Marshall Islands Soccer Federation

Last updated

Marshall Islands Soccer Federation
OFC
Marshall Islands Soccer Association Logo.png
Founded2020;5 years ago (2020)
FIFA affiliationN/A
OFC affiliationN/A
PresidentShem Livai
Website rmi.soccer

The Marshall Islands Soccer Federation is the governing body of soccer in the Marshall Islands. Marshall Islands is not a member of its regional body, the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), or FIFA. [1] [2] The federation is working towards being recognized by the Marshall Islands National Olympic Committee. [3] It currently organizes the national team, national futsal team, and women's national futsal team.

Contents

History

The federation was founded in 2020 with the purpose of introducing the sport to the nation which previously had no soccer history. [4] In May 2019 construction commenced on the Majuro Track and Field Stadium. Originally built as a venue for the Micronesian Games, the stadium would also serve as the home of football in the nation. [5]

In December 2022 it was announced that the MISF had hired its first-ever technical director, British UEFA-licensed coach Lloyd Owers. Owers would be responsible for creating the soccer structure for the nation, including school and youth development programs up to the national team. [6] [7]

In January 2023 the federation launched a GoFundMe campaign. They also announced popular Football Manager website sortitoutsi as their official coaching partner. With the money raised the federation purchased equipment to begin to grow the sport in the nation and released an online coaching course. [8] [9]

Other members of the MISF include Marketing Manager Matt Webb; Press officer Justin Walley and Football Development Executive Max Houchin [10]

On May 29th, 2024 the Marshall Islands Soccer Federation announced their first National Women’s Team Head Coach, Katie Smith, a current collegiate coach based in the United States. The first women's national team training camp was held on March 14th, 2025. [11]

On March 22nd, 2025 it was announced that the Marshall Islands Men's National Team would be playing their first competitive matches in August 2025.

On August 14, 2025, the Marshall Islands national soccer team played its first match against the United States Virgin Islands national soccer team in Springdale, Arkansas, where the Marshall Islands lost 4–0.

Competitions

The organization first held the Marshall Islands Futsal League in 2023, and the Ratak Cup, the first edition being held in 2004. They also organized the 2024 and 2025 Outrigger Challenge Cup, competition primary for nations in the Northern Pacific region.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "MISF Official website". Marshall Islands Soccer Federation. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  2. ↑ Poole, Harry (10 October 2023). "Marshall Islands: The last country on Earth without a national football team". BBC Sports. BBC News . Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  3. ↑ Owers, Lloyd (17 September 2023). "We sent our Technical Director to the Marshall Islands!". Official Site of MISF. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  4. ↑ Rogers, Martin. "Marshall Islands rare nation untouched by soccer's sprawling reach". USA Today. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  5. ↑ Ewart, Richard (27 February 2020). "Small beginnings as Marshall Islands sets out to join the world soccer family". abc.net.au. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  6. ↑ Bjerkevoll, Ole (23 December 2022). "Marshall Islands hire first ever technical director". Football in Oceania. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  7. ↑ Hamilton, Tom (27 March 2023). "The Marshall Islands are trying to build a soccer team, but their dreams extend far beyond sport". ESPN.com. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  8. ↑ "Marshall Islands Charity Update". sortitoutsi.net. 20 October 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  9. ↑ "MISF Presents: Introduction to Coaching Soccer e-Course". sortitoutsi.net. 2 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  10. ↑ Webb, Matt. "Bringing football to the Marshall Islands". Marshall Islands Soccer Federation. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  11. ↑ "Coach Katie Smith's first Women's National Team training camp". Marshall Islands Soccer Federation. Retrieved 13 June 2025.