 2007

2007 World Cup and OFC Nations Cup qualifications

In 2007, with Toakai Puapua as the coach, and Petio Semaia as the captain, Tuvalu became the first non FIFA member to participate in an official World Cup qualifying match. The situation arose when the regional governing body used the football competition at the 2007 South Pacific Games, as the first stage of the qualification tournament for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and qualification tournament for the 2008 OFC Nations Cup. In Tuvalu's South Pacific Games debut, they were defeated 16–0 by Fiji. However Tuvalu fought hard in the next match against New Caledonia (who were joint leaders of the competition) and only lost 1–0. Tuvalu then drew 1–1 with Tahiti, with a late equaliser from Viliamu Sekifu. In the last group stage match the Cook Islands, coached by Tim Jerks (who had previously coached Tuvalu), defeated them 4–1. Tuvalu finished last in the group with one point.

2011 Pacific Games

Okilani Tinilau in action against Vanuatu (2011)

In 2011 the Tuvalu National Football Association signed Dutch coach Foppe de Haan as the coach on a part-time and volunteer basis. De Haan previously coached SC Heerenveen, Ajax Cape Town and the Dutch national U-21 team. De Haan began his tenure with a 3–0 victory over Samoa in a warm-up match for the 2011 Pacific Games, and striker Alopua Petoa scored a hat-trick.

De Haan's second match in charge saw a record 4–0 victory recorded over American Samoa in the first match of their 2011 Pacific Games campaign, with another hat-trick from 19-year-old Alopua Petoa. The third match was not as successful, with the side going down 5–1 to Vanuatu. After losing 8–0 to New Caledonia, and 6–1 to Solomon Islands, the Tuvaluan team drew with Guam 1–1. The squad finished equal with Guam in Pool A with four points, which was the best performance by Tuvalu in an international tournament at the time.

De Haan left his post after the tournament to rejoin Heerenveen's youth programme.

2023 Pacific Games

In November 2023 Tuvalu were scheduled to participate in the 2023 Pacific Games taking place in the Solomon Islands. However, due to arriving late for their opening game against Papua New Guinea, their opponents were awarded a 3-0 walkover win. A subsequent 0-6 loss to Vanuatu meant that Tuvalu finished bottom of their group and faced a playoff game against Tonga which they won 4-0. They played their last game of the tournament, the 9th Place Play off, against the Northern Mariana Islands which they won 4-1.

Tuvaluan footballers in Australia and New Zealand

Tulimanu Lisati has played for Stormbirds SC, in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia.

Many Tuvaluan footballers have played for clubs in New Zealand:

• Vaisua Liva and Alopua Petoa joined Waitakere City in 2012. Meneua Fakasega and Jerome Funafuti also played for Waitakere City.
• Maalosi Alefaio and Sepetaio Nokisi have played for Te Atatu.
• Jason Alama has played for West Coast Rangers.
• Falaima Mokeni has played for North Wellington.
• Blake Lisk has played for Wellington Phoenix.
• Yvan Sapele has played for Wainuiomata.

Historical kits

1979 Pacific Games

2003 Home

2007 Home

2007 Away

2011 Home

2017 Home

2017 Away

2018 Home

2018 Away

2023 Home

Tuvalu national football team (2011)

Sources:

Kit sponsorship

Kit lier	Period
Masita	2007–2011
Stingz	2018–2023

Coach/Manager history

No.	Name	Period
1	Malu, KokeaKokea Malu	1979
2	Jerks, TimTim Jerks	2003
3	Puapua, ToakaiToakai Puapua	2006–2010
4	de Haan, FoppeFoppe de Haan	2011
5	Looijen, LeenLeen Looijen	2013
6	Ituaso, TaukieiTaukiei Ituaso	2016–2018
7	Taupili, LopatiLopati Taupili	2018
8	Fusi, MatiMati Fusi	2019
9	Mesako, OsamesaOsamesa Mesako	2023–present

Coaching team at the 2023 Pacific Games: Lisati Tulimanu (Assistant Coach) Joshua Tapasei (Team Manager), Etimoni Timuani (Trainer).

