Tonga national football team

Tonga
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
First colours	Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	201 5 (4 April 2024)
Highest	163 (October 1998)
Lowest	207 (April 2018, July 2019)
First international
	Tahiti 8–0 Tonga ; (Suva, Fiji; 29 August 1979)
Biggest win
	Tonga 7–0 Micronesia ; (Nausori, Fiji; 5 July 2003)
Biggest defeat
	Tonga 0–22 Australia ; (Coffs Harbour, Australia; 9 April 2001)

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.

History[edit]

Information[edit]

Football in Tonga[edit]

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. 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[edit]

Tonga'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[edit]

Kit sponsorship[edit]

Kit supplier^[3]	Period
Lotto	2007–2013
	2013–2017
Lotto	2018–

Fixtures and results[edit]

2023[edit]

18 November 2023 2023 Pacific Games	New Caledonia	7–0	Tonga	Honiara, Solomon Islands
16:00	Waya 2', 56', 62' Vakié 5' Zeoula 16' Wélépane 24' Katrawa 26'	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[edit]

20 March 2024 OFC Nations Cup qualification	Tonga	1–4	Samoa	Nuku'alofa, Tonga
14:00	Kite 90+5'	Report	Tumua 11' (pen.) Viliamu 45+1', 60' Stowers 89'	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

Current squad[edit]

The following players were called up for the 2023 Pacific Games.^[4]

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	1GK	Semisi ‘Otukolo	(1999-06-23) 23 June 1999 (age 24)	9	0	Veitongo
21	1GK	David-John Tuamoheloa		2	0	Manukau United
20	1GK	Justin Toetu’u		1	0	Longolongo

2	2DF	Petelo Naniseni	(2003-12-20) 20 December 2003 (age 20)	4	0	Navutoka
3	2DF	Kulisitofa Kite	(2003-01-17) 17 January 2003 (age 21)	3	0	Lavengatonga
4	2DF	Nicolas Vea	(2003-10-31) 31 October 2003 (age 20)	4	0	Navutoka
5	2DF	Sione Tu’ifangaloka	(1999-04-24) 24 April 1999 (age 24)	6	0	Veitongo
17	2DF	Ta’u Tupou		1	0	Vava'u
18	2DF	Fakaofo Tonga	(2004-10-29) 29 October 2004 (age 19)	3	0	Navutoka

6	3MF	Petueli Tokotaha	(2004-03-25) 25 March 2004 (age 20)	3	2	Longolongo
7	3MF	Tau’aika Sonasi		4	0	Marist
8	3MF	Christopher Kefu	(2003-02-11) 11 February 2003 (age 21)	4	0	Veitongo
9	3MF	Taniela Vaka’uta		2	0	Folaha
15	3MF	Petueli Tokotaha	(2000-09-10) 10 September 2000 (age 23)	6	2	Navutoka
16	3MF	Mohammed Rajani	(1999-04-19) 19 April 1999 (age 24)	4	1	Rockdale Ilinden

10	4FW	Amoni Fifita	(2004-06-26) 26 June 2004 (age 19)	4	2	Makave
11	4FW	Elias Kendler		3	1	Haʻamoko United Youth
12	4FW	Hemaloto Polovili	(1997-07-27) 27 July 1997 (age 26)	14	3	Veitongo
13	4FW	Nuku ‘Esau		3	0	Navutoka
14	4FW	Feki Tufi	(2000-04-11) 11 April 2000 (age 24)	2	0	Veitongo

Player records[edit]

As of 20 March 2024^[5]

Players in bold are still active with Tonga.

Most appearances[edit]

Rank	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	Folio Moeaki	15	0	2004–2015
	Sione Uhatahi	15	1	2007–2019
	Hemaloto Polovili	15	3	2015–present
7	Siu'a Ma'amaloa	14	1	2001–2004
8	Kamaliele Papani	11	0	2003–2019
8	Mark Uhatahi	11	3	2003–2015
10	Kava Huihahau	10	0	2003–2007
10	Viliami Taufahema	10	0	1996–2003

Top goalscorers[edit]

Rank	Name	Goals	Caps	Ratio	Career
1	Unaloto Feao	7	17	0.41	2001–2017
2	Lokoua Taufahema	5	7	0.71	2001–2011
3	Amone Suli	3	1	3	2002
	Amoni Fifita	3	5	0.6	2023–present
	Mark Uhatahi	3	11	0.27	2003–2015
	Hemaloto Polovili	3	15	0.2	2015–present
	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[edit]

Coaching 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[edit]

