Tuvalu, formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island country located in the Pacific Ocean, situated in Oceania, about midway between Hawaii and Australia. It lies east-northeast of the Santa Cruz Islands, southeast of Nauru, south of Kiribati, west of Tokelau, northwest of Samoa and Wallis and Futuna and north of Fiji. It comprises three reef islands and six true atolls spread out between the latitude of 5° to 10° south and longitude of 176° to 180°, west of the International Date Line. Tuvalu has a population of 10,640. The total land area of the islands of Tuvalu is 26 square kilometres (10 sq mi).
The Tuvalu national football team is the international football team of Tuvalu. Football in Tuvalu is played at the club and international level. The Tuvalu national football team draws from players in the Tuvalu A-Division and trains at the Tuvalu Sports Ground on Funafuti. The national team competes in the Pacific Games. The national team is controlled by the Tuvalu National Football Association (TNFA), which is an associate member of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) but not a member of FIFA.
Tuvalu A-Division or The National Provident Fund Championship League (NPF) is the top football division in Tuvalu. Football in Tuvalu is played at club and national team level. The Tuvalu national football team draws from players in the Tuvalu A-Division; the national team competes in the Pacific Games and South Pacific Games. The national team is controlled by the Tuvalu National Football Association (TNFA).
Tuvalu competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, from 8 to 24 August 2008. This was the nation's first ever appearance in an Olympic Game. The delegation included two track and field athletes and one weightlifter. Okilani Tinilau and Asenate Manoa participated in athletics while Logona Esau participated in the weightlifting sport. Both track and field athletes achieved national records. Logona Esau led the Tuvaluan squad as the nation's flag bearer in the parade of nations.
The monarchy of Tuvalu is a system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign and head of state of Tuvalu. The present monarch of Tuvalu is Queen Elizabeth II, who is also the Sovereign of 15 other Commonwealth realms. The Queen's constitutional roles are mostly delegated to the Governor-General of Tuvalu.
Funafuti is an atoll on which the capital of the island nation of Tuvalu is located. It has a population of 6,025 people, making it the country's most populated atoll, with 56.6 percent of Tuvalu's population. It is a narrow sweep of land between 20 and 400 metres wide, encircling a large lagoon 18 km long and 14 km wide. The average depth in the Funafuti lagoon is about 20 fathoms. With a surface of 275 square kilometres (106.2 sq mi), it is by far the largest lagoon in Tuvalu. The land area of the 33 islets aggregates to 2.4 square kilometres (0.9 sq mi), less than one percent of the total area of the atoll. Cargo ships can enter Funafuti's lagoon and dock at the port facilities on Fongafale.
Tuvalu participates in the Olympic Games in the Summer Olympics. They have yet to compete at the Winter Games.
Association football is the most popular sport in Tuvalu. Football in Tuvalu is governed by the Tuvalu National Football Association (TNFA). The TNFA became an associate member association of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) on 15 November 2006. The TNFA has been wanting to be a member of FIFA since 1987.
FC Manu Laeva is a Tuvalu football club from Nukulaelae, playing in the Tuvalu A-Division.
Nauti FC is a Tuvalu football club from Funafuti, playing in the Tuvalu A-Division.
FC Nanumaga or Ha'apai United is a Tuvalu football club from Nanumanga, playing in the Tuvalu A-Division.
The 2012 Tuvalu A-Division is the 12th season of top flight association football in Tuvalu. The season began on 4 February 2012 and finished on 17 March 2012. The champions were Nauti FC who won their seventh league title.
The 2002 season of the Tuvalu A-Division was the second season of association football competition. FC Niutao won the championship, their second consecutive title.
The 2006 Tuvalu A-Division was the sixth season of association football competition. the league was won by Lakena United for the second time. the format of the league was changed for this season, rather than a single division, the teams were split into two pools, the winners of each pool then played each other in a single leg final to determine the champion. Kivoli Tehulu was the season's top scorer and Paueli Hemanaia won the player of the year award.
The 2007 Tuvalu A-Division was the third season of association football competition. The league was won by Nauti FC for the second time. the league returned to the single division format from the two pool format with a play-off used in the previous season. The league, which started on 17 February, was renamed, TNPF Soccer League.
The 2008 Tuvalu A-Division was the third season of association football competition. The league was won by Nauti FC for the second consecutive time and the third time overall. The league, containing 9 participating teams, which ran between February and October, was renamed, Premier League, having been called TNPF Soccer League the previous season.
The 2009 Tuvalu A-Division was the ninth season of association football competition. The league was won by Nauti FC for the third consecutive time and the fourth time overall. The league was renamed for the fourth consecutive season, this time being called the Funafuti League.
The 2010 Tuvalu A-Division was the tenth season of association football competition. The league was won by Nauti FC for the fourth consecutive time and the fifth time overall. For the 2010 season, the league was named the Funafuti League.
The 2013 Tuvalu A-Division is the 13th season of top flight association football in Tuvalu. The season started on 9 March 2013 and finished on 6 April 2013. The champions were Nauti FC who won their eighth league title.
