Dominican Republic national football team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Dominican Republic

Nickname(s)	Los Quisqueyanos (The Quisqueyanos)
Association	Federación Dominicana de Fútbol
Confederation	CONCACAF (North America)
Sub-confederation	CFU (Caribbean)
Head coach	Marcelo Neveleff
Captain	Miguel Lloyd
Most caps	César García, Jean Carlos López (52)
Top scorer	Jonathan Faña (24)
Home stadium	Estadio Cibao FC Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez
FIFA code	DOM
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	154 (7 February 2019)
Highest	76 (October 2013)
Lowest	189 (December 2009)
Elo ranking
Current	143 7 (3 March 2019)
Highest	139 (7 December 2012)
Lowest	188 (early 1993)
First international
Dominican Republic 0–8 Haiti  (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; 21 May 1967)
Biggest win
Dominican Republic 17–0 British Virgin Islands  (San Cristobal, Dominican Republic; 14 October 2010)
Biggest defeat
Trinidad and Tobago 9–0 Dominican Republic  (Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago; 8 October 2008)

The Dominican Republic national football team (Spanish: Selección de fútbol de República Dominicana) represents the Dominican Republic in men's international football, and is governed by the Dominican Football Federation. The team is a member of the Caribbean Football Union of CONCACAF, the governing body of football in North and Central America and the Caribbean.

As of 26 October 2023, the Dominican Republic is currently ranked 149th in the FIFA World Rankings. As is the case in many other Caribbean nations, association football has not traditionally been the most popular sport in the Dominican Republic. Interest in baseball diverts away from football and contributes to the country's lack of success in any major football tournament qualification. As of 2022, the Dominican Republic has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, nor the CONCACAF Gold Cup. In spite of this, the country's youth football team has enjoyed recent success, qualifying for both the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2024 Olympic football tournaments.

History

The Dominican Football Federation was founded in 1953 and joined FIFA in 1959. The national team played their first games in May 1967 – a two-legged qualifier against Haiti for a place in the football at the 1968 Summer Olympics of Mexico. The first leg was played at home on 21 May and Haiti won 8–0. The second leg in Haiti was won by the hosts 6–0 on 27 May, as Haiti went through 14–0 on aggregate.

The Dominican Republic did not play another match until March 1970, when they entered at the 1970 Central American and Caribbean Games in Panama. They were placed in a group with Puerto Rico and Venezuela. The Dominican Republic lost 5–0 to Venezuela on 4 March, then gained their first ever win on 6 March by beating Puerto Rico 5–0. They did not advance to the next round.

In 1971 the Dominican Republic entered the 1971 Pan American Games in Colombia and were drawn in a group against the Bahamas and Canada. They lost 4–2 to the Bahamas on 31 July and 4–0 to Canada on 2 August and were knocked out.

The team did not play again until 16 December 1973, when they lost 1–0 away to Venezuela. In 1974 the Dominican Republic held the Central American and Caribbean Games, and lost their first match 3–2 to Bermuda on 28 February. On 2 March the team lost 1–0 to Mexico, before beating the Bahamas 2–0 on 4 March. In the final group game on 8 March the Dominican Republic lost 3–2 to Panama and were knocked out.

In 2012 the Dominicans were able to qualify for the 2012 Caribbean Cup. On 7 December they beat hosts Antigua and Barbuda 2–1 but fell 2–1 against Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago.

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

Friendly 16 June	Chile	4–0	Dominican Republic	Viña del Mar, Chile
20:30 UTC−4	Brereton  11', 17', 25' Barticciotto  45' (pen.), 58'	https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2023/06/17/world/friendlies/chile/dominican-republic/4073578/		Stadium: Estadio Sausalito Attendance: 18,000 Referee: Nicolás Lamolina (Argentina)

2023–24 Nations League 8 September	Dominican Republic	0–2	Nicaragua	Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
19:00 UTC−4		https://www.concacaf.com/en/nations-league/game-details?matchid=712926	Acevedo  38', 41'	Stadium: Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez Referee: Patrick Senecharles (Haiti)

2023–24 Nations League 11 September	Dominican Republic	3–0	Montserrat	Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
19:00 UTC−4	Dorsett  3' (o.g.) Romero  25', 64'	https://www.concacaf.com/en/nations-league/game-details?matchid=712939		Stadium: Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez Referee: Oshane Nation (Jamaica)

