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 official football team for the country of Tuvalu. They play international matches and represent their nation in the sport. Players for the national team come from the Tuvalu A-Division, which is a local league. They train at the Tuvalu Sports Ground in Funafuti. The team takes part in the Pacific Games, a big sports event for Pacific island nations. The Tuvalu Islands Football Association manages the team. This association is a member of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), but it is not a member of FIFA.

Joining Football Organizations

Tuvalu is part of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). This means they can play against other teams in the Oceania region. However, Tuvalu is not a member of FIFA, which is the main global football organization.

In September 2008, Tuvalu's Prime Minister, Apisai Ielemia, and the head of the Tuvalu Football Association, Tapugao Falefou, visited FIFA's main office in Switzerland. They hoped Tuvalu could become a full FIFA member. In 2013, a FIFA official said that Tuvalu did not have a proper football field, which was the main reason they could not join. The Tuvalu Football Association is still trying to become a FIFA member. A group from the Netherlands, called the Dutch Support Tuvalu Foundation, helps Tuvalu with their FIFA application and with growing football in the country.

Playing in CONIFA

Logo of Dutch Support Tuvalu Foundation

In November 2016, Tuvalu joined the Confederation of Independent Football Associations (CONIFA). This organization is for teams that are not part of FIFA. On March 7, 2018, it was announced that Tuvalu would play in the 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup in London. This was a big opportunity for the team.

On June 9, 2018, Tuvalu had their biggest win ever. They beat the Chagos Islands 6–1. This was a great moment for the team. However, around 2020, Tuvalu left CONIFA and is no longer listed as a member.

Help from the Netherlands

The Tuvalu national football team gets help from the Dutch Support Tuvalu Foundation. This group is based in the Netherlands.

On August 18, 2013, the Tuvalu team went on a three-month trip to the Netherlands. During this trip, they played more than 20 friendly matches against local amateur football clubs. Leen Looijen, a former coach from famous Dutch clubs, helped train the team. The Dutch Support Tuvalu Foundation organized this whole trip.

A 2013 documentary film, called Mission Tuvalu (Missie Tuvalu), is about the Tuvalu team and the work of the Dutch Support Tuvalu Foundation.

Tuvalu's Football Journey

Tuvalu has played in several important football tournaments. Let's look at some of their past games.

1979 South Pacific Games

The Tuvaluan team, led by captain Karl Tili and coached by Kokea Malu, played three international matches in the 1979 South Pacific Games. In their very first international game, they lost to Tahiti by a score of 18–0. This is still their biggest loss.

However, in their next game, they had a great 5–3 win against Tonga. This victory helped them move to the next round. There, Tuvalu lost to New Caledonia 10–2. They then drew 3–3 with Kiribati but won in a penalty shootout. This sent them to the semi-finals of a smaller tournament for fifth place. In that round, Guam beat Tuvalu 8–2.

2003 South Pacific Games

Before the 2003 South Pacific Games, Tuvalu played a friendly game against Fiji and lost 9–0.

Tuvalu also played four games in the 2003 South Pacific Games in Fiji. Tim Jerks was their coach. They won their first game against Kiribati 3–2. Then they played Fiji again, losing 4–0. They lost closely to Vanuatu 1–0. In their last game, they lost to Solomon Islands 4–0. Tuvalu finished fourth in their group.

Team Tuvalu at the Pacific Games in 2007

2007 World Cup and OFC Nations Cup Qualifiers

In 2007, Tuvalu made history. With Toakai Puapua as coach and Petio Semaia as captain, they became the first non-FIFA member to play in an official World Cup qualifying match. This happened because the 2007 South Pacific Games football competition was also used as the first step for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and 2008 OFC Nations Cup qualifiers.

In their first game, Tuvalu lost to Fiji 16–0. But they played very well against New Caledonia, who were one of the top teams, and only lost 1–0. Tuvalu then drew 1–1 with Tahiti, thanks to a late goal from Viliamu Sekifu. In their last group game, they lost to the Cook Islands 4–1. Tuvalu finished last in their group with one point.

