Tuvalu national football team
Encyclopedia
The Tuvalu national football team is the international football team of Tuvalu
, which trains at the Vaiaku Stadium
in Funafuti
. The Tuvalu national football team draws from players in the Tuvalu A-Division
; the national team competes in the Pacific Games and South Pacific Games. The national team is controlled by the Tuvalu Football Association, which is an associate member of the Oceania Football Confederation
(OFC) and is seeking membership of FIFA
.
, held in Fiji
. There, the team recorded both its largest win, 5-3 against Tonga
, and its worst defeat, losing 18-0 to Tahiti
.
It also participated in four games at the South Pacific Games in 2003, again held in Fiji
. After defeating Kiribati
in their opening game, the Tuvaluan team lost their remaining three matches and finished fourth out of five in Pool A.
The situation arose when the regional governing body used 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
. Tuvalu performed with great credit, earning a remarkable 1-1 draw with Tahiti in which Viliamu Sekifu became as the first World cup scorer for his country. The other three fixtures in the tournament ended in defeat and Tuvalu failed to progress from their five team group.
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 2011 the Tuvalu National Football Association signed Dutch coach Foppe de Haan
as their new coach. De Haan, who previously coached SC Heerenveen, Ajax Cape Town and the Dutch national U-21 team
will prepare the team for admission to the FIFA
. He will work on a part time and volunteer basis. Foppe de Haan started his tenure with a 3-0 victory over Samoa
, which is only the third and also the second largest victory of Tuvalu.
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, the highlight coming in the form of 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 two more heavy losses, the team won a point in their final South Pacific Games' match against Guam
. De Haan left his post after the tournament to rejoin Heerenveen's youth programme.
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Tuvalu
Tuvalu , formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia. Its nearest neighbours are Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fiji. It comprises four reef islands and five true atolls...
, which trains at the Vaiaku Stadium
Vaiaku Stadium
Vaiaku Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Funafuti, Tuvalu. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium holds 1,500 people....
in Funafuti
Funafuti
Funafuti is an atoll that forms the capital of the island nation of Tuvalu. It has a population of 4,492 , making it the most populated atoll in the country. It is a narrow sweep of land between 20 and 400 metres wide, encircling a large lagoon 18 km long and 14 km wide, with a surface of...
. The Tuvalu national football team draws from players in the Tuvalu A-Division
Tuvalu A-Division
Tuvalu A-Division is the top football division in Tuvalu.-Tuvalu A-Division – Clubs :*Amatuku FC*Funafuti FC*Lakena United*Nanumea FC*Nauti FC*Nukufetau Atoll*FC Manu Laeva-Previous winners:*2005: Funafuti FC*2006: Lakena United...
; the national team competes in the Pacific Games and South Pacific Games. The national team is controlled by the Tuvalu Football Association, which is an associate member of the Oceania Football Confederation
Oceania Football Confederation
The Oceania Football Confederation is one of the six continental confederations of international association football, consisting of Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and island nations such as Tonga, Fiji and other Pacific Island countries...
(OFC) and is seeking membership of FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
.
South Pacific Games participation
The Tuvaluan team played three international matches in the 1979 South Pacific GamesSouth Pacific Games
The Pacific Games is a multi-sport event, much like the Olympics , with participation exclusively from countries around the South Pacific. It is held every four years and began in 1963, hosted by Suva, Fiji.- Concept :The idea of holding the South Pacific Games originated with Dr A.H...
, held in Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
. There, the team recorded both its largest win, 5-3 against Tonga
Tonga national football team
The Tonga national football team is the national team of Tonga and is controlled by the Tonga Football Association.-Football in Tonga:Tonga's greatest football triumph to date was their triumph in the first ever Polynesian Cup held in 1993 over Samoa and the Cook Islands...
, and its worst defeat, losing 18-0 to Tahiti
Tahiti national football team
The Tahiti national football team is the national team of French Polynesia and is controlled by the Fédération Tahitienne de Football.They finished second in the OFC Nations Cup in its first three installments, 1973, 1980, and 1996. In 2009 the under 20 team qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in...
