The Tonga men's national football team (Tongan: timi soka fakafonua ʻa Tonga) represents Tonga in men's international football and is controlled by the Tonga Football Association, which is a part of the Oceania Football Confederation.
![]() | |||
Nickname(s) | Tu’Ulalupe | ||
---|---|---|---|
Association | Tonga Football Association | ||
Confederation | OFC (Oceania) | ||
Head coach | Kilifi Uele | ||
Captain | Hemaloto Polovili | ||
Most caps | Kilifi Uele (26) | ||
Top scorer | Unaloto Feao (7) | ||
Home stadium | Teufaiva Sport Stadium Tonga Football Association Stadium | ||
FIFA code | TGA | ||
| |||
FIFA ranking | |||
Current | 200 ![]() | ||
Highest | 163 (October 1998–December 1998) | ||
Lowest | 211 (April 2018, July 2019) | ||
First international | |||
![]() ![]() (Suva, Fiji; 29 August 1979) | |||
Biggest win | |||
![]() ![]() (Nausori, Fiji; 5 July 2003) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
![]() ![]() (Coffs Harbour, Australia; 9 April 2001) |
History
editThis section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (June 2022) |
Information
editFootball in Tonga
editTonga's greatest football triumph to date was their triumph in the first ever Polynesian Cup held in 1993 over Samoa and the Cook Islands. Although local players have not yet made their mark on big leagues abroad, the Chief Executive of the Tonga Football Association, Joe Topou, was appointed to the FIFA Executive Committee in 2002.
In July 2023, Tonga became unranked within the FIFA rankings due to not having played any matches since they lost 8-0 to Papua New Guinea on 18 July 2019.
The second Goal project
editTonga's second Goal project will develop and improve the national football academy and the association's headquarters in Atele, Tongatapu, which was built in the country's first Goal project. This development work has the aim that all of the Tonga Football Association's needs are fully satisfied. Local matches will be held at the football academy, while the administration's requirements, including the needs of players, officials and spectators, will also be covered. The football school will be transformed into a House of Football.[clarification needed]
Team image
editKit sponsorship
editKit supplier[3] | Period |
---|---|
Lotto | 2007–2013 |
2013–2017 | |
Lotto | 2018– |
Fixtures and results
edit2023
edit18 November 2023 2023 Pacific Games | New Caledonia | 7–0 | Tonga | Honiara, Solomon Islands |
16:00 | Report | Stadium: SIFF Academy Field Referee: Norbert Hauata (Tahiti) |
21 November 2023 2023 Pacific Games | Tonga | 1–2 | Cook Islands | Honiara, Solomon Islands |
16:00 | Stadium: SIFF Academy Field |
27 November 2023 2023 Pacific Games | Tonga | 0–4 | Tuvalu | Honiara, Solomon Islands |
13:00 | Stadium: SIFF Academy Field |
30 November 2023 2023 Pacific Games | American Samoa | 2–6 | Tonga | Honiara, Solomon Islands |
10:00 | Stadium: SIFF Academy Field |
2024
edit20 March 2024 OFC Nations Cup qualification | Tonga | 1–4 | Samoa | Nuku'alofa, Tonga |
14:00 | Kite 90+5' | Report | Stadium: Teufaiva Stadium Attendance: 300 Referee: Luke Gardner (New Zealand) |
26 March 2024 OFC Nations Cup qualification | Cook Islands | 1–0 | Tonga | Nuku'alofa, Tonga |
14:00 | Stadium: Teufaiva Stadium |
6 September 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | Cook Islands | 1–3 | Tonga | Apia, Samoa |
11:00 UTC+13 |
|
[4][5] | Stadium: FFS Football Stadium Attendance: 300 Referee: Calvin Berg (New Zealand) |
9 September 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | Tonga | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | Samoa | Apia, Samoa |
15:00 UTC+13 |
|
[6][7] | Stadium: National Soccer Stadium Attendance: 500 Referee: Mederic Lacour (New Caledonia) |
Current squad
editThe following players were called up for the 2023 Pacific Games.[8]
Caps and goals updated as of 30 November 2023, after the game against American Samoa.