2023–24 Nations League 13 October	Barbados	0–5	Dominican Republic	Wildey, Barbados
20:00 UTC−4		https://www.concacaf.com/en/nations-league/game-details?matchid=712961	Romero  7' Reyes  21' Griffith  45' (o.g.) Mörschel  57' Alba  88'	Stadium: Wildey Turf Referee: Benjamin Whitty (Cayman Islands)

2023–24 Nations League 16 October	Dominican Republic	5–2	Barbados	Santiago, Dominican Republic
22:00 UTC−4	Alba  17' Romero  30', 48', 79' Mörschel  59'	https://www.concacaf.com/en/nations-league/game-details?matchid=712973	Gale  10' (pen.), 66' (pen.)	Stadium: Estadio Cibao FC Referee: Nima Saghafi (United States)

2023–24 Nations League 17 November	Montserrat	2–1	Dominican Republic	Plymouth, Montserrat
15:00 UTC−4	Barzey  37' Simon  57'	https://www.concacaf.com/en/nations-league/game-details?matchid=712988	Reyes  75'	Stadium: Blakes Estate Stadium Referee: Yadel Martínez (Cuba)

2023–24 Nations League 21 November	Nicaragua	0–0	Dominican Republic	Managua, Nicaragua
20:00 UTC−6		https://www.concacaf.com/en/nations-league/game-details?matchid=712997		Stadium: Estadio Nacional de Fútbol Referee: Ignacio Fuentes (Guatemala)

2024

Friendly 22 March	Dominican Republic	2–0	Aruba	Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
20:00 UTC−4	Sambataro  61' Japa  84'	https://it.soccerway.com/matches/2024/03/23/world/friendlies/dominican-republic/aruba/4320206/		Stadium: Estadio Cibao FC

Friendly 26 March	Peru	4–1	Dominican Republic	Lima, Peru
20:00 UTC−4	Peña  18' Castillo  45+1' Quispe  54' Paolo Guerrero  90+4' (pen.)	https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/697144/dominican-republic-peru	Lopez  58'	Stadium: Estadio Monumental Referee: Braulio Da Silva Machado (Brazil)

2026 World Cup qualification 5 June	Jamaica	v	Dominican Republic

2026 World Cup qualification 10 June	Dominican Republic	v	British Virgin Islands

2025

2026 World Cup qualification 5 June	Guatemala	v	Dominican Republic

2026 World Cup qualification 9 June	Dominican Republic	v	Dominica

Coaching staff

Role	Name	Nationality
Head coach	Marcelo Neveleff	Argentina
Assistant coach	Inaki Goikoetxea	Spain
Assistant coach	Juan Francisco Roldán	Guatemala
Goalkeeper trainer	Dani Gimenez	Spain
Fitness trainer	Juan Manuel Alcedo	Spain
Athletic trainer	Juanma Alcedo	Spain

Coaching history

Players

Current squad

The following players have been called up for the friendlies against Aruba and Peru on 22 and 27 March 2024 respectively.

Caps and goals are correct as of 27 March 2024, after the match against Peru.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Miguel Lloyd	(1982-10-23) 23 October 1982 (age 42)	50	0	Cibao
12	1GK	Noam Baumann	(1996-04-10) 10 April 1996 (age 28)	2	0	OFI Crete
20	1GK	Xavier Valdez	(2003-11-23) 23 November 2003 (age 20)	5	0	Houston Dynamo FC
2	2DF	Brayan Ademán	(2002-09-22) 22 September 2002 (age 22)	2	0	Laredo
4	2DF	Brian López	(1999-11-20) 20 November 1999 (age 25)	9	0	Real Santa Cruz
5	2DF	Miguel Ángel Beltré	(2003-08-12) 12 August 2003 (age 21)	0	0	Azuqueca
11	2DF	Luismi Quezada	(1996-02-11) 11 February 1996 (age 28)	2	0	Cibao
13	2DF	Michael Sambataro	(2002-12-04) 4 December 2002 (age 21)	7	1	Cibao
15	2DF	Kleffer Martes	(2003-01-13) 13 January 2003 (age 21)	0	0	Atlético Pantoja
17	2DF	Charbel Wehbe	(2004-05-08) 8 May 2004 (age 20)	2	0	Real Oviedo Vetusta
18	2DF	Jeremy Báez	(1999-11-21) 21 November 1999 (age 25)	5	0	Atlético Pantoja
22	2DF	César García	(1993-03-13) 13 March 1993 (age 31)	52	2	Oriente Petrolero
23	2DF	Luiyi de Lucas	(1994-08-31) 31 August 1994 (age 30)	16	0	AEL Limassol
3	3MF	Junior Firpo	(1996-08-22) 22 August 1996 (age 28)	2	0	Leeds United
6	3MF	Daniel Leonardo Flores	(2000-11-11) 11 November 2000 (age 24)	10	0	Royal Pari
8	3MF	Heinz Mörschel	(1997-08-24) 24 August 1997 (age 27)	8	2	Újpest
10	3MF	Ronaldo Vásquez	(1999-06-30) 30 June 1999 (age 25)	34	3	Guabirá
14	3MF	Jean Carlos López	(1993-11-09) 9 November 1993 (age 31)	52	6	Real Santa Cruz
21	3MF	Lucas Bretón	(2006-11-20) 20 November 2006 (age 18)	1	0	Cibao
7	4FW	Luis Espinal	(1994-02-20) 20 February 1994 (age 30)	12	5	Atlético Pantoja
9	4FW	Erick Japa	(1999-04-06) 6 April 1999 (age 25)	14	1	Guabirá
16	4FW	Carlos Ventura	(1997-08-24) 24 August 1997 (age 27)	9	0	Oriente Petrolero
19	4FW	Riki Alba	(1995-03-02) 2 March 1995 (age 29)	5	2	Las Vegas Lights FC

