Marshall Islands national soccer team

Marshall Islands
Shirt badge/Association crest
AssociationMarshall Islands Soccer Federation (MISF)
Head coachLloyd Owers
CaptainSeth Sidle
Top scorerJosiah Blanton
Aaron Anitok-Brokken
(1)
Home stadiumMajuro Track and Field Stadium
FIFA codeMHL
First colours
Second colours
First international
  0–4 U.S. Virgin Islands 
(Springdale, United States; August 14, 2025)
Biggest win
none
Biggest defeat
  0–4 U.S. Virgin Islands 
(Springdale, United States; August 14, 2025)

The Marshall Islands national soccer team represents the Pacific island nation of the Marshall Islands in senior men's international soccer and is controlled by the Marshall Islands Soccer Federation. It is not a member of FIFA or OFC.[1][2]

History

Prior to 2020, the Marshall Islands Soccer Federation described themselves as the last country in the world without a national football team and one of the few sovereign nations globally to not be a member of FIFA and/or a regional governing body. The nation had virtually no soccer history, with sports such as baseball and basketball being played on the islands because of the nation's close ties to the United States.[3]

The Marshall Islands Soccer Federation was founded on 31 December 2020.[4]

In December 2021, the organization hired its first-ever Technical Director, British UEFA-licensed coach Lloyd Owers making the 13,000 km journey to the country in the summer of 2023. Owers would be responsible for creating the soccer structure for the nation from youth programs to the senior national team.[5]

In January 2024, the Marshall Islands held its first meet-up of players that would comprise the national team setup.[6]

By June 2025, it was announced that the federation was preparing to submit applications to the AFC and CONCACAF. Technical director Lloyd Owers stated that these two confederations were more open to membership.[7]

In August 2025, the federation hosted the 2025 Outrigger Challenge Cup, a competition for Micronesian islands teams. The tournament was played in Springdale, Arkansas as it was home to the largest Marshallese population outside of the islands. During the tournament, on 14 August 2025, Marshall Islands played its first game ever, a 0-4 defeat against US Virgin Islands[8] During their second game, against Turks and Caicos, Josiah Blanton scored Marshall Islands' first goal ever.[9]

Team image

Marshall Islands have relatively small population of about 60,000. However, an additional 20,000 to 30,000 Marshallese citizens live in the United States, predominantly in Hawaii and Arkansas. The soccer federation has stated that the team's foundation would be players based in the Marshall Islands, supplemented by the diaspora members. From 3 to 18 March 2023, the MISF ran a competition to determine a design for the team's first-ever kit. Over 150 designs were submitted from around the world.[10] The federation than announced the four finalists the following month.[11] The winning design was announced on 19 September 2023. Marshall Islands since revealed its first football shirt, signing a deal with PlayerLayer. It was available for purchase in the federation's online store.[12] The kits are produced from recycled plastic in hopes of raising awareness of climate change.[13]

Stadium

The national stadium of the Marshall Islands is the 2,000 capacity Majuro Track and Field Stadium, built as a venue for the Micronesian Games. It is a vital piece of infrastructure for the association's plans to join the Oceania Football Confederation and FIFA.[13][14][15][16]

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last twelve months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2025

August 14, 2025 2025 Outrigger Challenge Cup   0–4  U.S. Virgin Islands Springdale, Arkansas, United States
Report
  • Joseph 3', 42' (pen.), 61'
  • Catone-Highfield 80'
 Stadium: Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium
August 16, 2025 2025 Outrigger Challenge Cup   2–3  Turks and Caicos Islands Springdale, Arkansas, United States
  • Blanton 27'
  • Anitok-Brokken 72' (pen.)
 Report
  • Clervil 15', 32'
  • Paul 24'
 Stadium: Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium

Head-to-head record

As of match played August 16, 2025
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD WPCT
 Turks and Caicos Islands 1 0 0 1 2 3 −1 0.00
 U.S. Virgin Islands 1 0 0 1 0 4 −4 0.00
Total 2 0 0 2 2 7 −5 0.00
Source: [[1]]

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2025 Outrigger Challenge Cup.[17][18]

