Guam national football team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Guam

Nickname(s)	Matao (The Noblemen)
Association	Guam Football Association
Confederation	AFC (Asia)
Sub-confederation	EAFF (East Asian)
Head coach	Dominic Gadia
Captain	Jason Cunliffe
Most caps	Jason Cunliffe (66)
Top scorer	Jason Cunliffe (26)
Home stadium	GFA National Training Center
FIFA code	GUM
First colors Second colors
FIFA ranking
Current	192 (7 February 2019)
Highest	146 (August–September 2015)
Lowest	207 (March 2022)
Elo ranking
Current	207 (3 March 2019)
Highest	96 (June 2015)
Lowest	108 (March 2007)
First international
Guam 1–5 Solomon Islands  (Tumon, Guam; 2 August 1975)
Biggest win
Unofficial  Guam 16–1 Pohnpei  (Koror City, Palau; 27 July 1998)  Guam 15–0 Yap  (Koror City, Palau; 31 July 1998) Official  Guam 9–0 Northern Mariana Islands  (Hagåtña, Guam; 1 April 2007)
Biggest defeat
North Korea 21–0 Guam  (Taipei, Taiwan; 11 March 2005)
Pacific Games
Appearances	5 (first in 1975)
Best result	Sixth place (1979)
Pacific Mini Games
Appearances	1 (first in 1993)
Best result	Group stage (1993)

The Guam national football team represents Guam, an overseas territory of the United States, in international football and is controlled by the Guam Football Association. They are affiliated with the Asian Football Confederation's East Asian Football Federation region.

Guam reached its highest ever position in the FIFA World Ranking at 146th in 2015 after victories over Turkmenistan and India. Guam's first FIFA World Cup qualification match was played against Iran national football team at Tabriz.

History

Beginnings (1960s–1990s)

Football in Guam began in the 1960s, on the initiative of two pioneers: an Irish priest, Tony Gillespie, and an owner of a construction company, Charles Whang, who settled in Guam and created the Guam Soccer Cup before becoming the first president of the Guam Football Association in 1975.

Guam played its first international match at the 1975 Pacific Games against Solomon Islands, losing 5–1. This result was followed by an 11–0 loss to Fiji, eliminating them from the competition. In the 1979 Games, Guam again lost twice to New Caledonia 11–1 and New Hebrides 5–0. Progressing to the Consolation Tournament, Guam registered their first victories, beating Western Samoa 4–2, and Tuvalu 7–2 before losing again to New Hebrides, 5–1.

AFC and FIFA Member (1991–2011)

Despite being considered part of Oceania, and having never faced an Asian team to that point, Guam became an associate member of the AFC in 1991 but continued to participate in the Pacific Games. In 1996, Guam became both a full member of the AFC and of FIFA.

As a full member of the AFC and FIFA, Guam played its first matches against Asian teams as part of the 1996 AFC Asian Cup qualification losing all three matches against South Korea (9–0), Vietnam (9–0), and Chinese Taipei (9–2).

In 1998, Guam played in the Micronesian Games, though the tournament was a 9-a-side competition with 80 minute matches. Guam finished top of the group stage but lost 3–0 to Northern Mariana Islands in the final. Guam entered the 2000 Asian Cup qualification but finished last in their group again, losing to Vietnam (11–0), China (19–0), and Philippines (2–0).

Guam became one of the founding members of the East Asian Football Federation in 2002 and participated in the qualifiers for the inaugural 2003 East Asian Football Championship, finishing last again without registering a goal. The same is true for the 2004 AFC Asian Cup qualification, beaten by Bhutan and Mongolia. For the 2006 World Cup qualifiers, Guam entered and was scheduled to face Nepal in the first round but both Nepal and Guam withdrew for financial reasons before their first match.

In the 2005 East Asian Football Championship qualifiers, Guam lost all four matches heavily, against Chinese Taipei (9–0), Hong Kong (15–0), Mongolia (4–1), and North Korea (21–0). Following these defeats, Guam entered the 2006 AFC Challenge Cup, a competition designed for emerging nations to help develop their football. Guam again lost all three matches to Palestine (11–0), Bangladesh (3–0), and Cambodia (3–0).