Recent callups

The following players have been called up for the team in the last 12 months and are still available for selection.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Johan Guzmán	(1997-07-03) 3 July 1997 (age 27)	6	0	Formentera	vs.  Nicaragua, 21 November 2023
DF	Alexander Romero	(2002-09-04) 4 September 2002 (age 22)	0	0	O&M	vs.  Aruba, 22 March 2024
DF	Ismael Díaz	(1990-08-21) 21 August 1990 (age 34)	32	1	Cibao	vs.  Nicaragua, 21 November 2023
DF	Ángel Melo	(1995-03-28) 28 March 1995 (age 29)	7	0	O&M	vs.  Nicaragua, 21 November 2023
DF	Carlos Rossell	(1993-06-13) 13 June 1993 (age 31)	3	0	Moca	vs.  Nicaragua, 21 November 2023
DF	Manny Rodríguez	(1998-05-23) 23 May 1998 (age 26)	7	1	Logroñés	vs.  Barbados, 16 October 2023
DF	Alex Ciriaco	(2004-03-21) 21 March 2004 (age 20)	0	0	Ilves Tampere	vs.  Barbados, 16 October 2023
DF	Guillermo de Peña	(2003-07-22) 22 July 2003 (age 21)	3	0	Moca	vs.  Chile, 16 June 2023
MF	Fabian Messina	(2002-09-16) 16 September 2002 (age 22)	6	0	FSV Frankfurt	vs.  Nicaragua, 21 November 2023
MF	Edison Azcona	(2003-11-21) 21 November 2003 (age 21)	7	0	Las Vegas Lights	vs.  Barbados, 16 October 2023
MF	Carlos Heredia	(1998-09-28) 28 September 1998 (age 26)	15	2	Cibao	vs.  Chile, 16 June 2023
MF	Arismendy Jiménez	(1997-08-27) 27 August 1997 (age 27)	6	0	Vega Real	vs.  Chile, 16 June 2023
MF	Jesús Rosa	(2001-04-22) 22 April 2001 (age 23)	1	0	Jarabacoa	vs.  Chile, 16 June 2023
MF	Ángel Montes de Oca	(2003-02-18) 18 February 2003 (age 21)	0	0	Cibao	vs.  Chile, 16 June 2023
FW	Dorny Romero	(1998-01-24) 24 January 1998 (age 26)	30	12	Aktobe	vs.  Aruba, 23 March 2024 WD
FW	Edarlyn Reyes	(1997-09-30) 30 September 1997 (age 27)	26	4	Al-Ittihad Tripoli	vs.  Nicaragua, 21 November 2023
FW	Nowend Lorenzo	(2002-11-02) 2 November 2002 (age 22)	17	4	Osasuna B	vs.  Nicaragua, 21 November 2023
FW	Juanca Pineda	(2000-01-12) 12 January 2000 (age 24)	4	0	Guadalajara	vs.  Nicaragua, 21 November 2023
FW	Ányelo Gómez	(2003-01-02) 2 January 2003 (age 21)	0	0	Jarabacoa	vs.  Chile, 16 June 2023 WD
Notes INJ = Withdrew due to injury PRE = Preliminary squad RET = Retired from the national team SUS = Serving suspension WD = Player withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue.

