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Tonga national football team

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Tonga
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Tu’Ulalupe
AssociationTonga Football Association
ConfederationOFC (Oceania)
Head coachKilifi Uele
CaptainHemaloto Polovili
Most capsKilifi Uele (26)
Top scorerUnaloto Feao (7)
Home stadiumTeufaiva Sport Stadium
Tonga Football Association Stadium
FIFA codeTGA
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 199 Steady (28 November 2024)[1]
Highest163 (October 1998–December 1998)
Lowest211 (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

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Information

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Football in Tonga

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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

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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

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Kit sponsorship

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

Fixtures and results

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2023

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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

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20 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)
28 August Friendly Nadi F.C. Fiji v  Tonga Nadi, Fiji
19:00 UTC+12 Stadium: Prince Charles Park
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)

Coaching history

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Players

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Current squad

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The following players were called up for the 2026 World Cup qualification matches in September 2024.[8]

Caps and goals updated as of 9 September 2024, after the game against Samoa.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Semisi ‘Otukolo (1999-06-23) 23 June 1999 (age 25) 12 0 Tonga Veitongo
1GK Unaloto Pahulu (2006-10-18) 18 October 2006 (age 18) 0 0 Tonga Folaha

2DF Kulisitofa Kite (2003-01-17) 17 January 2003 (age 21) 7 1 Tonga Veitongo
2DF Petelo Naniseni (2003-12-20) 20 December 2003 (age 20) 7 0 Tonga Navutoka
2DF David-John Tuamoheloa (2004-06-30) 30 June 2004 (age 20) 6 0 New Zealand Manukau United
2DF Petelo Manu (2005-12-19) 19 December 2005 (age 18) 2 0 Tonga Marist
2DF Viliami Tikoipau (2001-01-07) 7 January 2001 (age 23) 2 1 New Zealand Manukau United
2DF Utu'one Lea'aetoa (2005-02-16) 16 February 2005 (age 19) 1 0 Tonga Veitongo

3MF Fineasi Palei (1989-05-20) 20 May 1989 (age 35) 12 0 Australia Launceston City
3MF Christopher Kefu (2003-02-11) 11 February 2003 (age 21) 6 1 Tonga Veitongo
3MF Ulafala Sonasi (2007-07-28) 28 July 2007 (age 17) 4 1 Tonga Marist
3MF Topuluka Tuamoheloa 3 0 New Zealand Lower Hutt City
3MF Va'inga Teu (2006-02-12) 12 February 2006 (age 18) 2 0 Tonga Fahefa
3MF Tomasi Armitage (2005-05-26) 26 May 2005 (age 19) 1 0 New Zealand Waikato Unicol
3MF Hakeai Fonua (2008-09-01) 1 September 2008 (age 16) 0 0 Tonga Ahau
3MF Herick Funaki (2003-08-07) 7 August 2003 (age 21) 0 0 Tonga Longolongo
3MF Maikeli Lomu (1997-10-29) 29 October 1997 (age 27) 0 0 Tonga Veitongo

4FW Hemaloto Polovili (1997-07-27) 27 July 1997 (age 27) 17 4 Tonga Veitongo
4FW Lisiate Feke (2004-03-25) 25 March 2004 (age 20) 8 0 Tonga Veitongo
4FW Amoni Fifita (2004-06-26) 26 June 2004 (age 20) 8 3 Tonga Makave
4FW Vilikisepi Tai (2006-02-24) 24 February 2006 (age 18) 4 0 Tonga Fahefa
4FW Viliami Tukia (2001-01-07) 7 January 2001 (age 23) 2 0 Fiji Lami
4FW Ata Inia (2000-04-25) 25 April 2000 (age 24) 0 0 Thailand Chanthaburi

Recent call-ups

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The following players have been called up within the last 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Nimilote Moala (2003-07-18) 18 July 2003 (age 21) 1 0 Tonga Veitongo v.  Cook Islands; 26 March 2024
GK Justin Toetu’u 1 0 Tonga Longolongo 2023 Pacific Games

DF Atieli 'Aho (2007-01-23) 23 January 2007 (age 17) 2 0 Tonga Nukuhetulu v.  Samoa; 9 September 2024 PRE
DF Laulea Taufa (1999-07-14) 14 July 1999 (age 25) 11 0 Tonga Veitongo v.  Cook Islands; 26 March 2024
DF Sione Talia'uli (2006-05-29) 29 May 2006 (age 18) 2 0 Tonga Fasi-Moe-Afi v.  Cook Islands; 26 March 2024
DF Sione Tu’ifangaloka (1999-04-24) 24 April 1999 (age 25) 6 0 Tonga Veitongo 2023 Pacific Games
DF Nicolas Vea (2003-10-31) 31 October 2003 (age 21) 4 0 Tonga Navutoka 2023 Pacific Games
DF Fakaofo Tonga (2004-10-29) 29 October 2004 (age 20) 3 0 Tonga Navutoka 2023 Pacific Games
DF Ta’u Tupou 1 0 Tonga Vava'u 2023 Pacific Games

