 | |
| Founded |
|
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Kolonia, Pohnpei, FS Micronesia |
| FIFA affiliation | Not Affiliated |
| OFC Not Affiliated | |
| President |  Alex Panuelo |
| Website | Official website |
The Federated States of Micronesia Football Association or FSMFA is the governing body of football in the Federated States of Micronesia, and of the national team. They are not a member of FIFA or a regional confederation.
Association football has been played in the Federated States of Micronesia informally, and at the school level, for over 20 years. It was not until 1992 that a serious attempt was made to improve the level of organized play in the country, especially among the indigenous populations of the states that make up the Federated States of Micronesia. This was accomplished by the introduction of the sport among people of all ages.
In Pohnpei, a football league was started culminating with periodic statewide tournaments. In Yap, a single club team was started with matches scheduled with teams from visiting ships. In Kosrae, a league especially for younger children was formed.
Three years ago the Federated States of Micronesia was admitted into the Oceania Division of the International Olympic Committee. However, under the charter of the National Olympic Committee, they could not devote any funds to football development until the international governing body for football, namely FIFA, recognizes the program. Consequently, the football programs that have been developed have come about as a result of donations from the private sector in the states, and more recently, through the assistance of the Federated States of Micronesia Football Association.
There are approximately 150 adult players in the Federated States of Micronesia; approximately 500 youth players, three volunteer referees and five amateur coaches. None of the players, coaches or referees are professional. There are no professional clubs in the country. There are amateur club teams that play within three of the four states of the country (Chuuk, Pohnpei and Yap). The fourth state, Kosrae, plays football only in an unorganized fashion.
Owing to the great distance between the four states that make up the Federated States of Micronesia, there has not yet been a competition between clubs from different states. However, the inclusion of football in the 3rd FSM games held in Yap in July 2001 offered the opportunity for the state teams to compete against each other. At present, there are five fields in the country that are of sufficient size and quality that can be used for matches. The two best ones are in Yap. The FSM is fortunate that a sophisticated sports complex was built in Yap for the FSM Games. The complex includes a regulation-size football field, complete with covered stands and lights for night games.
A team from Yap was invited to participate in the Micronesian Games that were held in the Republic of Palau in August 1998. Given that it was their first international event, and that the Yap team were mostly young boys ages 14 – 21, they won two of their six games played. In attendance at the Micronesian Games were two professional FIFA referees, sent to Palau from the Japan Football Association (they had both recently come from attending and participating in the 1998 FIFA World Cup held in France). They encouraged the Federated States of Micronesia to apply for FIFA accreditation.
In January 1999, the Federated States of Micronesia Football Association (FSMFA) was formed. The FSMFA functions to guide all aspects of football development in the country. Its members are state football associations, football clubs and football organizations within the Federated States of Micronesia.
The leadership of the association was invited by FIFA to attend the 52nd Ordinary FIFA Congress in Zürich, Switzerland, held 4–5 August 2000. At the congress, FSMFA and FIFA officials met to discuss the status of the FSMFA's application for membership. In the meantime, the FSMFA is concentrating on the further development of football in all four FSM states. It hopes to sponsor a training course for coaches as well as referees in the four states. Building upon the recent enthusiasm generated at the FSM Games, plans are underway to initiate the formation of teams for girls and women in Yap, Pohnpei and Chuuk.
In 2006, the FSMFA was recognized as a possible future associate member of the Oceania Football Confederation.
In 2023, the Federated States of Micronesia Football Association (FSMFA) successfully orchestrated its inaugural tournament, namely the "2023 Micronesian Futsal Cup," bringing together the four constituent states of the Federated States of Micronesia. This momentous event not only marked a significant milestone in the region's sporting history but also served as a pivotal occasion for the inception of the newly proposed Federated States of Micronesia Football Association.
The 2023 Micronesian Futsal Cup showcased the dynamic and growing futsal talents within the FSM, highlighting the passion for the sport across the nation. The tournament fostered friendly competition and facilitated an environment conducive to strengthening regional football cooperation and camaraderie.
Moreover, during the 2023 Micronesian Futsal Cup, a meeting was held towards forming the new Federated States of Micronesia Football Association. The meeting provided a platform for constructive dialogue and collaborative decision-making, ultimately shaping the foundation of a unified governing body for football in the FSM.
