The Marshall Islands, a remote chain of volcanic islands and coral-based atolls in the heart of the Pacific Ocean, stand as the last country on Earth without a national football team. But for how much longer will this be the case?
These islands, historically associated with their role as a site for US nuclear testing, now harbor aspirations to make a mark in the world of football. While the dream of having a national team compete on the global stage remains a distant one, the driving force behind this ambition is Englishman Lloyd Owers.
Hailing from Oxfordshire and armed with a coaching background that has taken him to diverse countries including Canada, the USA, and Sweden, Owers has embarked on the mission to lay the foundations that will one day bring international football to this unique corner of the world.
This ambitious journey began with “random conversations” between Owers and Shem Livai, the president of the Marshall Islands Football Association after Owers had posted coaching blog articles online. From email exchanges to WhatsApp discussions due to time zone differences, Owers was eventually tasked with drafting a proposal outlining his vision for the growth of football in the Marshall Islands.
As the technical director for the Marshall Islands, Owers made the arduous 13,000km journey to the islands for the first time during the summer. There, he supervised the inaugural football sessions for children organized by the Marshall Islands Soccer Federation (MISF), which was founded by Livai in 2020.
While the goal of establishing a Marshall Islands national football team may be a long-term endeavor, the ultimate aim is to attain membership in the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) and, eventually, to compete in international fixtures.
For Owers, the personal appeal of leading this project from its infancy was undeniable. He acknowledged, “On a personal level, it was the opportunity to be part of something as significant as this—the only nation in the world without a defined national team. But it was also the ambition of it. The federation aspires to be part of the OFC and, ultimately, to become a FIFA member. Their vision extends beyond merely playing against local teams; they aspire to be part of a broader football program, participating in World Cup qualifiers, the OFC Championship, and mainstream football. With the way the federation is dedicated to its goals and ambitions, I see no reason why it couldn’t happen in the next 10 years.”
While the Marshall Islands’ history includes being occupied by the US after World War Two and serving as a base for nuclear weapons testing, the nation aims to move beyond this association. Owers notes that American cultural influence, heavily ingrained in the islands’ identity, has played a part in the growing popularity of soccer alongside traditional sports like baseball and basketball.
The enduring impact of US nuclear testing and the looming threat of climate change further shape life in the Marshall Islands. Rising sea levels pose a significant concern, with a national stadium under construction in Majuro, the capital, protected by sea defenses. The World Bank predicts that a one-meter rise in sea levels could result in the flooding of 40% of the island’s buildings.
In an effort to draw attention to the impact of climate change, the Marshall Islands has turned to football. The nation’s announcement of its dream of having a national team was met with an overwhelmingly positive response on social media, including the unveiling of its first football shirt, which the Marshallese players aim to wear during their inaugural match by July or August 2024. The profits from the shirt will be reinvested into grassroots programs, infrastructure, and training facilities, showcasing the strong global support for this remarkable endeavor.
The unexpected surge in followers on social media and the enthusiastic reception of the football shirt reflects the growing interest and international backing for the Marshall Islands’ pursuit of a national football team, as it strives to break barriers and compete on the world stage.
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