Marshall Islands Soccer Federation
{{Short description|Governing body of soccer in the Marshall Islands}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{National football association
|Logo = Marshall_Islands_Soccer_Association_Logo.png
|Badge_size = 200px
|Founded = {{start date and age|2020}}
|FIFA affiliation= N/A
|Region = OFC
|Region affiliation = N/A
|President = Shem Livai
|Website = {{URL|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, but is working on becoming one.{{cite web |title=MISF Official website |url=https://rmi.soccer/ |publisher=Marshall Islands Soccer Federation |access-date=6 January 2023}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66991995 |publisher=BBC News |language=en-GB |date=2023-10-10 |accessdate=2023-10-10 |title=Marshall Islands: The last country on Earth without a national football team |first=Harry |last=Poole |department=BBC Sports}} The federation is working towards being recognized by the Marshall Islands National Olympic Committee.{{cite web |last1=Owers |first1=Lloyd |title=We sent our Technical Director to the Marshall Islands! |url=https://rmi.soccer/2023/09/17/we-sent-our-technical-director-to-the-marshall-islands/ |website=Official Site of MISF |access-date=22 April 2024 |date=17 September 2023}} It currently organizes the national team, national futsal team, and women's national futsal team.
History
The federation was founded in 2020 with the purpose of introducing the sport to the nation which previously had no soccer history.{{cite web |last1=Rogers |first1=Martin |title=Marshall Islands rare nation untouched by soccer's sprawling reach |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/worldcup/2018/07/16/world-cup-marshall-islands-soccer-doesnt-reach/790588002/ |publisher=USA Today |access-date=8 November 2021}} In May 2019 construction commenced on the Majuro Track and Field Stadium. Originally built as a venue for the 2023 Micronesian Games, the stadium would also serve as the home of football in the nation.{{cite web |last1=Ewart |first1=Richard |title=Small beginnings as Marshall Islands sets out to join the world soccer family |date=27 February 2020 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/radio-australia/programs/pacificbeat/marshalls-soccer/12009542?fbclid=IwAR1t0cuc6FMdPE5o_Y2GDLZPlLuDU4AIvoojLE53z2rpFVKRSJ4I-oNoo08 |publisher=abc.net.au |access-date=8 November 2021}}
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.{{cite web |last1=Bjerkevoll |first1=Ole |title=Marshall Islands hire first ever technical director |date=23 December 2022 |url=https://footballoceania.com/2022/12/23/marshall-islands-hire-first-ever-technical-director/ |publisher=Football in Oceania |access-date=30 December 2022}}{{Cite web |last=Hamilton |first=Tom |title=The Marshall Islands are trying to build a soccer team, but their dreams extend far beyond sport |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/blog-espn-fc-united/story/4907547/marshall-islands-are-trying-to-build-a-soccer-team |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=ESPN.com |date=27 March 2023 |language=en}}
In January 2023 the federation launched a GoFundMe campaign. The money raised would be used to purchase equipment to begin to grow the sport in the nation. As part of the campaign it was also announced that a national league was planned to kick off in 2023 with the national team playing a match by 2024.
Other members of the MISF include Marketing Manager Matt Webb; Press officer Justin Walley and Football Development Executive Max Houchin {{cite web |last1=Webb |first1=Matt |title=Bringing football to the Marshall Islands |url=https://twitter.com/SoccerFedMI/status/1613819499731640327?s=20&t=YqhGfi_vBr8kmZsP6ra0dg |publisher=Marshall Islands Soccer Federation |access-date=14 January 2023}}
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.
Competitions
The organization first held the Marshall Islands Futsal League, starting with the 2023 edition. They also organize the Ratak Cup, the first edition being the 2024 Ratak Cup.
They also compete in the Outrigger Challenge Cup, an annual competition for nations in the Northern Pacific region.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.rmi.soccer Official website]
{{International football}}
{{Non-FIFA teams}}
{{Soccer in the Marshall Islands}}
Category:Association football governing bodies in Oceania
Category:Soccer in the Marshall Islands
Category:2020 establishments in the Marshall Islands
Category:Sports organizations established in 2020
{{footy-org-stub}}