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2023 Pacific Games.

Caps and goals updated as of 18 July 2019 after the game against New Caledonia.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Katepu Iosua	(1988-05-11) 11 May 1988 (age 35)	14	0	Tofaga
13	1GK	Kioa Elisala		0	0
2	2DF	John Tuilagi	(1997-09-05) 5 September 1997 (age 26)	7	0	Niutao
3	2DF	Fakafou Uriam		0	0
4	2DF	Aloesi Nukualofa		0	0
5	2DF	Siale Sopoaga		0	0
15	2DF	Sepetaio Nokisi	(1993-09-11) 11 September 1993 (age 30)	5	0	Te Atatu
16	2DF	Tekie Tumau		0	0
19	2DF	Maalosi Alefaio	(1993-01-19) 19 January 1993 (age 31)	5	0	Te Atatu
25	2DF	Jason Alama	(2002-10-31) 31 October 2002 (age 21)	0	0	West Coast Rangers
6	3MF	Saulo Haulangi		0	0
7	3MF	Paulo Vailine	(1993-03-07) 7 March 1993 (age 31)	8	3	Nauti
8	3MF	Andrew Pelekata		0	0
14	3MF	Niuatea Luka		0	0	Niutao
17	3MF	Metia Lisati		0	0
20	3MF	Matti Ualesi	(1992-05-23) 23 May 1992 (age 31)	3	0	Lakena United
22	3MF	Tulimanu Lisati		0	0	Stormbirds SC
23	3MF	Falaima Mokeni	(2002-03-29) 29 March 2002 (age 22)	0	0	North Wellington
9	4FW	Iasona Lui		0	0	Tofaga
11	4FW	Keni Vine		0	0
12	4FW	Asaia Eliko	(age 16)	0	0
18	4FW	Yvan Sapele		0	0	Wainuiomata
24	4FW	Teuati Tamatoa		0	0

Player records

Players in bold are still active with Tuvalu.

Most appearances

Katepu Sieni is Tuvalu's most capped player with 16 appearances.

Top goalscorers

Alopua Petoa is the national team's top scorer with 9 goals.

Competitive record

OFC Nations Cup

Tuvalu has been affiliated with OFC since 2006, so they can play in the competition.

Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup record											Qualification record
Year	Host	Result	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1973	New Zealand	Not a member of OFC									Not a member of OFC
1980	New Caledonia
1996	Oceania
1998	Australia
2000	Tahiti
2002	New Zealand
2004	Australia
2008	Oceania	Did not qualify									4	0	1	3	2	22
2012	Solomon Islands	ineligible to participate									ineligible to participate
2016	Papua New Guinea
2024	Vanuatu
Total		—	0/11	–	–	–	–	–	–		4	0	1	3	2	22

Pacific Games

Pacific Games record
Year	Host	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1963	Fiji	Did not enter
1966	New Caledonia
1969	Papua New Guinea
1971	Tahiti
1975	Guam
1979	Fiji	Quarter-finals	8th	5	1	1	3	10	42
1983	Western Samoa	Did not enter
1987	New Caledonia
1991	Papua New Guinea
1995	Tahiti
2003	Fiji	Group stage	8th	4	1	0	3	3	11
2007	Samoa		9th	4	0	1	3	2	22
2011	New Caledonia		7th	5	1	1	3	7	20
2015	Papua New Guinea	N/A – Tournament was U23
2019	Samoa	Group stage	10th	5	0	1	4	2	42
2023	Solomon Islands		9th	4	2	0	2	8	10
Total		Quarter-finals	6/16	27	5	4	18	32	147

Pacific Mini Games

Pacific Mini Games record
Year	Host	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1981 to 1993		Did not enter
2017	Vanuatu	Fourth place	4th	5	2	0	3	6	28
Total		Fourth place	1/3	5	2	0	3	6	28

ConIFA World Football Cup

ConIFA World Football Cup record
Year	Host	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
2014 to 2016		Did not enter
2018	Barawa	Group stage	15th	5	0	0	5	4	24
Total		Group stage	1/3	5	0	0	5	4	24

Head-to-head record

Up to matches played on 30 November 2023.