FIFA World Cup[edit]

FIFA 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	To be determined								To be determined
2030	Morocco Portugal Spain
2034	Saudi Arabia
Total		—	0/8	–	–	–	–	–	–	22	7	1	14	23	82

OFC Nations Cup[edit]

Oceania 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	Did not enter								Did not enter
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	—	0/10	–	–	–	–	–	–	31	7	3	21	34	90

Pacific Games[edit]

Pacific Games record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
1963	Did not enter
1966
1969
1971
1975
1979	Group stage	7th	4	1	0	3	5	20
1983	Group stage	7th	3	1	1	1	6	8
1987	Did not enter
1991
1995
2003	Group stage	7th	4	1	1	2	9	10
2007	Group stage	7th	4	1	0	3	6	10
2011	Did not enter
2015	N/A – tournament was U23
2019	Group stage	11th	4	0	0	4	0	37
2023	Group stage	11th	4	1	0	3	7	13
Total	Group stage	6/16	23	5	2	17	31	98

Pacific Mini Games[edit]

Pacific Mini Games record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
1981	Did not enter
1993	Group stage	7th	3	0	0	3	0	19
2017	Sixth place	6th	5	0	0	5	5	25
Total	Sixth place	2/3	8	0	0	8	5	44

Polynesia Cup[edit]

Polynesia Cup record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
1994	Runners-up	2nd	3	1	1	1	4	4
1998	Fourth place	4th	4	1	1	2	5	9
2000	Fourth place	4th	4	1	0	3	4	15
Total	Runners-up	3/3	11	3	2	6	13	28

Head-to-head record[edit]

Team v t e	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	9	3	2	4	12	14	−2	33.33
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]	11	2	3	6	9	21	−12	18.18
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	66	15	6	45	77	257	−180	22.73

Source: Results
Notes:

^ Includes results as Western Samoa.
^ Includes results as New Hebrides.

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:^[6] ^[7] ^[8] ^[9] ^[10] ^[11] ^[12] ^[13] ^[14] ^[15] ^[16] ^[17] ^[18]

References[edit]

^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
^ "Antigo(a) Tonga camisas de futebol". Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
^ "Tuʻulalupe Squad". Face. Tonga Football.
^ "Tonga". National Football Teams.
^ "2001".
^ "2001".
^ "2009".
^ "2009".
^ "2011".
^ "2011".
^ "2015".
^ "2015".
^ "2017".
^ "2017".
^ "2019".
^ "2019".
^ "2023".

External links[edit]

Tonga at OFC
Tonga at FIFA

[table_note_SAM0.66553379626271-6] Includes results as Western Samoa.

[table_note_VAN0.66553379626271-7] Includes results as New Hebrides.

[FIFA_World_Rankings-1] "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.

[World_Football_Elo_Ratings-2] Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.

[3] "Antigo(a) Tonga camisas de futebol". Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2020.

[4] "Tuʻulalupe Squad". Face. Tonga Football.

[5] "Tonga". National Football Teams.

[8] "2001".

[9] "2001".

[10] "2009".

[11] "2009".

[12] "2011".

[13] "2011".

[14] "2015".

[15] "2015".

[16] "2017".

[17] "2017".

[18] "2019".

[19] "2019".

[20] "2023".

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v t e Tonga national football team
General	Tonga Football Association History Managers
Venues	Tonga Football Association Stadium Loto-Tonga Soka Centre
Statistics	Records
Results	1979–present
Players	List of players
Notable matches	Tonga 0–22 Australia
Other TFA teams	U-23 U-20 U-17 Futsal Women's

v t e National football teams of Oceania (OFC)
OFC Nations Cup
Active	American Samoa Cook Islands FS Micronesia² Fiji Kiribati¹ New Caledonia New Zealand Niue² Palau² Papua New Guinea Samoa Solomon Islands Tahiti Tonga Tuvalu¹ Vanuatu
Former	Australia (moved to AFC in 2006) Northern Mariana Islands³ (moved to AFC in 2009) Chinese Taipei (Taiwan)⁴ (returned to AFC in 1989)
¹ Associate member of OFC - Not a member of FIFA ² Not a member of OFC and consequently not a member of FIFA ³ Northern Mariana Islands was only an associate member of OFC between 1998 and 2009 - Not a member of FIFA ⁴ Although not geographically in Oceania, Chinese Taipei was a member of the OFC between 1976–1978 and 1982–1989 Although not geographically in Oceania Israel entered OFC World Cup qualification in 1986 and 1990 due to political reasons, though it never became a formal OFC member.