On July 7, 2023, the Federated States of Micronesia Football Association (FSMFA) was re-established with Brian Southwick from Yap appointed as president. The FSMFA Executive Committee represents all four states and is focused on achieving membership in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) or Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) and FIFA. [1] In a July 2023 interview with the Daily Mirror, Southwick stated that the goal was to join the OFC because of the level of competition and proximity to other members. [2]
Nimgil were crowned champions in 2021. [3]
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nimgil | Abay | Yap Sports Complex | 2,000 |
The Federated States of Micronesia, or simply Micronesia, is an island country in Micronesia, a subregion of Oceania. The federation consists of four states—from west to east, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae—that are spread across the western Pacific. Together, the states comprise around 607 islands that cover a longitudinal distance of almost 2,700 km (1,700 mi) just north of the equator. They lie northeast of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, south of Guam and the Marianas, west of Nauru and the Marshall Islands, east of Palau and the Philippines, about 2,900 km (1,800 mi) north of eastern Australia, 3,400 km (2,100 mi) southeast of Japan, and some 4,000 km (2,485 mi) southwest of the main islands of the Hawaiian Islands.
Geography of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), a country located in the western Pacific Ocean, and in the Micronesia cultural and ecological sub-region of Oceania. While its total land area is very small at 702 km2 (271 sq mi), it has the 14th largest exclusive economic zone at 2,996,419 km2 (1,156,924 sq mi).
The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) is one of the six continental confederations of international association football. The OFC has 13 members, 11 of which are full members and two which are associate members not affiliated with FIFA. It promotes the game in Oceania and allows the member nations to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
The flag of the Federated States of Micronesia was adopted on 30 November 1978. The blue field represents the Pacific Ocean. In an echo of U.S. heraldic practice, the stars represent the four federated states: Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae and Yap, arranged like the points of the compass.
The State of Yap is one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia, located in the westernmost portion of the country. The state borders Palau to the southwest, Guam to the north, and Chuuk State to the east. According to the state's population census carried out in 2020, the total population is 11,577 residing across a total area of 119.54 sq km, though a large majority of the area is water. The only town area in the state, Colonia, serves as the state capital.
The College of Micronesia-FSM (COM-FSM) is a public community college in the Federated States of Micronesia. It began operation in 1963 as the Micronesian Teacher Education Center.
The Federated States of Micronesia's National Police is the small national police force of the Federated States of Micronesia and is a division of the FSM Department of Justice.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Micronesia:
The Federated States of Micronesia Athletic Association (FSMAA) is the governing body for the sport of athletics in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).
The 8th Micronesian Games were held from July 20 to July 30, 2014, in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).
The Federated States of Micronesia national under-23 football team, nicknamed the Four Stars, is the national U-23 football team representing the Federated States of Micronesia and is controlled by the Federated States of Micronesia Football Association. The team is managed by Australian coach Stan Foster, with the assistant manager Curtis Graham.
Parliamentary elections were held in the Federated States of Micronesia on 5 March 2019, alongside a referendum on calling a Constitutional Convention. All 14 seats in Congress were up for election, and all 13 incumbents standing for re-election were returned to Congress.
The COVID-19 pandemic in the Federated States of Micronesia is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The virus has reached the Federated States of Micronesia on 8 January 2021.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Federated States of Micronesia refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). The church's first known missionaries arrived on July 5, 1978. As of December 31, 2022, there were 5,966 members in 23 congregations in FSM. The LDS Church has congregations in every state in the FSM.
Federated States of Micronesia National Olympic Committee is the National Olympic Committee representing Federated States of Micronesia.
Football competitions have were first held at the Micronesian Games for the 1998 edition of the tournament. The event is open to the ten member federations of the Micronesian Games Council, a sub-regional member of the Oceania National Olympic Committees. The football tournament has been held at two subsequent games since 1998, in 2014 and 2018. Although a similar football tournament called the Micronesian Cup was held in 1999 and 2001, they were separate events as no Micronesian Games were held in those years.
The 2023 Micronesian Futsal Cup, commonly referred to as Micro Cup 2023, was the inaugural edition of the Micronesian Futsal Cup, the international futsal championship organised by Federated States of Micronesia Football Association for the men's national teams of Micronesia. It was the first competition of any kind for the FSM islands for five years and its first futsal event.
A referendum on nine proposed amendments to the constitution was held in Micronesia on 4 July 2023. Eight of the amendments were proposed by the Constitutional Convention elected in 2019, and one amendment was proposed by Congress. All nine amendments passed, and were officially ratified by President Simina on 4 October 2023.
The Federated States of Micronesia national futsal team represents the Federated States of Micronesia in international futsal. It was formed in 2024 under the auspices of the Federated States of Micronesia Football Association.