Northern Mariana Islands national football team
EAFF (East Asia) | |||
Head coach | Vacant | ||
---|---|---|---|
Captain | Jireh Yobech | ||
Most caps | Nicolas Swaim (17) | ||
Top scorer | Joe Wang Miller (4) | ||
Home stadium | Oleai Sports Complex | ||
FIFA code | MNP[1] | ||
| |||
First international | |||
Unofficial Northern Mariana Islands 8–0 Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands; 25 March 2007) | |||
Biggest win | |||
Unofficial Palau 1–12 Northern Mariana Islands (Koror, Palau; 31 July 1998) Official Northern Mariana Islands 4–0 American Samoa (Honiara, Solomon Islands; 27 November 2023) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
Fiji 10–0 Northern Mariana Islands (Honiara, Solomon Islands; 18 November 2023) | |||
Pacific Games | |||
Appearances | 1 (first in 2023) | ||
Best result | Tenth place (2023) | ||
Micronesian Games/Micronesian Cup | |||
Appearances | 2 (first in 1998) | ||
Best result | Champions (1998) | ||
Marianas Cup | |||
Appearances | 9 (first in 2007) | ||
Best result | Champions (2010, 2013, 2023) |
The Northern Mariana Islands national football team represents the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in international men's football. The team is controlled by the governing body for football in the Northern Mariana Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association, which is a member of the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) and since December 2020 a full member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The association is not a member of the world governing body FIFA, although it had applied for membership, and so while the national team is eligible to enter AFC and EAFF-run competitions, they are currently ineligible for global competitions such as the FIFA World Cup. As such, they do not have an official FIFA ranking. However, the team have been consistently ranked as one of the worst teams in the world on the Elo ratings and were in fact, in July 2016 rated as the worst men's senior international team in the world in a ratings system that also includes a number of other non-FIFA teams.
Following the completion of the preliminary qualifying round for the
They are one of the youngest international teams, having played their first match in an exhibition tournament associated with the 1998 Micronesian Games. Following this appearance, they played only one more match, against the
Since that date, their international appearances have mainly been restricted to qualifying competitions for the
History
1998 Micronesian Games
The Northern Mariana Islands made their international debut in an exhibition football tournament associated with the 1998 Micronesia Games.[3] The original governing body for football in the Northern Mariana Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands Soccer Federation had been accepted as an associate member of the Oceania Football Confederation, but this was the first time records indicated they had participated in any international tournament.[3]
The tournament was officially called the W.C.T.C. Shell Soccer Exhibition and was a demonstration event only at the games, not having medal status.[4] Furthermore, the tournament did not meet established regulations; the matches played were only 9-a-side, the games lasted only 80 minutes and the pitch was smaller than regulation size.[4]
Nonetheless, the Northern Mariana Islands team performed well in the group stage playing against Guam, Palau, Yap (then considered essentially the Federated States of Micronesia national football team), a team representing the Micronesian state of Pohnpei and a "Palau B" team consisting of Bangladeshis living on Palau.[4] The team won their first two matches 8–0 against Palau B and Yap respectively. A 2–1 loss to Guam in their third game was quickly forgotten as they went on to record resounding victories in their final two group games defeating Palau 12–1 and Pohnpei 11–2 to finish second in the group with a +35 goal difference after their five games, qualifying for the final match.[4][5]
The team avenged their earlier group stage defeat to Guam in the final, beating them 3–0 to claim the tournament title.
1999 Micronesian Cup
The following year, the team travelled to Yap to compete the first Micronesian Soccer Cup.[6] This was a three team tournament consisting of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and an international team known as Crushers (or Crusaders according to other sources).[6] Their performance here was less successful than at the Micronesian Games the previous year. In their first game, they lost 7–0 to the Federated States of Micronesia.[6] It is not recorded whether they played their other group match against Crushers / Crusaders, but given that the final was contested between the Federated States of Micronesia and Crushers / Crusaders, it can be extrapolated that if the match did take place, the best result the Northern Mariana Islands could have achieved was a draw.
