TFA CEO Lui Aho is excited to be welcoming the region’s up-and-coming women’s footballers to Nuku’alofa.
“Women’s football is a major focus for the Tonga Football Association with our women’s teams appearing regularly on the regional stage at these events,” he says.
“It will be a real treat for local fans to see our young side in action on home soil, as well as each competing nation.”
Five teams are set to contest this year’s edition, all of them hoping to earn a berth alongside Papua New Guinea at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in 2016.
New Caledonia, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu have all signed on for the tournament which will be held at the Loto-Tonga Soka Centre in Nuku’alofa from 1-10 October.
Tonga is currently playing host to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Qualifiers – OFC Stage 1 putting them in good stead to welcome the women just over a month later.
The competition will follow a round robin based on a league format. There will be two matches played per match day, with one side sitting it out with a bye.
The side at the top of the standings at the conclusion of the final match day will qualify directly to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea in 2016.