This Polynesian island nation is located in the Pacific Ocean, roughly midway between Hawaii and Australia. Formerly known as the Ellice Islands, it is made up of nine islands – three reef islands and six atolls – with a total land area of about 26 square kilometres (10 square miles), making it one of the smallest and least populous countries in the world.

Their traditional sport is called kilikiti, which closely resembles modern-day cricket. Another traditional game that remains very popular in Tuvalu is Ano, played with two round balls made from pandanus leaves under rules similar to volleyball.

Other traditional sports of the islands include foot racing, quarterstaff fencing, lance throwing, and wrestling.

When it comes to modern sport, the most popular game in Tuvalu is football (soccer), governed by the Tuvalu National Football Association, which has been an associate member of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) since 2006. In September 2025, Tuvalu returned to official OFC competition for the first time in fourteen years, taking part in the OFC Futsal Men's Cup in Fiji.

Despite football's popularity, Tuvalu is still not a full member of FIFA, held back by a shortage of training facilities, stadiums, and accommodation for visiting teams – the country famously has no full-size grass pitch, and its athletes are often seen training on the runway of Funafuti International Airport. The national association continues to work towards fuller international recognition.

Below are details of sports, sporting events, and sports people related to Tuvalu. Is there something missing? If you know of something that should be listed here, please let us know.

Popular sports of Tuvalu

Traditional & Unique Sports of Tuvalu

  • Kilikiti - similar to cricket
  • Te Ano — (meaning 'the ball') which is a local version of volleyball

Tuvalu Sporting Success

  • Telupe Iosefa won Tuvalu's first-ever Pacific Games gold medal in the powerlifting 120 kg division at the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby, then successfully defended the title at the 2019 Games in Apia.
  • Tuvalu won five silver medals at the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara
  • Weightlifting and powerlifting have been the country's most successful sports at regional level.

Great athletes from Tuvalu

  • Telupe Iosefa - powerlifter, Tuvalu's first Pacific Games gold medallist (2015, 2019)
  • Tuau Lapua Lapua - weightlifter, Olympic representative
  • Karalo Maibuca - sprinter and national 100 m record holder (2024 Paris Olympics)
  • Manuila Raobu - weightlifter (2023 Pacific Games silver)

Tuvalu Sports trivia

  • Tuvalu attended its first Commonwealth Games in 1998 with one weightlifter.
  • Tuvalu first competed at the Olympic Games in 2008 and has appeared at every Summer Olympics since; through the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, the country has not won an Olympic medal.
  • With no full-size sports field, Tuvaluan athletes frequently train on the runway of Funafuti International Airport, which doubles as the nation's main open space for sport and recreation.

Tuvalu at major events

Annual sporting events held in Tuvalu

  • Tuvalu Games – a national inter-island sporting competition contested between the country's island communities.

Sporting Facilities in Tuvalu

  • Tuvalu Sports Ground, Funafuti – the country's national sports ground and main venue for football and community sport.