Records

Players in bold are still active with the Dominican Republic.

Most appearances

Top goalscorers

Jonathan Faña is Dominican Republic's top scorer with 24 goals.

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup										Qualification
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	F	A		Pld	W	D	L	F	A
1930 to 1958	Not a FIFA member									Not a FIFA member
1962 to 1974	Did not enter									Did not enter
1978	Did not qualify									2	0	0	2	0	6
1982 to 1990	Did not enter									Declined participation
1994	Did not qualify									2	0	1	1	2	3
1998										6	3	1	2	9	16
2002										4	2	0	2	6	5
2006										4	1	1	2	6	6
2010										1	0	0	1	0	1
2014										8	4	2	2	18	8
2018										2	0	0	2	1	5
2022										4	2	1	1	8	4
2026	To be determined									To be determined
2030
2034
Total		0/16								33	12	6	15	50	54

CONCACAF Gold Cup

CONCACAF Championship & Gold Cup record										Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1963	Did not enter									Did not enter
1965
1967
1969
1971
1973
1977	Did not qualify									2	0	0	2	0	6
1981	Did not enter									Did not enter
1985
1989
1991	Did not qualify									5	1	2	2	5	13
1993										2	1	0	1	5	4
1996										3	1	0	2	4	6
1998	Did not enter									Did not enter
2000	Did not qualify									3	1	1	1	2	4
2002										2	1	0	1	4	4
2003										5	2	0	3	12	9
2005	Did not enter									Did not enter
2007
2009
2011	Did not qualify									2	1	0	1	17	1
2013										9	4	3	2	14	10
2015										6	2	1	3	15	11
2017										6	3	0	3	7	9
2019										4	2	0	2	9	4
2021										6	2	1	3	5	5
2023										6	2	2	2	8	7
Total		0/27								61	23	10	28	107	93

CONCACAF Nations League

CONCACAF Nations League record
Season	Division	Group	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	P/R	RK
2019−20	B	B	6	2	1	3	5	5		22nd
2022–23	B	D	6	2	2	2	8	7		22nd
Total			12	4	3	5	13	12	22nd

CONCACAF Nations League history
First match	Montserrat 2–1 Dominican Republic  (7 September 2019; Lookout, Montserrat)
Biggest win	Barbados 0–5 Dominican Republic  (13 October 2023; Wildey, Barbados)
Biggest defeat	El Salvador 2–0 Dominican Republic  (19 November 2019; San Salvador, El Salvador)  Guatemala 2–0 Dominican Republic  (13 June 2022; Guatemala City, Guatemala)
Best result	—
Worst result	—

CFU Caribbean Cup

CFU Championship & Caribbean Cup record										Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1978	Did not enter									Did not enter
1979
1981
1983
1985
1988
1989
1990
1991	Group stage	6th	3	0	1	2	1	11		2	1	1	0	4	2
1992	Did not enter									Did not enter
1993	Did not qualify									2	1	0	1	5	4
1994										1	0	0	1	0	1
1995										3	1	0	2	4	6
1996										2	0	1	1	1	7
1997	Withdrew									Withdrew
1998	Did not qualify									2	1	0	1	3	6
1999										3	1	1	1	2	4
2001										2	1	0	1	4	4
2005	Withdrew									Withdrew
2007										6	3	0	3	12	11
2008	Did not enter									Did not enter
2010	Did not qualify									2	1	0	1	17	1
2012	Group stage	5th	3	1	0	2	3	4		6	4	2	0	11	5
2014	Did not qualify									6	2	1	3	15	11
2017										6	3	0	3	7	9
Total	Group stage	2/25	6	1	1	4	4	16		43	19	6	18	85	71

Pan American Games

Pan American Games record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1951	Did not enter
1955
1959
1963
1967
1971	Preliminary round	12th	3	0	0	3	2	12
1975	Did not enter
1979	Preliminary round	12th	2	0	0	2	0	7
1983	Did not enter
1987
1991
1995
1999
2003	Preliminary round	6th	3	0	1	2	2	10
2007	Did not enter
2011	Did not qualify
2015
2019
2023	Qualified
Total	Preliminary round	4/19	8	0	1	7	4	29

See also

In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de la República Dominicana para niños

• Dominican Republic national under-23 football team
• Dominican Republic national under-20 football team
• Dominican Republic national under-17 football team
• Football in the Dominican Republic