Tuvalu national football team

Membership

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 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.

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 replay game 7–5. 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 (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, 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

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 August 18, 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.

Tuvaluan footballers in New Zealand

Tuvaluan footballers play 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. Togavai Stanley has played for Nauti Power FC, which is a football club of Tuvaluan men living in Auckland, New Zealand.

Historical Kits

Sources: 2007

2011 Pacific Games squad

The following squad was selected for the 2011 Pacific Games

Sources:

Most capped players

Players with an equal number of caps are ranked in chronological order of reaching the milestone.

Most goals scored

Goalscorers with an equal number of goals are ranked in chronological order of reaching the milestone (starting from, the bottom of the list).

Player of the year

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.