Soccer OFC: Micronesia has experience in the Pacific Games and a reactivated federation

In this article we will analyze how football develops on this small island in Oceania.

Writer by Sports & News Continental | From New Zealand, OFC

#Episode7 OFC SOCCER ANALYSIS

Micronesia is a sovereign state in a Compact of Free Association with the United States, its history is linked to American tutelage in the post-war period, and is made up of several agreements, mainly military.

The national team's first appearance was in 1999, in the Micronesia Cup, held in Yap. It was the team's first and only title. July 12, 1999: Micronesia, in its first official match, defeated the Northern Mariana Islands 7-0, its biggest victory in history. Previous friendlies (June 1999): Prior to the competition, the team played three friendlies against Guam, with the following scores: 0-3, 1-4, and 0-5.

The Micronesian national team participated in the 2003 Pacific Games in Fiji, where they suffered a series of defeats. June 30, 2003: 0-17 loss to Tahiti. July 1, 2003: 0-18 loss to New Caledonia, which became the team's biggest defeat. July 5, 2003: 0-7 loss to Tonga. July 7, 2003: 0-10 loss to Papua New Guinea.

Football in Micronesia took a hiatus until 2015, when the U-23 national team participated in the 2015 Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea. The team's performance, which included many inexperienced players, attracted international attention. July 3, 2015: 0-30 loss to Tahiti. July 5, 2015: 0-38 loss to Fiji. July 7, 2015: 0-46 loss to Vanuatu, considered the biggest defeat in international football history.

The senior national team has not played since 2003, but in 2023, the Micronesia Football Association was re-established and held the Micronesia Futsal Cup, aiming to strengthen the sport.

Clubs that occasionally participate in tournaments on the island:

Nimgil (Champion of a tournament in Yap in 2021)

Weloy (Runner-up of a tournament in Yap in 2021)

Penia FC

Fanif FC

G&B Club Rull

Island Chihuahua FC

Island Pitbulls Football Club

Island Warriors Football Club

Nett Club de Futbol

Venue Stadium: Yap Sports Complex, Abay (2k)

Pohnpei Premier League: There is some evidence that there is a more organized league in the state of Pohnpei, but with limited information on the number of clubs or their attendance.

Initiatives such as the OFC's, with FIFA's support, to add regional content to FIFA+ and also the possible creation of the OFC Professional League will professionalize the region's elite and consequently bring the spotlight to countries where football is still.

In short, although football has a history in the Pacific Games, they are still maturing to take the next step in the future, which would be to create an unofficial national league. They are close to participating in the qualifiers for the 2028 OFC Nations Cup, and the experience of the Pacific Games and the reactivated federation are a significant step forward.