Hiatus
The country then entered something of a hiatus in footballing terms. The original governing body for football in the country, the Northern Mariana Islands Soccer Federation became defunct sometime between 2002 and 2003 and after that, no international competition took place until the current governing body, the
Return
In December 2006, the East Asian Football Federation admitted the Northern Mariana Islands as a provisional member.[3] This membership entitled them to a $120,000 annual grant from the EAFF to further football development in the country.[8] The EAFF then granted full membership in September 2008.[9]
Marianas Cup (2007–2008)
Following their acceptance as an associate member of the EAFF, their first participation in EAFF competition was in the
The two teams met again the following year in Saipan and for the third time in a row, Guam were the victors.[12] Guam took the lead halfway through the first half through David Manibusan, but Joe Wang Miller equalized four minutes later and the teams went into half time tied at 1–1.[12] Guam again took the lead in the 52nd minute through and own goal but the Northern Mariana Islands equalized with ten minutes left in normal time through Steven McKagen.[12] With the teams tied at the end of 90 minutes, two periods of extra time of seven and a half minutes were played and in the 95th minute, Matthew Cruz scored the deciding goal with Guam running out victors 3–2 and retaining the Marianas Cup.[12] Although there was disappointment in not winning, national newspapers commented that the performance was an improvement over the "shocking" 9–0 defeat in their previous encounter.[12]
AFC membership (2009–present)
Prior to their AFC membership being accepted, the team made the short trip to Yona, Guam to compete in the preliminary round of the 2010 East Asian Football Championship. This time, instead of the two-legged playoffs against Guam contested in the previous edition, the Northern Mariana Islands took part in a four team group, the winner of which would advance to the next round. The team was drawn against hosts Guam, Mongolia and Macau.[13] The team prepared for the tournament for several months prior to departing for Guam, although in that time, they were only able to train with new coach Sugao Kambe for a month.[14] It was acknowledged by their coach prior to their departure that they would be the least experienced of the four teams competing at this stage[14] and this was to prove true as they lost all three of their games: 6–1 to Macau, 2–1 to Guam (a third successive Marianas Cup victory for Guam) and 4–1 to Mongolia.[13] The team returned home without a positive result, although it was noted in the national press that they had been able to score in each of their three games.[15]
In July 2009, the AFC Executive Committee agreed to accept the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association (NMIFA) as an associate member of the Asian Football Confederation,[16] after the association received permission for release from the Oceania Football Confederation in June 2009, paving the way to join AFC.[17] It was the NMIFA which resigned from the OFC, despite it being the earlier governing body, the Northern Mariana Islands Soccer Federation which had become a member in the first place.[3]
First draw
On 19 June 2010, Northern Mariana Islands earned a 1–1 draw with neighbor Guam in the 2010 Marianas Cup.
Despite the efforts of the NMIFA, delays in decision making around whether the
Optimism that the team might finally be able to beat Guam appeared well placed when
In 2013, the team played their first ever series of matches against opposition from outside the EAFF, taking part in the qualifying rounds for the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup.[24] With the football federation founded only a year prior to the inaugural edition of the AFC Challenge Cup, the team not only had to acclimatize to the elevated environment in which they would be playing, they would also have to face some very strong teams in the shape of Palestine, Bangladesh and Nepal[24]
In their opening game against Nepal, they were dominated from the start, with Bharat Khawas opening the scoring in the fourth minute and completing his hat trick in the 72nd, with three other Nepalese players completing a 6–0 rout.[25] In their second match they fared even worse, losing 9–0 to Palestine, the middle-eastern team scoring four times in the first half and five in the second.[26] Despite already being eliminated following their initial two defeats, the Blue Ayuyus defense performed well in their final game, despite losing 4–0 to Bangladesh, the team managed to keep the scoreline respectable with the result flattering Bangladesh as they scored two very late goals.[27]
First victory
2014 saw a return to
No further international matches were played until the
Bid for FIFA membership (2020–present)
On 9 December 2020 during the 30th AFC Congress, the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association (NMIFA) became the 47th full AFC member association.[36] FIFA Head of Member Association (MA) Governance, Rolf Tanner, announced at the 11th Northern Mariana Islands Football Association Ordinary Congress on 29 October 2021 that the global football governing organization received the islands' application for membership.[37]
Northern Mariana Islands would then have competed in their first-ever 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification playoff round,[38] but the AFC excluded them from the draw.[39]
2023 Pacific Games
The Northern Mariana Islands competed in
Home stadium
The Northern Mariana Islands play their home matches at the Oleai Sports Complex, a multi-use
Team image
Colors
The Northern Mariana Islands current home kit is all sky blue shirts, shorts and socks, with a white pattern on the shirt.[45] Their away kit is the mirror image of this, all white shirts, shorts and socks with the pattern on the shirt in sky blue.[46]
Kit history
Logo
The Northern Mariana Islands men's national football team shares the same logo as the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association. The logo consists of three elements in addition to the name of the federation. In the background is a Latte stone, a pillar (Chamorro language: haligi) capped by a hemispherical stone capital (tasa) with the flat side facing up. Used as building supports by the ancient Chamorro people, they are found throughout most of the Mariana Islands. In modern times, the latte stone is seen as a sign of Chamorro identity and is used in many different contexts.[52] Overlaid on this is a football and overlaid again on this is a two-tone wave mirroring the colours of the national flag.
