As the FIFA World Cup Qualifier 2026 kicks off in the Oceania region, the Tonga National Men’s Football team, known as Tu’ulalupe, is ready to face the Cook Islands in their must-win opener. The excitement and anticipation were evident as Coach Kilifi Uele and his squad addressed the media in a press conference earlier today.
Coach Uele spoke candidly about the pressure that comes with leading the team in such a prestigious campaign. “For us, the coaches in the World Cup qualifying campaign, it puts us under a lot of pressure, but that’s part of life,” Uele remarked. “What you do under that pressure makes the difference.”
This tournament marks a significant step for Tonga, as the national team will feature six overseas-based players for the first time. Despite this, Coach Uele emphasized that his trust lies in the players he has developed locally. “I rely on the players that I’ve trained, even though they are locals, to do the job and represent the country. At the end of the day, they will do what they have been taught to do on the field. Plus, with the overseas players joining in, I believe we have a good competitive team to advance to the second stage of the World Cup Qualifier,” he added confidently.
Tu’ulalupe boasts a young but battle-tested team. Most of the players have already represented Tonga at various youth levels and are now stepping up to the senior stage. Leading the charge is captain Hemaloto Polovili, a seasoned player who made his national team debut at just 16 years old. Now a key figure, Polovili is supported by veteran Fineasi Palei, who is embarking on his third World Cup Qualifying campaign.
At the other end of the spectrum, 16-year-old Hakeai Fonua is the youngest member of the team. Fonua, who captained the Tonga U16 side to a famous victory against Papua New Guinea earlier this year, is seen as a rising star and part of a core group of players who represented Tonga in the OFC U-19 Men’s Championship in Vanuatu.
With six of the squad members having played in the U-19 Championship, Coach Uele believes his young side is well-prepared to take on the challenges ahead. “We have a good balance of youth and experience, and the players are ready to make their mark on the big stage,” he declared.
Tonga enters the competition as one of the lower-ranked teams in the region, but Coach Uele remains optimistic about their chances. “With due respect, I know we are in the bottom four, but we are Polynesian, and we are the warriors of the Pacific,” he said with pride.
When asked about the potential impact of advancing to the next stage, Uele highlighted the significance for both the nation and the region. “If we advance to the next stage, it will create history for the region and inspire the younger generations. We are growing the game and increasing participation, but we are already moving towards a high-performance phase. Advancing would help us tremendously in growing football in Tonga.”
The official playing squad will be announced later today as Tu’ulalupe prepares for their first match against the Cook Islands tomorrow at 3:00 PM Tonga time. A victory could propel Tonga towards the next match against the winner of the Samoa and American Samoa match.
The journey to 2026 starts now for Tonga, and the nation is rallying behind Tu’ulalupe to make their mark on the global stage.
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