Guam advanced to the second stage of qualifying in the 2008 East Asian Football Championship by beating Northern Marianas 12–2 over two legs but they were eliminated in the next round by Chinese Taipei (10–0), and Hong Kong (15–1). In the 2010 East Asian Football Championship qualifiers, Guam managed to get its first victory over a FIFA member, beating Mongolia 1–0. They would go on to top the group before being eliminated at the next stage. Guam returned to the 2011 Pacific Games after a sixteen-year absence, but only managed to beat American Samoa 2–0, finishing second last and failing to advance to the knock-out stages.

Building the football structure (2012–present)

Gary White became Guam's manager in 2012 and called-up players of Guamanian origin based in the United States like Ryan Guy and A. J. DeLaGarza to improve the level of his team. In the 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup, Matao managed to advance past the first round by beating Northern Marianas (3–1) and Macao (3–0). Guam then participated in the 2012 Philippine Peace Cup, replacing Hong Kong, losing against Philippines (1–0) and Chinese Taipei (2–0) but beat Macao (3–0) in its final group game to finish third. Guam advanced to the second qualifying stage of both the 2015 and 2017 EAFF Championship finishing third and fourth respectively and failing to advance the final competition.

In 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, Guam beat Turkmenistan (1–0) and India (2–1), finishing fourth in their group and qualifying for the 2019 Asian Cup third round qualifiers, although Guam withdrew before the draw took place. Guam then failed to progress past the first qualifying round for the 2019 EAFF Championship.

During the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, Guam beat Bhutan 5–1 over two legs but lost all eight of their second round matches and finished bottom of their group, scoring two goals and conceding 32.

After nearly not playing an international match for a year, Guam participated in the first round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification against Singapore, where they would ultimately lose 3–1 on aggregate.

Nickname

Until 2011, the nickname of the Guamanian selection was Chamorros, in reference to the local population of Guam. When Gary White took charge of Guam, the team has changed their nickname to Matao, referring to highest social class in ancient Chamorro society in the Chamorro language. White also promoted the use of the Guam pledge before each match of the selection, referred to as the Inifresi.

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

2024

2024 Marianas Cup April 6	Northern Mariana Islands	2–2	Guam
	M. Toves  8' ???  71' (o.g.)	https://www.mvariety.com/sports/localsports/nmi-men-edge-guam-2-1/article_3a90fa10-f5ad-11ee-9446-c386f4818a14.html	Manibusan  48' Stenson  60'

2024 Marianas Cup April 7	Northern Mariana Islands	2–1	Guam
	Narvaez Jr.  6' Lizama  68'	https://www.mvariety.com/sports/localsports/nmi-men-edge-guam-2-1/article_3a90fa10-f5ad-11ee-9446-c386f4818a14.html	Harmon  74'

2025 EAFF E-1 preliminary 8 December	Guam	v	North Korea	Mong Kok, Hong Kong
14:00 UTC+8				Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium

2025 EAFF E-1 preliminary 11 December	Macau	v	Guam	Kowloon, Hong Kong
14:00 UTC+8				Stadium: Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground

Current coaching staff

Position	Name
Head coach	Samuel San Gil
Assistant coach	Chris Malenab
Assistant coach	Matt Holland
Goalkeeper coach	Jeroen Bos
Video Analyst	Chris Malenab
Team Doctor	Dr. Luis Cruz
Physiotherapist	J.P. Thompson
Physiotherapist	Walfred Javier
Team Manager	Vance Manibusan
High Performance Manager	Pavel Gubenko
Media Officer	Jill Espiritu
Equipment Director	Thomas Castro

Coaching history

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up against  Singapore on October 12 & 17, 2023 respectively.