Nickname
The team is nicknamed the "Blue Ayuyu".[35] The Ayuyu is the name given in the Mariana Islands to the Coconut crab,[53] also known as the Robber crab.[54]
Results and fixtures
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
Win Draw Loss Fixture
2023
18 November 2023 2023 Pacific Games | Fiji | 10–0 | Northern Mariana Islands | Honiara, Solomon Islands |
19:00 UTC+11 | Report | Stadium: SIFF Academy Field Referee: Timothy Niu (Solomon Islands) |
24 November 2023 Pacific Games | Northern Mariana Islands | 0–5 | Tahiti | Honiara, Solomon islands |
19:00 UTC+11 | Report |
|
Stadium: SIFF Academy Field Referee: Timothy Niu (Solomon Islands) |
27 November 2023 2023 Pacific Games | Northern Mariana Islands | 4–0 | American Samoa | Honiara, Solomon Islands |
10:00 UTC+11 |
|
Report | Stadium: SIFF Academy Field Referee: Torika Delai (Fiji) |
30 November 2023 2023 Pacific Games | Northern Mariana Islands | 1–4 | Tuvalu | Honiara, Solomon Islands |
13:00 UTC+11 |
|
Report | Stadium: SIFF Academy Field Referee: Torika Delai (Fiji) |
2024
April 6 Koblerville, Northern Mariana Islands | ||||
Report | Stadium: NMI Training Center |
April 7 Koblerville, Northern Mariana Islands | ||||
|
Report |
|
Stadium: NMI Training Center |
Coaching history
- As of 10 April 2022[3]
Head coach | Dates | Pld | W | D | L | Win % | Competitions |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stefan Bossler | 1998–1999 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 71.4 | 1998 Micronesian Games 1999 Micronesian Cup |
Jeff Korytoski | 2007 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 2008 East Asian Football Championship |
Nicolas Swaim | 2008 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | Marianas Cup |
Sugao Kambe | 2009 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.0 | 2010 East Asian Football Championship |
Nicolas Swaim | 2010 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | Marianas Cup |
Chikashi Suzuki | 2012 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.0 | 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup |
Koo Luam Khen | 2013 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.0 | 2014 AFC Challenge Cup |
Kiyoshi Sekiguchi | 2014–2017 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 16.7 | 2017 EAFF East Asian Cup
|
Michiteru Mita | 2017–2023 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0.0 | 2019 EAFF E-1 Football Championship |
Players
Current squad
The following players were called up for the 2024 Mariana Cup.[55]
Caps and goals are correct as of 7 April 2024, after the match against Guam.