2011 Pacific Games

Okilani Tinilau playing against Vanuatu in 2011

In 2011, the Tuvalu National Football Association hired Dutch coach Foppe de Haan. He coached the team part-time and as a volunteer. De Haan had coached big teams before. He started his time with Tuvalu with a 3–0 win over Samoa in a warm-up game for the 2011 Pacific Games. Striker Alopua Petoa scored all three goals.

De Haan's second game was a record 4–0 win against American Samoa in their first match of the 2011 Pacific Games. Alopua Petoa, who was 19, scored another three goals. The next game was tougher, with the team losing 5–1 to Vanuatu. After losing 8–0 to New Caledonia and 6–1 to Solomon Islands, the Tuvaluan team drew 1–1 with Guam. The team finished with four points, which was their best performance in an international tournament at that time.

After the tournament, De Haan left to go back to coaching youth teams in the Netherlands.

2023 Pacific Games

In November 2023, Tuvalu was set to play in the 2023 Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands. They arrived late for their first game against Papua New Guinea, so their opponents were given a 3-0 win without playing. They then lost 0-6 to Vanuatu, which meant Tuvalu finished last in their group.

However, they played a playoff game against Tonga and won 4-0. In their final game, the 9th Place Play-off, they beat the Northern Mariana Islands 4-1.

Tuvaluan Players Abroad

Some Tuvaluan footballers have played for clubs in other countries. Tulimanu Lisati played for Stormbirds SC in Australia.

Many Tuvaluan players have also 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 played for Te Atatu.
• Jason Alama played for West Coast Rangers.
• Falaima Mokeni played for North Wellington.
• Blake Lisk played for Wellington Phoenix.
• Yvan Sapele played for Wainuiomata.

Team Coaches and Managers

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

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

For the 2023 Pacific Games, the coaching team included Lisati Tulimanu (Assistant Coach), Joshua Tapasei (Team Manager), and Etimoni Timuani (Trainer).

Current Players

These players were chosen for the 2023 Pacific Games. The numbers for games played (caps) and goals scored were last updated on November 30, 2023, after their game against the Northern Mariana Islands.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Katepu Iosua	(1988-05-11) 11 May 1988 (age 37)	15	0	Tofaga
13	1GK	Kioa Elisala		1	0	Oratia United
2	2DF	John Tuilagi	(1999-06-10) 10 June 1999 (age 26)	3	0	Niutao
3	2DF	Fakafou Uriam		2	0
4	2DF	Aloesi Nukualofa	(1994-02-05) 5 February 1994 (age 31)	2	0	Manu Laeva
5	2DF	Siale Sopoaga		2	0
15	2DF	Sepetaio Nokisi	(1993-09-11) 11 September 1993 (age 31)	7	0	Te Atatu
16	2DF	Tekie Tumau		2	0
19	2DF	Maalosi Alefaio	(1993-01-19) 19 January 1993 (age 32)	6	0	Te Atatu
25	2DF	Jason Alama	(2002-10-31) 31 October 2002 (age 22)	3	0	West Coast Rangers
6	3MF	Saulo Haulangi		1	0	Lakena United
7	3MF	Paulo Vailine	(2002-02-11) 11 February 2002 (age 23)	3	0	Nauti
8	3MF	Andrew Pelekata		3	3
14	3MF	Niuatea Luka		1	0	Niutao
17	3MF	Metia Lisati		0	0
20	3MF	Matti Ualesi	(1992-05-23) 23 May 1992 (age 33)	7	3	Lakena United
22	3MF	Tulimanu Lisati		1	0	Stormbirds
23	3MF	Falaima Mokeni	(2002-03-29) 29 March 2002 (age 23)	3	0	Te Atatu
9	4FW	Iasona Lui		2	0	Tofaga
11	4FW	Keni Vine		3	2
12	4FW	Asaia Eliko		1	0	Nauti
18	4FW	Yvan Sapele		3	1	Wainuiomata
24	4FW	Teuati Tamatoa		2	0

Player Records

Here are some records for players on the Tuvalu national team. Players whose names are in bold are still playing for Tuvalu.

Most Games Played

Katepu Sieni has played the most games for Tuvalu, with 16 appearances.

Top Goal Scorers

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

Images for kids

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  Tuvalu national football team (2011)