Fighting hard for acceptance
Tiny Pacific nation desperate for FIFA recognition
With little money for development, no Tuvaluan club has ever played abroad
The remote South Pacific island of Tuvalu was one of the few parts of the world to escape the COVID-19 pandemic. Formerly part of the British territory of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, Tuvalu became independent in 1978, and consists of nine atolls with a landmass of 26km squared and a population of 11,500. Unlike many other Pacific islands, football rather than rugby is the main sport and was played throughout the pandemic.
Nauti FC, from the main island of Funafuti where half the population lives, are traditionally the league’s most dominant side, but were pipped to the 2021 National Provident Fund Championship League title by Tofaga.
Tofaga are based on the largest atoll of Vaitupu, which has a population of around 1,000 people but is still able to field teams in Tuvalu’s two male divisions and the women’s competition. “Every island has two men’s teams, and only some islands have a women’s team,” explains Soseala Tinilau, president of the Tuvalu Islands Football Association (TIFA). This season, Lakena United from Nanumea atoll, Tamanuku from Nukufetau and Vaoloa Nui all ran three sides and only Niutao, Nukulaelae and Ha’apai from Nanumaga were unable to enter a women’s team.
Tuvalu has toured Europe twice, visiting the Netherlands for a threemonth tour in 2013 then taking part in the 2018 CONIFA World Football Cup in London, a competition for teams that aren’t recognised by FIFA. However, the islanders have not played since a 13-0 hammering by the Solomon Islands in July 2019 at the Pacific Games football tournament in Samoa.
The development of football on Tuvalu is remarkable given the island’s isolation and its status as one of only a handful of independent nations recognised by the United Nations but not accepted by FIFA.
Tinilau adds: “We need to become a full Oceania Football Confederation member first, then become a FIFA member. We’ve tried in the past to email FIFA for help but there is always a need to go back to OFC.”
UN recognition is usually the main criteria for international acceptance, but Tuvalu’s lack of facilities – including a stadium and hotel – has been the main stumbling block. With little money for development, no Tuvaluan club has ever played abroad.
“So far, no clubs have entered OFC competitions as we are only an associate member of OFC and are yet to be a full member,” explains Tinilau. “Hopefully, OFC will invite TIFA to compete in some of their competitions this year, as mentioned in our correspondence with OFC management officers.
“TIFA’s competing at the international level depends on the current situation because of travel restrictions, and the issue of finance will come into play as TIFA needs a substantial amount of money to compete at the international level.”
Tuvalu want to join FIFA and are being helped by the OFC, who are providing NZ$30,000 this year and in 2022.
Steffi Ah Yuk, the OFC’s head of communications, says that this money is to help with “national team development, corporate governance, and administration as well as football development programmes”, which need to be addressed in both islands before Tuvalu can become a full OFC member.
Only then can Tinilau and his fellow Tuvaluans start to consider their ultimate goal of FIFA membership.