Marshall Islands football team 'proud' of first ever match

'Last' footballing nation plays its first match

4 hours ago Share Save Galya Dimitrova BBC News Share Save

Marshall Islands Soccer Federation The Marshall Islands' first international team took on the US Virgin Islands in Springdale, Arkansas

A football team has said they "made history" of playing its first ever international match for its country. The Marshall Islands' first faced off the US Virgin Islands on Thursday in Springdale, Arkansas. Despite a 4-0 loss to the recognised FIFA nation, the Marshall Islands Soccer Federation posted on Facebook to say it was "so proud of what was accomplished". Head coach Lloyd Owers, from Banbury in Oxfordshire, previously said it was "definitely surreal" and that even the team "thought it wouldn't happen".

Marshall Islands Soccer Federation Lloyd Owers from Banbury was tasked to build the Marshall Islands' first international team three years ago

The Pacific Island nation is home to about 40,000 people and had previously been the self-proclaimed "last country on Earth without a football team". Its first match formed part of the 2025 Outrigger Challenge Cup - the Marshall Islands Soccer Federation annual competition to create more opportunities for nations in our region to play competitive soccer and raise awareness of the sport. The team's group shot after the game has an inscription "Whatever the score, so proud of what was accomplished. Tonight, we made history". They will also be playing against Turks and Caicos.

Marshall Islands Soccer Federation The country used to be the self-proclaimed last nation on Earth without a football team

The four team tournament in the US was organised by the Marshall Islands Soccer Federation, and is seen as first step towards the team joining FIFA and competing in World Cup qualifying matches. "We've got players that are coming from all different parts of the world, we've got a lot of US-based players that are experienced but we're also combining them with players from the Marshall Islands," Mr Owers said of the playing squad.

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