Caps and goals correct as of October 17, 2023, after the match against  Singapore.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Dallas Jaye	(1993-06-19) June 19, 1993 (age 31)	22	0	free agent
18	1GK	John-Michael Guidroz	(2004-01-01) January 1, 2004 (age 20)	0	0	University of West Florida
21	1GK	Zaine Rocca	(2007-06-28) June 28, 2007 (age 17)	0	0	Total Futbol Academy
2	2DF	Isiah Lagutang	(1997-08-03) August 3, 1997 (age 27)	13	1	Bank of Guam Strykers FC
3	2DF	Jonahan Romero	(1988-03-17) March 17, 1988 (age 36)	34	0	SYC United
5	2DF	Leon Morimoto	(2001-12-18) December 18, 2001 (age 22)	4	0	Temperley
6	2DF	Nate Lee	(1994-05-06) May 6, 1994 (age 30)	11	0	FC Frederick
12	2DF	Anthony Quidachay	(2002-06-11) June 11, 2002 (age 22)	1	0	Chatham Cougars
13	2DF	Takumi Ito	(2000-02-03) February 3, 2000 (age 24)	3	0	Ezra
15	2DF	Shane Healy	(1998-07-03) July 3, 1998 (age 26)	3	0	Bank of Guam Strykers FC
20	2DF	Dane Agustin	(2006-01-23) January 23, 2006 (age 18)	2	0	San Antonio FC Academy
4	3MF	Kyle Halehale	(2002-06-03) June 3, 2002 (age 22)	10	0	Hartford City FC
7	3MF	John Matkin	(1986-04-20) April 20, 1986 (age 38)	30	2	Free agent
8	3MF	Alec Taitague	(2000-05-09) May 9, 2000 (age 24)	30	2	Roanoke Maroons
10	3MF	Jason Cunliffe (captain)	(1983-10-23) October 23, 1983 (age 41)	66	26	Bank of Guam Strykers FC
14	3MF	Jude Bischoff	(1992-04-26) April 26, 1992 (age 32)	1	0	Guam Shipyard
17	3MF	Levi Berg	(2008-04-15) April 15, 2008 (age 16)	1	0	Guam Shipyard
22	3MF	Travis Nicklaw	(1993-12-21) December 21, 1993 (age 30)	36	1	Free agent
23	3MF	Jason Castro	(2007-07-06) July 6, 2007 (age 17)	0	0
9	4FW	Marcus López	(1992-02-09) February 9, 1992 (age 32)	37	6	Bank of Guam Strykers FC
11	4FW	Eddie Na	(1996-02-12) February 12, 1996 (age 28)	8	0	Tacoma Stars
16	4FW	Ka'eo Gonsalves	(2005-01-06) January 6, 2005 (age 19)	2	0	Richmond Kickers
19	4FW	Oz Rocca	(2004-08-10) August 10, 2004 (age 20)	2	0	Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the Guam squad within last 12 months.

Player records

Players in bold are still active with Guam.

Most appearances

Jason Cunliffe is Guam's top goalscorer and their most capped player.

Top goalscorers

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 1998	Not a FIFA member									Not a FIFA member
2002	Did not qualify									2	0	0	2	0	35
2006	Withdrew									Withdrew
2010
2014
2018	Did not qualify									8	2	1	5	3	16
2022										10	1	0	9	7	33
2026										2	0	0	2	1	3
2030	To be determined									To be determined
2034
Total		0/7							22	3	1	18	11	87

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	Did not enter									Did not enter
1996	Did not qualify									3	0	0	3	2	27
2000										3	0	0	3	0	32
2004										2	0	0	2	0	11
2007	Did not enter									Did not enter
2011	Did not qualify									AFC Challenge Cup
2015
2019	Withdrew during qualification									8	2	1	5	3	16
2023	Did not qualify									12	1	0	11	8	36
2027	Excluded during qualification									2	0	0	2	1	3
Total	0/18	—								30	3	1	25	14	125

• 2019 – Withdrew from the third tournament due to financial constraints.

East Asian Football Championship

East Asian Football Championship record										Preliminary competition
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
East Asian Football Championship
2003	Did not qualify									4	0	0	4	0	22
2005										4	0	0	4	1	49
2008										4	2	0	2	13	27
2010										6	2	1	3	9	28
EAFF East Asian Cup
2013	Did not qualify									6	2	1	3	8	18
2015										6	3	2	1	10	6
EAFF E-1 Football Championship
2017	Did not qualify									3	0	0	3	2	7
2019										3	1	1	1	5	3
2022	Did not participate									Not held
2024	To be determined									To be determined
Total	-	0/9	0	0	0	0	0	0		36	10	5	21	48	160