.
It also participated in four games at the South Pacific Games in 2003, again held in Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
. After defeating Kiribati
Kiribati national football team
The Kiribati national football team is the national football team of Kiribati and is controlled by the Kiribati Islands Football Association. Kiribati is not a member of FIFA but is an associate member of the Oceania Football Confederation , and is therefore not eligible to enter the FIFA World Cup...
in their opening game, the Tuvaluan team lost their remaining three matches and finished fourth out of five in Pool A.
World Cup qualification
History was made in 2007 when 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 2007 South Pacific Games
Football at the 2007 South Pacific Games
The 2007 South Pacific Games Football was held at the Toleafoa J.S. Blatter Complex in Apia, Samoa in from 25 August to 7 September 2007.The Men's tournament formed the first stage of the Oceania Football Confederation's qualification tournament for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the qualification...
, as the first stage of the qualification tournament
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC)
The 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification for the Oceania Football Confederation selected New Zealand to compete in a two-legged home-and-away playoff against Bahrain, the fifth-place team from the Asian Football Confederation for a spot in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa...
for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
and qualification tournament for the 2008 OFC Nations Cup
2008 OFC Nations Cup
The 2008 OFC Nations Cup was the eighth edition of the OFC Nations Cup, and the first under a new format that was introduced. It took place as a series of as a home-and-away round-robin tournament on FIFA match dates in 2007 and 2008...
. Tuvalu performed with great credit, earning a remarkable 1-1 draw with Tahiti in which Viliamu Sekifu became as the first World cup scorer for his country. The other three fixtures in the tournament ended in defeat and Tuvalu failed to progress from their five team group.
In September 2008, Tuvaluan Prime Minister Apisai Ielemia
Apisai Ielemia
Apisai Ielemia is a Tuvaluan politician. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 2006 to 2010.-Background:...
and the President of the Tuvalu Football Association, Tapugao Falefou, visited the headquarters of FIFA in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, hoping to gain full membership in the organisation. In 2011 the Tuvalu National Football Association signed Dutch coach Foppe de Haan
Foppe de Haan
Foppe de Haan OON is a Dutch football coach. He is known for his long association with Frisian club SC Heerenveen. De Haan is currently manager of the Tuvalu national football team.-Career:...
as their new coach. De Haan, who previously coached SC Heerenveen, Ajax Cape Town and the Dutch national U-21 team
Netherlands national under-21 football team
The Netherlands national under-21 football team is the national under-21 team of the Netherlands and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association. The team competes in the European Under-21 Championship, held every two years....
will prepare the team for admission to the FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
. He will work on a part time and volunteer basis. Foppe de Haan started his tenure with a 3-0 victory over Samoa
Samoa national football team
The Samoa national association football team represents Samoa in association football and is controlled by the Football Federation Samoa, the governing body for football in Samoa. Samoa's home ground is Toleafoa J.S Blatter Soccer Stadium in Apia. It was known as the Western Samoa national...
, which is only the third and also the second largest victory of Tuvalu.
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
Men's Football at the 2011 Pacific Games
The 2011 Pacific Games men's football tournament was the 13th edition of Pacific Games men's football tournament. The competition was held in New Caledonia from 27 August to 9 September 2011 with the final played at the Stade Numa-Daly in Nouméa....
campaign, the highlight coming in the form of 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
Vanuatu national football team
The Vanuatu national football team is the national team of Vanuatu and is controlled by the Vanuatu Football Federation.-History:It was known as the New Hebrides national football team until the New Hebrides became Republic of Vanuatu in 1980. It finished fourth in the OFC Nations Cup in 1973,...
. After two more heavy losses, the team won a point in their final South Pacific Games' match against Guam
Guam national football team
The Guam national football team is the national team of Guam, an overseas territory of the United States in the Pacific Ocean, and is controlled by the Guam Football Association. They are affiliated to the Asian Football Confederation's East Asian Football Federation region.The team was founded in...
. De Haan left his post after the tournament to rejoin Heerenveen's youth programme.
