Tuvalu national football team


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

Membership

Tuvalu is a member of the Oceania Football Confederation, 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 Zurich, 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.

History

1979 South Pacific Games

The Tuvaluan team, captained by Karl Tili, played three international matches in the 1979 South Pacific Games, held in Fiji, with Kokea Malu as the coach. There, the team recorded both a large win, 5–3 against Tonga, and its worst defeat, losing 18–0 to Tahiti in the first game of the competition. Tuvalu recovered to beat Tonga in the second game, however in the third game 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. In the final game of the first round Tuvalu was defeated by Guam 7–2.

2003 South Pacific Games

In the match in the lead-up to 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 again played Fiji, in this game Fiji won 4–0. In the game against Vanuatu, Tuvalu was defeated 1–0. In the final game of the tournament against Solomon Islands, Tuvalu was defeated 4–0. Tuvalu finished fourth out of five in Pool A.

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. Fiji defeated Tuvalu 16–0. However Tuvalu fought hard against New Caledonia and only lost 1–0. Tuvalu then drew 1–1 with Tahiti, with a late equaliser from Viliamu Sekifu, However the Cook Islands defeated Tuvalu 4–1. The Cook Islands team was coached by Tim Jerks who had previously coached Tuvalu.

2011 Pacific Games

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. In the match in the lead-up to the 2011 Pacific Games De Haan started his tenure with a 3–0 victory over Samoa, with Tuvalu captained by Mau Penisula. Alopua Petoa scored all three goals.
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 a 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 the game with Guam 1–1. The Tuvaluan team finished equal with Guam in Pool A with four points.
De Haan left his post after the tournament to rejoin Heerenveen's youth programme.

Dutch Support Tuvalu Foundation

The Tuvalu national football team 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 a feature documentary directed by Jeroen van den Kroonenberg.

Tuvaluan footballers in New Zealand

Many Tuvaluan footballers have played for clubs in New Zealand. Vaisua Liva and Alopua Petoa joined Waitakere City FC in 2012. Meneua Fakasega and Jerome Funafuti also played for Waitakere City FC. Maalosi Alefaio has played for Te Atatu AFC. Strikers Blake Lisk and Anthony Pita have played for Wellington Phoenix.

CONIFA Membership

Since November 2016 Tuvalu has been a member of the Confederation of Independent Football Associations. On 7 March 2018 it was announced the Tuvalu would replace other Oceania nation 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.

Complete International Results

Tuvalu's score is shown first in each case.
No.DateVenueOpponentsScoreCompetitionTuvalu scorersAtt.Ref.
1Buckhurst Park, Suva 0–181979 South Pacific Games—
2Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori 5–31979 South Pacific GamesUnknown—
3Buckhurst Park, Suva 0–111979 South Pacific Games—
4Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori 3–31979 South Pacific GamesUnknown—
5Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori 2–71979 South Pacific GamesUnknown—
6Fiji 0–9Friendly—
7National Stadium, Suva 3–22003 South Pacific GamesManoa, Fagota, Semaia—
8National Stadium, Suva 0–42003 South Pacific Games3000
9National Stadium, Suva 0–12003 South Pacific Games700
10Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori 0–42003 South Pacific Games2500
11Toleofoa Joseph Blatter Soccer Complex, Apia 0–162007 South Pacific Games200
12Toleofoa Joseph Blatter Soccer Complex, Apia 0–12007 South Pacific Games250
13Toleofoa Joseph Blatter Soccer Complex, Apia 1–12007 South Pacific GamesSekifu100
141–42007 South Pacific GamesWillis 200
15Fiji 3–0FriendlyPetoa —
16Stade Rivière Salée, Nouméa 4–02011 Pacific GamesPetoa, Tiute—
17Stade Rivière Salée, Nouméa 1–52011 Pacific GamesAle—
18Stade Rivière Salée, Nouméa 0–82011 Pacific Games—
19Stade Rivière Salée, Nouméa 1–62011 Pacific GamesLepaio—
20Stade Rivière Salée, Nouméa 1–12011 Pacific GamesStanley—
21Port Vila Municipal Stadium, Port Vila 0–82017 Pacific Mini Games1000
22Korman Stadium, Port Vila 2–12017 Pacific Mini GamesIonatana, Petoa3000
23Port Vila Municipal Stadium, Port Vila 0–62017 Pacific Mini Games1500
24Port Vila Municipal Stadium, Port Vila 0–102017 Pacific Mini Games4000
25Port Vila Municipal Stadium, Port Vila 4–32017 Pacific Mini GamesUaelasi, Fahina, Petoa, Lotonu1000
26Coles Park, Haringey 0–4—
27Coles Park, Haringey 0–82018 CONIFA World Football Cup—
28Coles Park, Haringey 1–32018 CONIFA World Football CupTimuani—
29Larges Lane, Bracknell 0–52018 CONIFA World Football Cup—
30Gander Green Lane, Sutton 3–42018 CONIFA World Football CupPetoa, Vailine—
31Bedfont Recreation Ground, Bedfont 6–1FriendlyTinilau, Uaelasi, Oride Vailine—
32National Soccer Stadium, Apia 0–132019 Pacific Games300
33National Soccer Stadium, Apia 0–72019 Pacific Games150
34National Soccer Stadium, Apia 1–12019 Pacific GamesPetoa100
35National Soccer Stadium, Apia 1–102019 Pacific GamesVailine250
36National Soccer Stadium, Apia 0–112019 Pacific Games100

;Notes

Record by opponent

Up to matches played on 18 July 2019.
Opponent

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Historical Kits


Sources:

Kit sponsorship

Competitive Record

Pacific Games

ConIFA World Football Cup

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2019 Pacific Games on 8–20 July 2019.
Caps and goals updated as of 18 July 2019 after the game against New Caledonia.

Most capped players

Players with an equal number of caps are ranked in chronological order of reaching the milestone.
#NameCareerCapsGoals
1Mau Penisula2003–140
2Alopua Petoa2011–139
2Jelly Selau2007–80
4James Lepaio2011–91
5Joshua Tui Tapasei2003–80
5Katepu Iosua Sieni2011–80
7Paenui Fagota2003–200771
8Petio Semaia2003–200761
8Lalesi Vaia2003–200760
8Peniuna Kaitu2003–200760
8Etimoni Timuani2011–60
8Ali Takataka2011–60
8Vaisua Liva2011–60
14Alamoana Tofuola2011–50
14George Panapa2011–50
14Lutelu Tiute2011–51
14Paolo Taitai2017–50
14Taufaiva Ionatana2017–51
14Afelee Valoa2017–50
14Paulo Lotonu2017–51

Most goals scored

Goalscorers with an equal number of goals are ranked in chronological order of reaching the milestone.
#NameCareerGoalsCaps
1Alopua Petoa2011–913
2Lutelu Tiute2011–15
2Togavai Stanley2011–14
2James Lepaio2011–19
2Uota Ale2011–12
2Vilamu Sekifu200713
2Petio Semaia2003–200716
2Paenui Fagota2003–200717
2Kivoli Manoa200314
2Matti Uaelesi2017–14
2Paulo Lotonu2017–15
2Taufaiva Ionatana2017–15

In 2014 for the first time in history a Tuvaluan Player of the year was chosen. Sepetaio Willie was the first player who received this honor.

Managers

ManagerTuvalu careerPlayedWonDrawnLostWin %
1979
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2003
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2006–2010
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2011
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2013
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2016–2018
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2018–
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