MF Kamaliele Papani (1984-04-08) 8 April 1984 (age 40) 14 0 Tonga Veitongo v.  Cook Islands; 26 March 2024
MF Vai Lutu (1999-09-30) 30 September 1999 (age 25) 11 0 Tonga Veitongo v.  Cook Islands; 26 March 2024
MF Tuia Falepapalangi (2000-07-15) 15 July 2000 (age 24) 6 0 Tonga Veitongo v.  Cook Islands; 26 March 2024
MF Mohammed Rajani (1999-04-19) 19 April 1999 (age 25) 6 1 Australia Rockdale Ilinden v.  Cook Islands; 26 March 2024
MF Tau’aika Sonasi 5 0 Tonga Marist v.  Cook Islands; 26 March 2024
MF Petueli Tokotaha (2000-09-10) 10 September 2000 (age 24) 6 2 Tonga Navutoka 2023 Pacific Games
MF Petueli Tokotaha (2004-03-25) 25 March 2004 (age 20) 3 0 Tonga Longolongo 2023 Pacific Games
MF Taniela Vaka’uta 2 0 Tonga Folaha 2023 Pacific Games

DF Lafaela Moala (1982-07-22) 22 July 1982 (age 42) 0 0 Unattached v.  Samoa; 9 September 2024 PRE
FW Elias Kendler 4 1 Tonga Haʻamoko United Youth v.  Cook Islands; 26 March 2024
FW Feki Tufi (2000-04-11) 11 April 2000 (age 24) 2 0 Tonga Veitongo v.  Cook Islands; 26 March 2024
FW William Foliaki 0 0 Unknown v.  Cook Islands; 26 March 2024
FW Nuku ‘Esau 3 0 Tonga Navutoka 2023 Pacific Games

Player records

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As of 9 September 2024[9]
Players in bold are still active with Tonga.

Most appearances

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Rank Name Caps Goals Career
1 Kilifi Uele 26 3 1996–2017
2 Unaloto Fea'o 17 7 2001–2017
Hemaloto Polovili 17 4 2015–present
4 Lafaele Moala 16 1 2003–2015
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 Semisi 'Otukolo 12 0 2017–present
Fineasi Palei 12 0 2011–present

Top goalscorers

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Rank Name Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Unaloto Fea'o 7 17 0.41 2001–2017
2 Lokoua Taufahema 5 7 0.71 2001–2011
3 Hemaloto Polovili 4 17 0.24 2015–present
4 Amone Suli 3 1 3 2002
Amoni Fifita 3 8 0.38 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 6 0.33 2017–present
Pio Palu 2 7 0.29 2007–2011
Timote Moleni 2 8 0.25 1996–2001
Filisione Taufahema 2 8 0.25 2001–2002

Competitive record

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FIFA World Cup

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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
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

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Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup record Qualification record
Year Result Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
New Zealand 1973 Did not enter Did not enter
New Caledonia 1980
Pacific Community 1996 Did not qualify 3 1 1 1 4 4
Australia 1998 4 1 1 2 5 9
French Polynesia 2000 4 1 0 3 4 15
New Zealand 2002 4 1 0 3 7 18
Australia 2004 4 1 0 3 2 17
Pacific Community 2008 4 1 0 3 6 10
Solomon Islands 2012 3 1 1 1 4 4
Papua New Guinea 2016 3 0 0 3 1 8
Fiji Vanuatu 2024 2 0 0 2 1 5
Total 0/11 31 7 3 21 34 90

Pacific Games

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Head-to-head record

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Up 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] 13 2 3 8 11 27 −16 15.38
 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 70 16 6 48 82 265 −183 22.86
Source: Results
Notes:
  1. ^ Includes results as Western Samoa.
  2. ^ Includes results as New Hebrides.

Honours

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Regional

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Historical kits

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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

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References

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  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  2. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  3. ^ "Antigo(a) Tonga camisas de futebol". Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  4. ^ "Cook Islands vs Tonga". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  5. ^ "Cook Islands vs Tonga". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  6. ^ "Tonga vs Samoa". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Tonga vs Samoa". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Tuʻulalupe Squad". Facebook. Tonga Football.
  9. ^ "Tonga". National Football Teams.
  10. ^ "2001".
  11. ^ "2001".
  12. ^ "2009".
  13. ^ "2009".
  14. ^ "2011".
  15. ^ "2011".
  16. ^ "2015".
  17. ^ "2015".
  18. ^ "2017".
  19. ^ "2017".
  20. ^ "2019".
  21. ^ "2019".
  22. ^ "2023". YouTube. 18 November 2023.
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