On 28 August 1979 the Tuvalu national football team, captained by Karl Tili, played the first official soccer game against Tahiti in the Pacific Games at Suva, Fiji.
Tuvalu loses 18–0.
Later in the tournament on 31 August Tuvalu wins for the first time against Tonga with the final score of 5–3.

On 1 May 2003 Tuvalu plays a friendly game against Fiji with a 9–0 loss.

Tuvalu also participated in four games at the 2003 South Pacific Games again held in Fiji, with Tim Jerks as the coach.
After defeating Kiribati 3–2 in their opening game, Tuvalu again played Fiji, in this game Fiji won 4–0.
In the game against Vanuatu, Tuvalu was defeated 1–0.
In the final game of the tournament against Solomon Islands, Tuvalu was defeated 4–0.
Tuvalu finished fourth out of five in Pool A.
The TNFA became an associate member association of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) on 15 November 2006.
Tuvalu participated in the 2007 Pacific Games held in Samoa, with Toakai Puapua as the coach, and Petio Semaia as the captain.
Tuvalu is the first country, that as a non-FIFA-member, has taken part in an official FIFA World Cup-qualification tournament.
The situation arose when the regional governing body used the 2007 South Pacific Games, as the first stage of the qualification tournament for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and qualification tournament for the 2008 OFC Nations Cup.
In the competition Fiji defeated Tuvalu 16–0.
However Tuvalu fought hard against New Caledonia (who were joint leaders of the competition) and only lost 1–0.
Tuvalu then drew 1–1 with Tahiti,  with a late equaliser from Viliamu Sekifu.
However the Cook Islands defeated Tuvalu 4–1.

In recent years the TNFA have received support from the Netherlands.

In 2011 the TNFA signed Dutch coach Foppe de Haan as the coach on a part-time and volunteer basis.

De Haan previously coached SC Heerenveen, Ajax Cape Town and the Dutch national U-21 team.
In the friendly match in the lead-up to the 2011 Pacific Games, with Tuvalu captained by Mau Penisula, De Haan started his tenure with a 3–0 victory over Samoa,  the second largest victory of Tuvalu.
Alopua Petoa scored all three goals.

De Haan's second match in charge saw a record 4–0 victory recorded over American Samoa in the first match of their 2011 Pacific Games campaign, with a hat-trick from 19-year-old Alopua Petoa.
The third match was not as successful, with the side going down 5–1 to Vanuatu.
After losing 8–0 to New Caledonia, and 6–1 to Solomon Islands, the Tuvaluan team drew the game with Guam 1–1.
The Tuvaluan team finished in fourth place in Group A (equal with Guam), with a record number of goals.
This is the best performance by Tuvalu in an international tournament.

De Haan left his post after the tournament to rejoin Heerenveen's youth programme.

On 1 May 2012 Stevan de Geijter was appointed as the head of Youth Development at the TNFA.
Former NAC Breda and De Graafschap coach Leen Looijen was the team's mentor during their three-month training tour of the Netherlands in 2013, with the tour organised by the Dutch Support Tuvalu Foundation.

Since 2014 Toakai Puapua has been the president of the TNFA.
On 28 August 1979 the Tuvalu national football team, captained by Karl Tili, played the first official soccer game against Tahiti in the Pacific Games at Suva, Fiji. Tuvalu loses 18–0. Later in the tournament on 31 August Tuvalu wins for the first time against Tonga with the final score of 5–3.
On 1 May 2003 Tuvalu plays a friendly game against Fiji with a 9–0 loss.
Tuvalu also participated in four games at the 2003 South Pacific Games again held in Fiji, with Tim Jerks as the coach. After defeating Kiribati 3–2 in their opening game, Tuvalu again played Fiji, in this game Fiji won 4–0. In the game against Vanuatu, Tuvalu was defeated 1–0. In the final game of the tournament against Solomon Islands, Tuvalu was defeated 4–0. Tuvalu finished fourth out of five in Pool A.
The TNFA became an associate member association of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) on 15 November 2006. Tuvalu participated in the 2007 Pacific Games held in Samoa, with Toakai Puapua as the coach, and Petio Semaia as the captain. Tuvalu is the first country, that as a non-FIFA-member, has taken part in an official FIFA World Cup-qualification tournament. The situation arose when the regional governing body used the 2007 South Pacific Games, as the first stage of the qualification tournament for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and qualification tournament for the 2008 OFC Nations Cup. In the competition Fiji defeated Tuvalu 16–0. However Tuvalu fought hard against New Caledonia (who were joint leaders of the competition) and only lost 1–0. Tuvalu then drew 1–1 with Tahiti,  with a late equaliser from Viliamu Sekifu. However the Cook Islands defeated Tuvalu 4–1.
In recent years the TNFA have received support from the Netherlands.
In 2011 the TNFA signed Dutch coach Foppe de Haan as the coach on a part-time and volunteer basis.
De Haan previously coached SC Heerenveen, Ajax Cape Town and the Dutch national U-21 team. In the friendly match in the lead-up to the 2011 Pacific Games, with Tuvalu captained by Mau Penisula, De Haan started his tenure with a 3–0 victory over Samoa,  the second largest victory of Tuvalu. Alopua Petoa scored all three goals.
De Haan's second match in charge saw a record 4–0 victory recorded over American Samoa in the first match of their 2011 Pacific Games campaign, with a hat-trick from 19-year-old Alopua Petoa. The third match was not as successful, with the side going down 5–1 to Vanuatu. After losing 8–0 to New Caledonia, and 6–1 to Solomon Islands, the Tuvaluan team drew the game with Guam 1–1. The Tuvaluan team finished in fourth place in Group A (equal with Guam), with a record number of goals. This is the best performance by Tuvalu in an international tournament.
De Haan left his post after the tournament to rejoin Heerenveen's youth programme.
On 1 May 2012 Stevan de Geijter was appointed as the head of Youth Development at the TNFA. Former NAC Breda and De Graafschap coach Leen Looijen was the team's mentor during their three-month training tour of the Netherlands in 2013, with the tour organised by the Dutch Support Tuvalu Foundation.
Since 2014 Toakai Puapua has been the president of the TNFA.
Tuvalu National Football Association