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | GK | Semisi ‘Otukolo | 23 June 1999 | 9 | 0 | Veitongo |
21 | GK | David-John Tuamoheloa | 2 | 0 | Manukau United | |
20 | GK | Justin Toetu’u | 1 | 0 | Longolongo | |
2 | DF | Petelo Naniseni | 20 December 2003 | 4 | 0 | Navutoka |
3 | DF | Kulisitofa Kite | 17 January 2003 | 3 | 0 | Lavengatonga |
4 | DF | Nicolas Vea | 31 October 2003 | 4 | 0 | Navutoka |
5 | DF | Sione Tu’ifangaloka | 24 April 1999 | 6 | 0 | Veitongo |
17 | DF | Ta’u Tupou | 1 | 0 | Vava'u | |
18 | DF | Fakaofo Tonga | 29 October 2004 | 3 | 0 | Navutoka |
6 | MF | Petueli Tokotaha | 25 March 2004 | 3 | 2 | Longolongo |
7 | MF | Tau’aika Sonasi | 4 | 0 | Marist | |
8 | MF | Christopher Kefu | 11 February 2003 | 4 | 0 | Veitongo |
9 | MF | Taniela Vaka’uta | 2 | 0 | Folaha | |
15 | MF | Petueli Tokotaha | 10 September 2000 | 6 | 2 | Navutoka |
16 | MF | Mohammed Rajani | 19 April 1999 | 4 | 1 | Rockdale Ilinden |
10 | FW | Amoni Fifita | 26 June 2004 | 4 | 2 | Makave |
11 | FW | Elias Kendler | 3 | 1 | Haʻamoko United Youth | |
12 | FW | Hemaloto Polovili | 27 July 1997 | 14 | 3 | Veitongo |
13 | FW | Nuku ‘Esau | 3 | 0 | Navutoka | |
14 | FW | Feki Tufi | 11 April 2000 | 2 | 0 | Veitongo |
Player records
edit- As of 6 September 2024[9]
- Players in bold are still active with Tonga.
Most appearances
editRank | Name | Caps | Goals | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kilifi Uele | 26 | 3 | 1996–2017 |
2 | Unaloto Feao | 17 | 7 | 2001–2017 |
3 | Lafaele Moala | 16 | 1 | 2003–2015 |
4 | Hemaloto Polovili | 16 | 4 | 2015–present |
5 | Folio Moeaki | 15 | 0 | 2004–2015 |
Sione Uhatahi | 15 | 1 | 2007–2019 | |
7 | Siu'a Ma'amaloa | 14 | 1 | 2001–2004 |
Kamaliele Papani | 14 | 0 | 2003–present | |
9 | Mark Uhatahi | 11 | 3 | 2003–2015 |
Fineasi Palai | 11 | 0 | 2011–present | |
Semisi 'Otukolo | 11 | 0 | 2017–present |
Top goalscorers
editRank | Name | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Unaloto Feao | 7 | 17 | 0.41 | 2001–2017 |
2 | Lokoua Taufahema | 5 | 7 | 0.71 | 2001–2011 |
3 | Hemaloto Polovili | 4 | 16 | 0.25 | 2015–present |
4 | Amone Suli | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2002 |
Amoni Fifita | 3 | 5 | 0.6 | 2023–present | |
Mark Uhatahi | 3 | 11 | 0.27 | 2003–2015 | |
Kilifi Uele | 3 | 26 | 0.12 | 1996–2017 | |
8 | Ma'ake Uhatahi | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2009 |
Petueli Tokotaha | 2 | 3 | 0.67 | 2017–2019 | |
Pio Palu | 2 | 7 | 0.29 | 2007–2011 | |
Timote Moleni | 2 | 8 | 0.25 | 1996–2001 | |
Filisione Taufahema | 2 | 8 | 0.25 | 2001–2002 |
Coaching staff
editCoaching history
edit- Tongia Nāpa'a (1979)
- Rudi Gutendorf (1981)
- Umberto Mottini (1997–1998)
- Gary Phillips (2001)
- Heinave Kaifa (2002–2003)
- Milan Janković (2003–2005)
- Ben Perry (2005–2006)
- Reece McLaughlin (2006–2007)
- Chris Williams (2011)
- Timote Moleni (2015–2023)
- Kilifi Uele (2024–present)
Competitive record
editFIFA World Cup
editFIFA World Cup | Qualification | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Host | Result | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | F | A | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | |
1930 to 1990 | Not member of FIFA | Not member of FIFA | ||||||||||||||
1994 | United States | Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||
1998 | France | Did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 13 | ||||||||
2002 | South Korea Japan |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 30 | |||||||||
2006 | Germany | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 17 | |||||||||
2010 | South Africa | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 10 | |||||||||
2014 | Brazil | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | |||||||||
2018 | Russia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | |||||||||
2022 | Qatar | Withdrew | Withdrew | |||||||||||||