AFC Challenge Cup

AFC Challenge Cup record										Qualification record
Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
2006	Group stage	16th	3	0	0	3	0	17		No qualification
2008	Did not qualify									3	0	0	3	4	18
2010	Did not enter									Did not enter
2012
2014	Did not qualify									3	1	0	2	3	9
Total	Group stage	1/5	3	0	0	3	0	17		6	1	0	5	7	27

Pacific Games

Pacific Games record Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA 1963 Did not enter 1966 1969 1971 1975 Group stage 7th 2 0 0 2 1 16 1979 6th 5 2 0 3 13 25 1983 Did not enter 1987 1991 Group stage 8th 4 0 0 3 1 52 1995 8th 3 0 0 3 0 23 2003 Did not enter 2007 2011 Group stage 9th 5 1 1 3 4 21 2015 N/A – tournament was U23 2019 Did not enter Total Group stage 5/15 19 3 1 14 19 147

Pacific Mini Games Pacific Mini Games record Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA 1981 did not enter 1993 Group stage 8th 3 0 0 3 1 35 2017 did not enter Total Group Stage 1/3 3 0 0 3 1 35

Micronesian Games

Micronesian Games record
Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GS	GA
1998	Runners-up	2nd	6	5	0	1	52	7
2014	Did not enter
2018
2022	To be determined
Total	Runners-up	1/3	6	5	0	1	43	5

Head-to-head record

As of 12 September 2023

Opponent	First	Last	Played	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Confederation
American Samoa	2011	2011	1	1	0	0	2	0	0	OFC
Aruba	2014	2014	2	0	1	1	2	4	–2	CONCACAF
Australia	2012	2012	1	0	0	1	0	9	–9	AFC
Bangladesh	2006	2006	1	0	0	1	0	3	–3	AFC
Bhutan	2003	2019	3	1	0	2	5	7	–2	AFC
Cambodia	2006	2021	4	1	0	3	3	6	–3	AFC
China	2000	2021	3	0	0	3	0	33	–33	AFC
Chinese Taipei	1996	2016	12	2	1	5	13	52	–39	AFC
Fiji	1975	1996	2	0	0	2	1	19	–18	OFC
Hong Kong	2003	2016	8	0	1	7	4	59	–55	AFC
India	2013	2015	3	1	0	2	2	6	–4	AFC
Iran	2000	2015	3	0	0	3	0	31	–31	AFC
North Korea	2005	2016	5	0	0	5	3	42	–39	AFC
South Korea	1996	1996	1	0	0	1	0	9	–9	AFC
Laos	2013	2013	1	0	1	0	1	1	0	AFC
Macau	2003	2018	6	2	2	2	8	6	2	AFC
Maldives	2019	2019	2	0	0	2	1	4	–3	AFC
Mongolia	2003	2018	7	2	1	4	7	17	–17	AFC
Myanmar	2013	2013	1	0	0	1	0	5	–5	AFC
New Caledonia	1979	2011	2	0	0	2	1	20	–19	OFC
Northern Mariana Islands	2007	2018	6	6	0	0	26	4	22	AFC
Oman	2015	2016	2	0	1	1	0	1	–1	AFC
Pakistan	2008	2008	1	0	0	1	2	9	–7	AFC
[[Palestinian National Authority {{{altlink}}}|Palestinian National Authority]]	2006	2006	1	0	0	1	0	11	–11	AFC
Papua New Guinea	1995	1995	1	0	0	1	0	9	–9	OFC
Philippines	2000	2021	5	0	0	5	1	13	–12	AFC
Singapore	2015	2015	1	0	1	0	2	2	0	AFC
Solomon Islands	1975	2011	3	0	0	3	2	24	–22	OFC
Sri Lanka	2008	2008	1	0	0	1	1	5	–4	AFC
Syria	2019	2021	2	0	0	2	0	7	–7	AFC
Tahiti	1993	1993	1	0	0	1	0	11	–11	OFC
Tajikistan	2000	2000	1	0	0	1	0	16	–16	AFC
Turkmenistan	2015	2015	2	1	0	1	1	1	0	AFC
Vanuatu	1995	2011	2	0	0	2	0	2	–2	OFC
Vietnam	1996	2000	2	0	0	2	0	2	–20	AFC

Honors

Friendly

• Mariana Cup
  • Champions (3): 2007, 2008, 2010

See also

In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Guam para niños