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | GK | Christopher Aninzo | 6 January 2000 | 6 | 0 | MP United |
12 | GK | John Bucayo | 10 March 2001 | 1 | 0 | MP United |
25 | GK | Toves Merrick | 1 December 2004 | 4 | 0 | Kanoa |
2 | DF | Kohtaro Goto | 23 May 2004 | 2 | 0 | Park University |
3 | DF | Pablo Daniell | 16 January 2005 | 5 | 0 | Kanoa |
4 | DF | Ocanada Ronnel | 26 February 2001 | 6 | 0 | MP United |
5 | DF | Jehn Joyner | 9 October 1997 | 10 | 0 | Bank of Guam Strykers |
6 | DF | Lucas Knecht | 30 March 1993 | 11 | 0 | MP United |
14 | DF | Enrico del Rosario | 21 March 1997 | 6 | 0 | Northern Kentucky Nitro |
16 | DF | Dai Podziewski | 31 August 2001 | 2 | 0 | Suffolk University |
20 | DF | Euly Ermitanio | 30 March 2000 | 3 | 0 | University of Guam |
21 | DF | Jeremiah Diaz | 12 January 2004 | 1 | 0 | Park University |
7 | MF | Anthony Fruit | 10 January 2001 | 2 | 0 | SG Aumund-Vegesack |
8 | MF | Michael Barry | 10 November 1995 | 10 | 0 | Saint Leo University |
10 | MF | Ryu Tanzawa | 4 March 1998 | 3 | 0 | Nihon University |
13 | MF | Jireh Yobech | 8 July 1996 | 12 | 1 | Inter Godfather's |
17 | MF | Ariel jr. Narvaez | 5 | 1 | Eleven Tiger | |
18 | MF | Dev Bachani | 4 May 2005 | 6 | 0 | Park University |
25 | MF | Toves Markus | 6 | 2 | Kanoa | |
9 | FW | Nolan Ngewakl | 8 July 2008 | 4 | 1 | Latte |
11 | FW | Taka Borja | 20 November 2003 | 2 | 1 | Teen Ayuyu |
15 | FW | Sunjoon Tenorio | 20 May 2001 | 3 | 1 | Warner Pacific Knights |
19 | FW | Michah Griffin
|
26 October 1997 | 3 | 1 | MP United |
22 | FW | Ruben Guerrero | 4 | 2 | Kanoa | |
23 | FW | Richard Steele | 30 March 2004 | 1 | 0 | Park–Gilbert Buccaneers |
24 | FW | Joe Wang Miller | 3 February 1989 | 17 | 4 | Guam Shipyard |
Player records
- As of 30 November 2023
- Players in bold are still active with Northern Mariana Islands.
Most appearances
Rank | Player | Caps | Goals | Period |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nicolas Swaim | 17 | 2 | 2009–2018 |
2 | Joe Wang Miller | 15 | 4 | 2008–2016 |
3 | Jireh Yobech | 12 | 1 | 2012–present |
4 | Lucas Knecht | 11 | 0 | 2007–2014 |
5 | Michael Barry | 10 | 0 | 2012–2018 |
Trey Dunn | 10 | 0 | 2012–2016 | |
Joel Fruit | 10 | 0 | 2012–2018 | |
Jehn Joyner | 10 | 0 | 2013–2018 | |
Steven McKagen | 10 | 1 | 2009–2013 | |
10 | Peter Loken | 9 | 1 | 2009–2016 |
Johann Neutzel | 9 | 0 | 2012–2016 | |
Jonathan Takano | 9 | 0 | 2014–2020 | |
Kirk Schuler | 9 | 3 | 2010–2016 |
Top goalscorers
Rank | Player | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Period |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Joe Wang Miller | 4 | 15 | 0.27 | 2009–2016 |
2 | Kirk Schuler | 3 | 9 | 0.33 | 2010–2016 |
3 | Mark McDonald | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2007 |
Ruben Guerrero | 2 | 4 | 0.5 | 2023–present | |
Nicolas Swaim | 2 | 17 | 0.12 | 2009–2018 |
Youngest appearances
Statistically, the Northern Mariana Islands have given senior international debuts in competitive matches to a larger number of very young players, those under 16 years of age, and more caps to veteran players, those over the age of forty, than any other nation.[56]
Of the nine players globally who have made their international debuts before their fifteenth birthdays, three of them are from the Northern Mariana Islands. Both Joel Fruit and
Name | Age | Birth date | Debut date | Competition | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lucas Knecht | 14 years and 2 days | 30 March 1993 | 1 April 2007 | 2008 EAFF Championship / Marianas Cup |
Guam | 0–9 |
Joel Fruit | 14 years and 177 days | 31 March 1998 | 24 November 2012 | Friendly | Guam | 0–8 |
Kennedy Izuka
|
14 years and 242 days | 27 March 1998 | 24 November 2012 | Friendly | Guam | 0–8 |
Enrico del Rosario | 15 years and 119 days | 21 March 1997 | 18 July 2012 | 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup | Guam | 1–3 |
Jehn Joyner | 15 years and 144 days | 9 October 1997 | 2 March 2013 | 2014 AFC Challenge Cup | Nepal | 0–6 |
Scott Kim | 15 years and 155 days | 22 June 1997 | 24 November 2012 | Friendly | Guam | 0–8 |
Note: It is possible that Michael Barry may also have made a senior international appearance in the teams 1–1 Marianas Cup match against Guam in 2010 aged 14 years and 251 days, which would make him the eighth youngest debutant in history. However, although it is known that he was named in the match squad, it is not known whether he actually played in the game.[56]
Oldest appearances
