Tonga national football team

Tonga
Association	Tonga Football Association
Confederation	OFC (Oceania)
Head coach	Timote Moleni
Captain	Sione Uhatahi
Most caps	Kilifi Uele (26)
Top scorer	Unaloto Feao (7)
Home stadium	Loto-Tonga Soka Centre
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 national football team 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

Information

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. 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.

The second Goal project

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]}

Kit sponsorship

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

Fixtures and results

Following their withdrawal from qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup due to the 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai eruption and tsunami,^[4]^[5] Tonga have no matches scheduled. The team last competed at the 2019 Pacific Games.

13 March 2022 2022 World Cup qualification	Tonga	Cancelled	Cook Islands	Doha, Qatar
20:00 UTC+3		Report		Stadium: Al-Arabi Stadium
Note: Tonga withdrew from qualification due to the 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai eruption and tsunami, and therefore the Cook Islands advanced to the group stage.^[6]

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2019 Pacific Games.^{[citation needed]}

Caps and goals updated as of 18 July 2019, after the game against Papua New Guinea.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Mahe Malafu	(1998-02-24) 24 February 1998 (age 26)	8	0	Veitongo
20	1GK	Sinilau Taufa	(1995-02-10) 10 February 1995 (age 29)	3	0	Lotohaʻapai United
21	1GK	David Anau	(1999-06-04) 4 June 1999 (age 24)	1	0	Veitongo

2	2DF	Ofaloto Kite	(2000-04-26) 26 April 2000 (age 24)	2	0	Veitongo
4	2DF	Siuloa Fahina	(1994-04-01) 1 April 1994 (age 30)	9	0
5	2DF	Timote Fakasi'i'eiki	(1997-04-30) 30 April 1997 (age 27)	2	0	Veitongo
8	2DF	Sione Uhatahi (captain)	(1988-09-15) 15 September 1988 (age 35)	15	1	Veitongo
12	2DF	Semisi Otukolo	(1999-06-23) 23 June 1999 (age 24)	6	0	Haʻamoko United Youth
14	2DF	Sitaleki Fisi	(2000-02-11) 11 February 2000 (age 24)	2	0	Lotohaʻapai United

3	3MF	Pita Huni	(2001-02-25) 25 February 2001 (age 23)	4	0	Lotohaʻapai United
6	3MF	Kamaliele Papani	(1984-04-08) 8 April 1984 (age 40)	12	0
7	3MF	Vai Lutu	(1999-09-30) 30 September 1999 (age 24)	9	0	Veitongo
11	3MF	Tuia Falepapalangi	(2000-07-15) 15 July 2000 (age 23)	4	0	Lotohaʻapai United
13	3MF	Laulea Taufa	(1999-07-14) 14 July 1999 (age 24)	9	0	Navutoka
17	3MF	Fineasi Palei	(1989-06-23) 23 June 1989 (age 34)	10	0	Lotohaʻapai United
18	3MF	Petueli Tokotaha	(2000-09-10) 10 September 2000 (age 23)	3	2	Haʻamoko United Youth

9	4FW	Soeli Fakahafua	(2000-07-18) 18 July 2000 (age 23)	3	0
10	4FW	Hema Polovili	(1997-07-27) 27 July 1997 (age 26)	12	1	Veitongo
15	4FW	Lachman Atoa	(1998-12-05) 5 December 1998 (age 25)	4	0
16	4FW	Lafaele Moala	(1982-07-22) 22 July 1982 (age 41)	16	1	Veitongo

Player records

As of 18 July 2019^[7]

Players in bold are still active with Tonga.

Most capped players

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
4	Sione Uhatahi	15	1	2007–present
6	Siu'a Ma'amaloa	14	1	2001–2004
7	Hemaloto Polovili	12	1	2015–present
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

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
	Mark Uhatahi	3	11	0.27	2003–2015
	Kilifi Uele	3	26	0.12	1996–2017
6	Ma'ake Uhatahi	2	2	1	2009
	Petueli Tokotaha	2	3	0.67	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

Coaching history

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–present)

Competitive record

World Cup

FIFA World Cup record									FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930	Not member of FIFA								Not member of FIFA
1934
1938
1950
1954
1958
1962
1966
1970
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994	Did not enter								Did not enter
1998	Did not qualify								4	2	0	2	3	13
2002									4	2	0	2	7	30
2006									4	1	0	3	2	17
2010									4	1	0	3	6	10
2014									3	1	1	1	4	4
2018									3	0	0	3	1	8
2022	Withdrew								Withdrew
2026	To be determined								To be determined
Total	-	0/22	-	-	-	-	-	-	22	7	1	14	23	82

OFC Nations Cup

Tonga's OFC Nations Cup record									OFC Nations Cup qualification
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
2020	Cancelled								Cancelled
2024	To be determined								To be determined
Total	-	0/10	-	-	-	-	-	-	29	7	3	19	33	85

Pacific Games

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	To be determined
Total	Best: Group Stage	5/15	19	4	2	14	24	85

Pacific Mini Games

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	Best: Sixth place	2/3	8	0	0	8	5	44

Polynesia Cup

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	Best: Runners-up	3/3	11	3	2	6	13	28

Head-to-head record

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.

References

^ "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".
^ "Tonga withdraw from FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ OFC preliminary competition". FIFA. 29 January 2022.
^ "Tonga out of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 OFC preliminary competition following disaster". Oceania Football Confederation. 28 January 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
^ "Tonga withdraw from FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ OFC preliminary competition". FIFA. 29 January 2022.
^ "Tonga". National Football Teams.

[table_note_SAM0.86359498829748-8] Includes results as Western Samoa.

[table_note_VAN0.86359498829748-9] 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".

[4] "Tonga withdraw from FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ OFC preliminary competition". FIFA. 29 January 2022.

[5] "Tonga out of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 OFC preliminary competition following disaster". Oceania Football Confederation. 28 January 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2022.

[6] "Tonga withdraw from FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ OFC preliminary competition". FIFA. 29 January 2022.

[7] "Tonga". National Football Teams.

[1]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[a]

[b]

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.