Tongan club Nukuhetulu FC is set to embark on an exciting journey as they make their continental debut in the OFC Men’s Champions League 2026 – Qualifying, taking place in Apia, Samoa, this weekend. With this participation, they will join a small, elite group, becoming only the third club from Tonga to compete at this level, following the precedents set by Lotoha’apai United and Veitongo FC, who have represented Tonga in the OFC Men’s Champions League since 1999.
Coach Lafaele Moala, a former Tongan international and long-time player for Lotoha’apai United, expressed the team’s determination, stating, “We might be a new team, and the new kids on the block, but we are in this competition to win.” Moala, who guided Nukuhetulu FC to success in the Tonga Major League and Challenge Cup in 2025, is returning to the arena of Oceania’s premier club competition as a coach, a role in which he aims to lead his team further than their predecessors.
The excitement surrounding the team is palpable, as Moala explained, “The players are very excited to compete in the OFC Men’s Champions League. This is the first time that they’ve been able to compete against other champion clubs from within the Pacific.” Nukuhetulu FC, which only made their senior debut in 2020, has quickly built a winning strategy, achieving domestic success that few Tongan clubs have matched.
The opportunity to compete on such a grand scale is significant for the club, as Moala highlighted, “It means a lot to us to compete on the continental stage, and it shows to other clubs that nothing is impossible. If we can do it, they can also do it.” A key objective for Nukuhetulu FC will be to win the qualifying stage and secure a spot in the final tournament in Fiji in August—a feat that neither Veitongo FC nor Lotoha’apai United has accomplished in the past.
The qualifying tournament is scheduled from January 31 to February 6, with all matches set to take place at Samoa Football HQ in Apia. Nukuhetulu FC will commence their campaign against Tupapa Maraerenga FC from the Cook Islands, followed by matches against Pago Youth FC from American Samoa, and the host club, Vaivase-Tai FC from Samoa, as they prepare to navigate three games within just seven days.
This initiative represents a significant milestone for Nukuhetulu FC and Tonga’s football landscape, exemplifying the potential for growth and success in the sport within the Pacific region. As they take their first continental steps, the club aims not only for victory but also to inspire other Tongan teams to reach for similar heights.