In addition to being the national team to have given the most senior team debuts to under sixteen players, they are also the team to have given the most international caps to players aged over 40, of the 88 players confirmed to have played an international football match after their fortieth birthdays, 11 of them are from the Northern Mariana Islands. Of these players
Name | Age | Birth date | Appearance date | Competition | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wesley Bogdan
|
48 years and 243 days | 1 August 1958 | 1 April 2007 | 2008 EAFF Championship / Marianas Cup |
Guam | 0–9 |
Vince Stravino | 43 years and 320 days | 16 May 1963 | 1 April 2007 | 2008 EAFF Championship / Marianas Cup |
Guam | 0–9 |
David Dueñas
|
43 years and 94 days | 11 December 1965 | 15 March 2009 | 2010 EAFF Championship | Mongolia | 1–4 |
Daniel Westphal | 42 years and 355 days | 5 April 1970 | 6 March 2013 | 2014 AFC Challenge Cup | Bangladesh | 0–4 |
Bruce Berline
|
42 years and 176 days | 7 October 1964 | 1 April 2007 | 2008 EAFF Championship / Marianas Cup |
Guam | 0–9 |
Dale Roberts | 42 years and 144 days | 22 October 1966 | 15 March 2009 | 2010 EAFF Championship | Mongolia | 1–4 |
Christopher Guerrero
|
41 years and 301 days | 1 July 1966 | 27 April 2008 | 2008 EAFF Championship / Marianas Cup |
Guam | 2–3 |
José Dueñas
|
41 years and 207 days | 20 August 1967 | 15 March 2009 | 2010 EAFF Championship | Mongolia | 1–4 |
Mike Hall
|
41 years and 106 days | 16 December 1965 | 1 April 2007 | 2008 EAFF Championship / Marianas Cup |
Guam | 0–9 |
Greg Elliott | 40 years and 247 days | 15 October 1969 | 19 June 2010 | Marianas Cup | Guam | 1–1 |
Tyce Mister | 40 years and 15 days | 10 March 1967 | 25 March 2007 | Marianas Cup | Guam | 2–3 |
Competitive record
The Northern Mariana Islands have only entered three formal international competitions, the
AFC Asian Cup
The team were eligible to enter the AFC Asian Cup through the AFC Challenge Cup from 2011. However, they did not enter the 2010 AFC Challenge Cup so they did not qualify. In failing to qualify for the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup, they also failed to qualify for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.
AFC Asian Cup | AFC Asian Cup qualification
| ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Result | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GS | GA | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | |
1956 | Not a member of the AFC | Not a member of the AFC | |||||||||||||
1960 | |||||||||||||||
1964 | |||||||||||||||
1968 | |||||||||||||||
1972 | |||||||||||||||
1976 | |||||||||||||||
1980 | |||||||||||||||
1984 | |||||||||||||||
1988 | |||||||||||||||
1992 | |||||||||||||||
1996 | |||||||||||||||
2000 | |||||||||||||||
2004 | |||||||||||||||
2007 | |||||||||||||||
2011 | Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||
2015 | Did not qualify | AFC Challenge Cup | |||||||||||||
2019 | Did not enter** | Did not enter** | |||||||||||||
2023 | |||||||||||||||
2027 | Excluded | Excluded | |||||||||||||
Total | — | 0/18 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
**: As the first two rounds of qualifying for the 2019 and 2023 AFC Asian Cups were also the first two rounds of qualifying for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, the Northern Mariana Islands were ineligible. Starting with the qualifying playoff round of the 2027 Asian Cup, they are allowed to qualify for the Asian Cup only.
AFC Challenge Cup
Having been accepted as an associate member in 2009, the Blue Ayuyus attempted to qualify for the AFC Challenge Cup once, in 2013. They were unsuccessful in qualification, losing all three matches without scoring a goal. The AFC Challenge Cup was discontinued by the AFC, with all nations now entering qualifying for the Asian Cup due to the expansion of the Asian Cup to the 24-nation format from the 16-nation one after the 2015 edition.[57][58]
AFC Challenge Cup | Qualification record | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Result | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GS | GA | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | |
2006 | Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||
2008 | |||||||||||||||
2010 | |||||||||||||||
2012 | |||||||||||||||
2014 | Did not qualify | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 19 | ||||||||
Total | — | 0/5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 19 |
EAFF E-1 Football Championship
The EAFF E-1 Football Championship is the primary source of competitive football for the Northern Mariana Islands since they reemerged onto the international scene and were accepted as a member of the EAFF. They have attempted to qualify for each edition of the EAFF E-1 Championship since they were admitted to the federation, each time without success.