Caps and goals correct as of 18 August 2025

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Matt Perrella (1991-10-06) October 6, 1991 2 0
16 1GK Jon Koehler (1982-02-23) February 23, 1982 0 0
2 2DF Patrick Phelon (1986-08-05) August 5, 1986 2 0
3 2DF Matt Webb (1991-03-04) March 4, 1991 2 0 England Sidmouth Town
5 2DF Danny Razook (age 39) 2 0
6 2DF Josiah Blanton (2002-02-06) February 6, 2002 2 1 United States Ocean City Nor'easters
19 2DF Seth Sidle (captain) (2002-12-04) December 4, 2002 1 0 United States Susquehanna River Hawks
21 2DF Gladius Edejer (age 17) 0 0 United States Cheney Blackhawks
4 3MF Ben Hill (age 18) 0 0
7 3MF Zach Hill (age 22) 1 0
8 3MF Cullen Turanga (2006-09-07) September 7, 2006 1 0
10 3MF Lucas Schriver (age 20) 1 0 United States Wheaton Thunder
11 3MF Folliet Schutz (2002-03-28) March 28, 2002 1 0
12 3MF Vinay Kumar (age 18) 0 0 United States Williams Baptist Eagles
14 3MF Gabino Gallegos (age 18) 0 0
17 3MF Dominic Pace (age 18) 0 0
18 3MF Jaya Corder (2007-08-11) August 11, 2007 0 0
22 3MF David Nigro (1995-05-18) May 18, 1995 1 0 United States Jackson Lions
23 3MF Zach London (age 15) 0 0
9 4FW Karios Zinihite (2004-02-02) February 2, 2004 0 0
15 4FW Matt John (2001-03-21) March 21, 2001 0 0
20 4FW Aaron Anitok-Brokken (2007-08-14) August 14, 2007 2 1 United States Clark Penguins

Records

As of 16 August 2025

Players in bold are still active with Marshall Islands.

Top goalscorers

Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Aaron Anitok-Brokken 1 2 0.5 2025–present
Josiah Blanton 1 2 0.5 2025–present

References

  1. ^ Poole, Harry (October 10, 2023). "Marshall Islands: The last country on Earth without a national football team". BBC Sport. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  2. ^ Carbine, Melanie (October 30, 2023). "Coach hired, team still required: Soccer's status in the Marshall Islands is a work in progress". Associated Press. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  3. ^ Rogers, Martin (July 16, 2018). "Marshall Islands rare nation untouched by soccer's sprawling reach". USA Today. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  4. ^ Whitehead, Jacob (November 12, 2021). "The Marshall Islands: The last country on Earth without a football team". The Athletic. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  5. ^ Bjerkevoll, Ole (December 23, 2022). "Marshall Islands hire first ever technical director". Football in Oceania. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  6. ^ Walley, Justin. "The first ever Marshall Islands Soccer Federation national team meet up". Twitter (X). Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  7. ^ Long, Dan. "Marshall Islands: The last nation on Earth without a football team preparing for historic internationals". Sky Sports. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  8. ^ "Marshall Islands, last country without a football team, play first 11-a-side game in U.S." New York Times. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  9. ^ "Marshall Islands Soccer Federation". Facebook. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  10. ^ Nugraha, Dewa. "Historic-Marshall Islands Launch Competition for Nation's First-Ever Football Kit". footyheadlines.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  11. ^ "First-Ever Kit of Nation-4 Marshall Islands 2023 Home Kit Finalists Announced – Vote Now". footyheadlines.com. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  12. ^ "First-Ever Marshall Islands Kit Released". footyheadlines.com. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  13. ^ a b Whitehead, Jacob. "Marshall Islands revisited: The Englishmen taking football to the last country on Earth without a team". The Athletic. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  14. ^ Long, Dan (January 12, 2023). "Marshall Islands: Lloyd Owers appointed technical director of last country without a national football team". Sky Sports. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  15. ^ TFC (July 25, 2022). "Future Marshall Islands Stadium". TFC Stadiums. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  16. ^ Carbine, Melanie (September 13, 2023). "New Majuro Sports Team Raises Interest in Soccer for Marshallese Worldwide". Chikin Melele: Marshallese News from Arkansas. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  17. ^ MISF. "RMI squad announcement". Marshall Islands Soccer Federation. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  18. ^ MISF. "2025 Outrigger Challenge Cup Squad". Marshall Soccer Federation. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
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