Tuvalu Sports Ground

Tuvalu Sports Ground is a multi-use stadium in Funafuti, Tuvalu.^[1] It is currently used mostly for football and rugby matches. The stadium holds 1,500 people. It is the only stadium in Tuvalu, and therefore all football tournaments are played at the stadium: A-Division; Independence Cup; NBT Cup; Tuvalu Games and also the Christmas Cup. The Tuvalu national football team draws from players in the Tuvalu A-Division, with the national team training at the Tuvalu Sports Ground.

Tuvalu Sports Ground

Location	Funafuti, Tuvalu
Capacity	1,500
Surface	Grass
Opened	2004
Tenants
FC Manu Laeva FC Nanumaga FC Niutao FC Tofaga Lakena United Nauti FC Vaoloa Tamanuku Tuvalu national football team

The first large scale system for renewable energy in Tuvalu is a 40 kW solar panel installation on the roof of the Tuvalu Sports Ground stands.^[2][3] This grid-connected 40 kW solar system was established in 2008 by the E8 and Japan Government through Kansai Electric Company (Japan) and contributes 1% of electricity production on Funafuti.^[4] Future plans include expanding this plant to 60 kW.

Stadium info

Players training in the Tuvalu Sports Ground

The islands of Tuvalu are narrow atolls composed of coral, so a football field could only be located at the broadest part of the main island of Funafuti.

The football field on Tuvalu is built on a coral base, with river clay shipped in from Fiji to create a surface on which grass has grown. This improved the football field's condition, although the surface remains hard and is not uniformly flat.

The Tuvalu Islands Football Association has wanted since 1987 to be a member of FIFA.^[5] However, the lack of football and ancillary facilities in Tuvalu is a major obstacle for obtaining FIFA membership, because Tuvalu does not have any training grounds or hotels for visiting teams and supporters.^[6][7][8]

8°31′26″S 179°11′55″E

References

1. "Tuvalu - Stadiums". Prepared and maintained by Carlos Santos for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
2. Collins, Terry (19 July 2009). "Tuvalu hopes solar project inspires climate talks; nation sets goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2020". Eurek Alert!. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
3. "Drowning island pins hopes on clean energy". CNN EcoSolutions. 21 July 2009. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
4. Andrew McIntyre; Brian Bell & Solofa Uota (February 2012). ""Fakafoou – To Make New": Tuvalu Infrastructure Strategy and Investment Plan" (PDF). Government of Tuvalu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
5. "Tuvalu eye place in football family". FIFA. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. September 22, 2008
6. Frew, Craig (9 December 2013). "Tuvalu still dreams of joining Fifa's world football family". BBC Scotland. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
7. "No sports ground, no hotels so no to FIFA for Tuvalu – OFC". Radio Australia. 18 December 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
8. "OFC hits back at Tuvalu over FIFA bid". Australia Network News. 18 December 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2013.