EAFF E-1 Football Championship | Preliminary competition | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Result | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GS | GA | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | |
East Asian Football Championship | |||||||||||||||
2003 | Not a member of the EAFF | Not a member of the EAFF | |||||||||||||
2005 | |||||||||||||||
2008 | Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 12 | ||||||||
2010 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 12 | |||||||||
EAFF East Asian Cup | |||||||||||||||
2013 |
Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | ||||||||
2015 |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 | |||||||||
EAFF E-1 Football Championship | |||||||||||||||
2017 |
Did not qualify | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 19 | ||||||||
2019 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 14 | |||||||||
2022 | Did not participate | Not held | |||||||||||||
2024 | To be determined | To be determined | |||||||||||||
Total | — | 0/8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 12 | 75 |
Micronesian Games
Micronesia made their international debut at the 1998 Micronesia Games, though the tournament was not a formal part of the games, merely an exhibition. The formal name of the football tournament was the W.C.T.C. Shell Soccer Exhibition. The team were successful, winning the tournament, but have not entered since, although football has only sporadically been included in the games program.
Micronesian Games record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Result | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GS | GA |
1998 | Champions | 1st | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 43 | 5 |
2014 | Did not enter | |||||||
2018 | ||||||||
2024 | To be determined | |||||||
Total | Champions | 1/3 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 43 | 5 |
- *Denotes draws includes knockout matches decided on penalty kicks. Red border indicates that the tournament was hosted on home soil. Gold, silver, bronze backgrounds indicates 1st, 2nd and 3rd finishes respectively. Bold text indicates best finish in tournament.
Micronesian Cup
Micronesian Cup record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
1999 | Runners-up | 2nd | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
Total | Runners-up | 1/1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
Marianas Cup
Marianas Cup record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
2008 | Runners-up | 2nd | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
2010 | Champions | 1st | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
2012 | Runners-up | 2nd | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
Total | Champions | 3/3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 |
Remembering that only the tournaments that the senior national teams participated are counted.
World rankings
FIFA
The Northern Mariana Islands, although a member of the East Asian Football Federation are not members of FIFA and so are not ranked. Additionally, although full members of the AFC, they have yet to be included on their ranking list of member associations.
The islands have been seeking FIFA membership since October 2021.[37]
Elo rating
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org. |
The team has steadily fallen down the Elo ratings since their first official game against international opposition versus Guam in the 1998 Micronesian Games, from a starting point of 214 to their current position of 238.[59] This is in part due to performance that has seen them gain only one win and one draw since their reemergence on the international scene in 2007 and part due to the fact that they have always been at or near the bottom of the rankings in a period where a number of new competing nations have emerged. Currently their ranking of 238 confirms their status as one of the world's worst senior international football teams.[60] They are ranked directly below their fellow non-FIFA teams of Kiribati and Tibet but above Palau, though this is perhaps somewhat skewed by the fact that all three of these teams are essentially in hibernation having not competed internationally for a number of years.[60] The nearest FIFA affiliated team to them is Eastern (American) Samoa, who are ranked 237th.[60]
Head-to-head record
Up to matches played on 7 April 2024.
Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | WPCT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
American Samoa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 100.00 |
Bangladesh | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | −4 | 0.00 |
Chinese Taipei | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | −7 | 0.00 |
Fiji | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | −10 | 0.00 |
Guam | 15 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 18 | 48 | −30 | 13.33 |
Macau | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 16 | −10 | 20.00 |
Micronesia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | −7 | 0.00 |
Mongolia | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 25 | −24 | 0.00 |
Nepal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | −6 | 0.00 |
Palau | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | +11 | 100.00 |
Palestine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | −9 | 0.00 |
Pohnpei | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | +9 | 100.00 |
Tahiti | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | −5 | 0.00 |
Tuvalu | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 0.00 |
Yap
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | +8 | 100.00 |
Total | 36 | 7 | 3 | 26 | 62 | 145 | −83 | 19.44 |
Honors
As of 2021, the Northern Mariana Islands have won one competition:
- 1998 Micronesian Games: 1st (according to AFC website profile, Guam is champion instead of Northern Mariana Islands.)
- 2010 Marianas Cup (shared)
See also
- Northern Mariana Islands women's national football team
- Northern Mariana Islands national under-18 football team
References
- ^ "Northern Mariana Islands". Fifa. 2023-07-17. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
- ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 30 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
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