Selected internationals
| Date | Event/Venue | Home Team | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5 2011 | Pacific Games Football at the 2011 Pacific Games Football at the 2011 Pacific Games was held from August 27–September 9, 2011 at several venues.-Medal table:-Medal summary:-References:*... - New Caledonia New Caledonia New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of... |
1 - 1 | ||
| Sep 3 2011 | Pacific Games Football at the 2011 Pacific Games Football at the 2011 Pacific Games was held from August 27–September 9, 2011 at several venues.-Medal table:-Medal summary:-References:*... - New Caledonia New Caledonia New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of... |
1 - 6 | ||
| Sep 1 2011 | Pacific Games Football at the 2011 Pacific Games Football at the 2011 Pacific Games was held from August 27–September 9, 2011 at several venues.-Medal table:-Medal summary:-References:*... - New Caledonia New Caledonia New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of... |
0 - 8 | ||
| Aug 30 2011 | Pacific Games Football at the 2011 Pacific Games Football at the 2011 Pacific Games was held from August 27–September 9, 2011 at several venues.-Medal table:-Medal summary:-References:*... - New Caledonia New Caledonia New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of... |
1 - 5 | ||
| Aug 27 2011 | Pacific Games Football at the 2011 Pacific Games Football at the 2011 Pacific Games was held from August 27–September 9, 2011 at several venues.-Medal table:-Medal summary:-References:*... - New Caledonia New Caledonia New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of... |
4 - 0 | ||
| Aug 22 2011 | Friendly - Fiji Fiji Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island... |
3 - 0 | ||
| Sep 1 2007 | 2007 SPG Football at the 2007 South Pacific Games The 2007 South Pacific Games Football was held at the Toleafoa J.S. Blatter Complex in Apia, Samoa in from 25 August to 7 September 2007.The Men's tournament formed the first stage of the Oceania Football Confederation's qualification tournament for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the qualification... & 2010 WC Qualifier 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC) The 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification for the Oceania Football Confederation selected New Zealand to compete in a two-legged home-and-away playoff against Bahrain, the fifth-place team from the Asian Football Confederation for a spot in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa... - Samoa Samoa Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in... |
1 - 4 | ||
| Aug 29 2007 | 2007 SPG Football at the 2007 South Pacific Games The 2007 South Pacific Games Football was held at the Toleafoa J.S. Blatter Complex in Apia, Samoa in from 25 August to 7 September 2007.The Men's tournament formed the first stage of the Oceania Football Confederation's qualification tournament for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the qualification... & 2010 WC Qualifier 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC) The 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification for the Oceania Football Confederation selected New Zealand to compete in a two-legged home-and-away playoff against Bahrain, the fifth-place team from the Asian Football Confederation for a spot in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa... - Samoa Samoa Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in... |
1 - 1 | ||
| Aug 27 2007 | 2007 SPG Football at the 2007 South Pacific Games The 2007 South Pacific Games Football was held at the Toleafoa J.S. Blatter Complex in Apia, Samoa in from 25 August to 7 September 2007.The Men's tournament formed the first stage of the Oceania Football Confederation's qualification tournament for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the qualification... & 2010 WC Qualifier 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC) The 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification for the Oceania Football Confederation selected New Zealand to compete in a two-legged home-and-away playoff against Bahrain, the fifth-place team from the Asian Football Confederation for a spot in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa... - Samoa Samoa Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in... |
0 - 1 | ||
| Aug 25 2007 | 2007 SPG Football at the 2007 South Pacific Games The 2007 South Pacific Games Football was held at the Toleafoa J.S. Blatter Complex in Apia, Samoa in from 25 August to 7 September 2007.The Men's tournament formed the first stage of the Oceania Football Confederation's qualification tournament for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the qualification... & 2010 WC Qualifier 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC) The 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification for the Oceania Football Confederation selected New Zealand to compete in a two-legged home-and-away playoff against Bahrain, the fifth-place team from the Asian Football Confederation for a spot in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa... - Samoa Samoa Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in... |