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	American Samoa	2	1	1	0	5	1	+4	4
2	Chagos Islands	1	1	0	0	6	1	+5	3
3	Cook Islands	1	0	0	1	1	4	−3	0
4	Fiji	5	0	0	5	1	47	−46	0
5	Guam	2	0	1	1	3	8	−5	1
6	Kiribati	2	1	1	0	6	5	+1	4
7	Matabeleland	1	0	0	1	1	3	−2	0
8	New Caledonia	5	1	0	4	2	32	−30	3
9	Northern Mariana Islands	1	1	0	0	4	1	+3	3
10	Padania	1	0	0	1	0	8	−8	0
11	Samoa	1	1	0	0	3	0	+3	3
12	Solomon Islands	4	0	0	4	1	29	−28	0
13	Székely Land	1	0	0	1	0	4	−4	0
14	Tahiti	3	0	1	2	1	26	−25	1
15	Tamil Eelam	1	0	0	1	3	4	−1	0
16	Tonga	3	3	0	0	13	6	+7	9
17	United Koreans in Japan	1	0	0	1	0	5	−5	0
18	Vanuatu	4	0	0	4	1	22	−21	0

Complete international results

Tuvalu's score is shown first

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Competition	Tuvalu scorers	Att.	Ref.
1	30 August 1979	Buckhurst Park, Suva (N)	Tahiti	0–18	1979 South Pacific Games		—
2	1 September 1979	Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori (N)	Tonga	5–3	1979 South Pacific Games	Saifoloi (5)	—
3	3 September 1979	Buckhurst Park, Suva (N)	New Caledonia	0–11	1979 South Pacific Games		—
4	5 September 1979	Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori (N)	Kiribati	3–3 (4–2 p)	1979 South Pacific Games	Unknown	—
5	6 September 1979	Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori (N)	Guam	2–7	1979 South Pacific Games	Unknown	—
6	1 May 2003	Fiji (A)	Fiji	0–9	Friendly		—
7	30 June 2003	National Stadium, Suva (N)	Kiribati	3–2	2003 South Pacific Games	Manoa, Fagota, Semaia	—
8	1 July 2003	National Stadium, Suva (N)	Fiji	0–4	2003 South Pacific Games		&&&&&&&&&&&03000.&&&&&03,000
9	3 July 2003	National Stadium, Suva (N)	Vanuatu	0–1	2003 South Pacific Games		&&&&&&&&&&&&0700.&&&&&0700
10	5 July 2003	Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori (N)	Solomon Islands	0–4	2003 South Pacific Games		&&&&&&&&&&&02500.&&&&&02,500
11	25 August 2007	Toleofoa Joseph Blatter Soccer Complex, Apia (N)	Fiji	0–16	2007 South Pacific Games		&&&&&&&&&&&&0200.&&&&&0200
12	27 August 2007	Toleofoa Joseph Blatter Soccer Complex, Apia (N)	New Caledonia	0–1	2007 South Pacific Games		&&&&&&&&&&&&0250.&&&&&0250
13	29 August 2007	Toleofoa Joseph Blatter Soccer Complex, Apia (N)	Tahiti	1–1	2007 South Pacific Games	Sekifu	&&&&&&&&&&&&0100.&&&&&0100
14	1 September 2007	Toleofoa Joseph Blatter Soccer Complex, Apia (N)	Cook Islands	1–4	2007 South Pacific Games	Willis (o.g.)	&&&&&&&&&&&&0200.&&&&&0200
15	22 August 2011	Fiji (N)	Samoa	3–0	Friendly	Petoa (3)	—
16	27 August 2011	Stade Rivière Salée, Nouméa (N)	American Samoa	4–0	2011 Pacific Games	Petoa (3), Tiute	—
17	30 August 2011	Stade Rivière Salée, Nouméa (N)	Vanuatu	1–5	2011 Pacific Games	Ale	—
18	1 September 2011	Stade Rivière Salée, Nouméa (N)	New Caledonia	0–8	2011 Pacific Games		—
19	3 September 2011	Stade Rivière Salée, Nouméa (N)	Solomon Islands	1–6	2011 Pacific Games	Lepaio	—