2026 | Canada Mexico United States |
Did not qualify | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | ||||||||
2030 | Morocco Portugal Spain |
To be determined | To be determined | |||||||||||||
2034 | Saudi Arabia | |||||||||||||||
Total | — | 0/8 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 24 | 8 | 1 | 15 | 27 | 85 |
OFC Nations Cup
editOceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup record | Qualification record | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Result | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
1973 | Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||
1980 | |||||||||||||||
1996 | Did not qualify | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | ||||||||
1998 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 9 | |||||||||
2000 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 15 | |||||||||
2002 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 18 | |||||||||
2004 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 17 | |||||||||
2008 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 10 | |||||||||
2012 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | |||||||||
2016 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | |||||||||
2024 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | |||||||||
Total | — | 0/11 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 31 | 7 | 3 | 21 | 34 | 90 |
Pacific Games
edit
|
Pacific Mini Gamesedit
Polynesia Cupedit
|
Head-to-head record
editUp to matches played on 6 September 2024.
Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | WPCT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
American Samoa | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 34 | 12 | +22 | 80.00 |
Australia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 22 | −22 | 0.00 |
Cook Islands | 11 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 16 | −1 | 36.36 |
Micronesia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | +7 | 100.00 |
Fiji | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 17 | −16 | 0.00 |
New Caledonia | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 43 | −41 | 0.00 |
Papua New Guinea | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 20 | −18 | 0.00 |
Samoa[a] | 12 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 25 | −15 | 16.67 |
Solomon Islands | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 31 | −31 | 0.00 |
Tahiti | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 28 | −27 | 0.00 |
Tuvalu | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 13 | −7 | 0.00 |
Vanuatu[b] | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 33 | −31 | 0.00 |
Wallis and Futuna | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 50.00 |
Total | 69 | 16 | 6 | 47 | 81 | 263 | −182 | 23.19 |
Notes:
Honours
edit- Polynesia Cup
- Runners-up (1): 1994
Historical kits
edit
2001 Home
|
2001 Away
|
2009 Home
|
2009 Away
|
2011 Home
|
2011 Away
|
2015 Home
|
2015 Away
|
2017 Home
|
2017 Away
|
2019 Home
|
2019 Away
|
2023 Home
|
2023 Away
|
Sources:[10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 18 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
- ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 11 September 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ^ "Antigo(a) Tonga camisas de futebol". Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- ^ "Cook Islands vs Tonga". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ "Cook Islands vs Tonga". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ "Tonga vs Samoa". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ "Tonga vs Samoa". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ "Tuʻulalupe Squad". Face. Tonga Football.
- ^ "Tonga". National Football Teams.
- ^ "2001".
- ^ "2001".
- ^ "2009".
- ^ "2009".
- ^ "2011".
- ^ "2011".
- ^ "2015".
- ^ "2015".
- ^ "2017".
- ^ "2017".
- ^ "2019".
- ^ "2019".
- ^ "2023".