The Tongan futsal team will face Fiji in the opening match of the 2023 OFC Futsal Nations Cup in Auckland, New Zealand on October 1. The match will be played at 7pm at the Eventfinda Stadium.
Tonga and Fiji are both familiar foes, having met in the group stage of the 2022 OFC Futsal Nations Cup in Fiji. On that occasion, Fiji won 9-0, but Tonga is hoping to put up a better fight this time around.
The Tongans are led by experienced players like Ben Mataele and Sione Tu’ipulotu, who both played in the 2022 FIFA Futsal World Cup. They will also be looking to the younger players in their squad, like Sione Taufa and Semisi Finau, to make a big impact.
Fiji is the defending champion of the OFC Futsal Nations Cup, and they will be looking to win the tournament again in 2023. They have a strong squad with players like Rahan Ali, Alvin Singh, and Nicholas Hira.
The match between Tonga and Fiji is sure to be a close one, and it could set the tone for the rest of the tournament. The winner of the match will take a big step towards qualifying for the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup.
In addition to Tonga and Fiji, the other teams in Group A of the 2023 OFC Futsal Nations Cup are New Zealand and Vanuatu. The top two teams in each group will advance to the semifinals.
The 2023 OFC Futsal Nations Cup is the qualifying tournament for the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup. The top three teams from the tournament will qualify for the World Cup, which will be held in Uzbekistan.