20	5 September 2011	Stade Rivière Salée, Nouméa (N)	Guam	1–1	2011 Pacific Games	Stanley	—
21	2 December 2017	Port Vila Municipal Stadium, Port Vila (N)	Fiji	0–8	2017 Pacific Mini Games		&&&&&&&&&&&01000.&&&&&01,000
22	5 December 2017	Korman Stadium, Port Vila (N)	New Caledonia	2–1	2017 Pacific Mini Games	Ionatana, Petoa	&&&&&&&&&&&03000.&&&&&03,000
23	9 December 2017	Port Vila Municipal Stadium, Port Vila (N)	Solomon Islands	0–6	2017 Pacific Mini Games		&&&&&&&&&&&01500.&&&&&01,500
24	12 December 2017	Port Vila Municipal Stadium, Port Vila (N)	Vanuatu	0–10	2017 Pacific Mini Games		&&&&&&&&&&&04000.&&&&&04,000
25	15 December 2017	Port Vila Municipal Stadium, Port Vila (N)	Tonga	4–3	2017 Pacific Mini Games	Uaelasi, Fahina (o.g.), Petoa, Lotonu	&&&&&&&&&&&01000.&&&&&01,000
26	31 May 2018	Coles Park, Haringey (N)	Székely Land	0–4	2018 CONIFA World Football Cup		—
27	2 June 2018	Coles Park, Haringey (N)	Padania	0–8	2018 CONIFA World Football Cup		—
28	3 June 2018	Coles Park, Haringey (N)	Matabeleland	1–3	2018 CONIFA World Football Cup	Timuani	—
29	5 June 2018	Larges Lane, Bracknell (N)	United Koreans in Japan	0–5	2018 CONIFA World Football Cup		—
30	7 June 2018	Gander Green Lane, Sutton (N)	Tamil Eelam	3–4	2018 CONIFA World Football Cup	Petoa (2), Vailine	—
31	9 June 2018	Bedfont Recreation Ground, Bedfont (N)	Chagos Islands	6–1	Friendly	Tinilau (2), Uaelasi (2), Oride (o.g.), Vailine	—
32	8 July 2019	National Soccer Stadium, Apia (N)	Solomon Islands	0–13	2019 Pacific Games		&&&&&&&&&&&&0300.&&&&&0300
33	10 July 2019	National Soccer Stadium, Apia (N)	Tahiti	0–7	2019 Pacific Games		&&&&&&&&&&&&0150.&&&&&0150
34	12 July 2019	National Soccer Stadium, Apia (N)	American Samoa	1–1	2019 Pacific Games	Petoa	&&&&&&&&&&&&0100.&&&&&0100
35	15 July 2019	National Soccer Stadium, Apia (N)	Fiji	1–10	2019 Pacific Games	Vailine	&&&&&&&&&&&&0250.&&&&&0250
36	18 July 2019	National Soccer Stadium, Apia (N)	New Caledonia	0–11	2019 Pacific Games		&&&&&&&&&&&&0100.&&&&&0100
—	17 November 2023	Lawson Tama Stadium, Honiara (N)	Papua New Guinea	w/o	2023 Pacific Games		—
37	20 November 2023	Lawson Tama Stadium, Honiara (N)	Vanuatu	0–6	2023 Pacific Games		&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&-0
38	27 November 2023	SIFF Academy Field, Honiara (N)	Tonga	4–0	2023 Pacific Games	Sapele, Pelekata, Vine (2)	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&-0
39	30 November 2023	SIFF Academy Field, Honiara (N)	Northern Mariana Islands	4–1	2023 Pacific Games	Vailine (2), Uaelasi (2)	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&-0

Honours

• Tuvalu A-Division
  • Winners (1): 2018

See also

In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Tuvalu para niños

• Tuvalu at the Pacific Games
• Tuvalu national under-17 football team