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The Marshall Islands hold a unique title as the only country on Earth without a recognized 11-a-side national football team. However, that could soon change as the nation is now taking significant steps to establish one and join the world of international football.
The Marshall Islands, a group of volcanic islands in the Pacific, were occupied by the United States during World War II and used for nuclear tests. They became a sovereign nation in 1986. Now, almost four decades later, the Marshall Islands are looking to build a competitive football team and enter the global stage.
At the heart of this movement is Lloyd Owers, an Englishman who has been appointed as the country's technical director. In an interview with the BBC, Owers explained how the initiative began and what motivated him to take on this ambitious project.
“It started via emails, then it became easier to speak via WhatsApp because of the time difference,” said Owers. “Then it got to the stage where I was asked to put together a proposal alongside my own philosophy on how I saw the game growing.”
Owers expressed his excitement about being part of this groundbreaking initiative, stating, "On a personal level, it was the opportunity to be part of something that was as big as this—the only nation in the world without a defined national team."
His vision aligns with the Marshall Islands Football Federation’s ambitions to not just create a team, but also to be competitive on a larger stage. The ultimate goal is to become part of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) and eventually a member of FIFA.
Owers shared the federation's long-term objectives: “They don’t just want to be playing against local countries, they want to be part of a bigger program. We know we want to be part of World Cup qualifiers. We want to be part of the OFC Championship, we want to be part of mainstream football.”
He added: “I think in 10 years, if we keep going the way the federation wants to push their aims and ambitions, there’s no reason that wouldn’t happen.”
In addition to making strides in football, the Marshall Islands hope to use their team to bring attention to the dangers of climate change, particularly the threat of rising sea levels that pose an existential risk to the country’s future.
The federation has already released its first national team shirt, and the hope is that Marshallese players will be able to wear it in their first official game, which is tentatively planned for summer 2024.
Although their journey into international football is still in its early stages, the Marshall Islands hosted a futsal tournament in July 2024, competing against Kiribati and the Federated States of Micronesia in the capital, Majuro. While it wasn’t the full 11-a-side match they aspire to, it marked a significant step in the right direction.
For a nation without a footballing tradition, the Marshall Islands are showing incredible promise and determination to join the global football family. Their progress offers a glimpse of a bright future where the tiny nation could one day compete in World Cup qualifiers and beyond.