0 - 16 | ||
| Jul 5 2003 | 2003 South Pacific Games Football at the 2003 South Pacific Games The 2003 South Pacific Games football tournament was held in Fiji, from 30 June to 30 July 2003.-Group A:-------------------------------------Group B:-------------------------------------Semi Finals:----... - Fiji Fiji Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island... |
0 - 4 | ||
| Jul 3 2003 | 2003 South Pacific Games Football at the 2003 South Pacific Games The 2003 South Pacific Games football tournament was held in Fiji, from 30 June to 30 July 2003.-Group A:-------------------------------------Group B:-------------------------------------Semi Finals:----... - Fiji Fiji Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island... |
0 - 1 | ||
| Jul 1 2003 | 2003 South Pacific Games Football at the 2003 South Pacific Games The 2003 South Pacific Games football tournament was held in Fiji, from 30 June to 30 July 2003.-Group A:-------------------------------------Group B:-------------------------------------Semi Finals:----... - Fiji Fiji Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island... |
0 - 4 | ||
| Jun 30 2003 | 2003 South Pacific Games Football at the 2003 South Pacific Games The 2003 South Pacific Games football tournament was held in Fiji, from 30 June to 30 July 2003.-Group A:-------------------------------------Group B:-------------------------------------Semi Finals:----... - Fiji Fiji Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island... |
3 - 2 | ||
| May 1 2003 | Fiji Fiji Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island... |
0 - 9 | ||
| Sep 4 1979 | 1979 South Pacific Games Football at the 1979 South Pacific Games -Group 2:---------Group 3:---------Group 4:---------Quarter finals:-------------Semi finals:-----Bronze medal match:-Gold medal match:... - Fiji Fiji Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island... |
0 - 11 | ||
| Aug 31 1979 | 1979 South Pacific Games Football at the 1979 South Pacific Games -Group 2:---------Group 3:---------Group 4:---------Quarter finals:-------------Semi finals:-----Bronze medal match:-Gold medal match:... - Fiji Fiji Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island... |
5 - 3 | ||
| Aug 28 1979 | 1979 South Pacific Games Football at the 1979 South Pacific Games -Group 2:---------Group 3:---------Group 4:---------Quarter finals:-------------Semi finals:-----Bronze medal match:-Gold medal match:... - Fiji Fiji Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island... |
0 - 18 |
South Pacific Games record
- 1963Football at the 1963 South Pacific Games-Semi finals:-----Bronze medal match:-Gold medal match:-Sources:*...
to 1975Football at the 1975 South Pacific Games-Group 2:---------Semi finals:-----Bronze medal match:-Gold medal match:...
- Did not enter - 1979Football at the 1979 South Pacific Games-Group 2:---------Group 3:---------Group 4:---------Quarter finals:-------------Semi finals:-----Bronze medal match:-Gold medal match:...
- Quarter-final - 1983Football at the 1983 South Pacific GamesThe 1983 South Pacific Games was the seventh edition where football was introduced and was held at the in Western Samoa during September 1983.-Group A:-------------------------Group B: withdrew x-x ---- x-x ---- x-x -Group C:...
to 1995Football at the 1995 South Pacific GamesThe 1995 South Pacific Games was the 10th edition where football was introduced and was held at the in Tahiti during August 1995.-Group A:-------------------------------------Group B:---------------------Semi finals:...
- Did not enter - 2003Football at the 2003 South Pacific GamesThe 2003 South Pacific Games football tournament was held in Fiji, from 30 June to 30 July 2003.-Group A:-------------------------------------Group B:-------------------------------------Semi Finals:----...
- Round 1 - 2007Football at the 2007 South Pacific GamesThe 2007 South Pacific Games Football was held at the Toleafoa J.S. Blatter Complex in Apia, Samoa in from 25 August to 7 September 2007.The Men's tournament formed the first stage of the Oceania Football Confederation's qualification tournament for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the qualification...
- Round 1
Current squad
The following squad was selected for the 2011 Pacific GamesFootball at the 2011 Pacific Games
Football at the 2011 Pacific Games was held from August 27–September 9, 2011 at several venues.-Medal table:-Medal summary:-References:*...
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