Northern Mariana Islands national football team facts for kids
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| Nickname(s) | Blue Ayuyu | ||
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| Association | Northern Mariana Islands Football Association (NMIFA) | ||
| Confederation | AFC (Asia) | ||
| Sub-confederation | EAFF (East Asia) | ||
| Head coach | Atsushi Hanita | ||
| Captain | Jireh Yobech | ||
| Most caps | Nicolas Swaim (17) | ||
| Top scorer | Joe Wang Miller (4) | ||
| Home stadium | Oleai Sports Complex | ||
| FIFA code | MNP | ||
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| FIFA ranking | |||
| Current | NR (7 February 2019) | ||
| Elo ranking | |||
| Current | 237  (3 March 2019) |
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| Highest | 214 (August 1998) | ||
| Lowest | 238 (September 2018) | ||
| First international | |||
Unofficial Northern Mariana Islands 8–0 Yap  (Koror, Palau; 28 July 1998) Official Northern Mariana Islands 2–3 Guam  (Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands; 25 March 2007) |
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| Biggest win | |||
Unofficial Palau 1–12 Northern Mariana Islands (Koror, Palau; 31 July 1998) Official Northern Mariana Islands 4–0 American Samoa  (Honiara, Solomon Islands; 27 November 2023) |
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| Biggest defeat | |||
 Fiji 10–0 Northern Mariana Islands (Honiara, Solomon Islands; 18 November 2023) |
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| Pacific Games | |||
| Appearances | 1 (first in 2023) | ||
| Best result | 10th place (2023) | ||
| Micronesian Games | |||
| Appearances | 1 (first in 1998) | ||
| Best result | Champions (1998) | ||
The Northern Mariana Islands national football team plays for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in international men's soccer games. The team is managed by the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association (NMIFA). This group is part of the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) and, since December 2020, a full member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Even though they are part of the AFC and EAFF, they are not members of FIFA, the world's main football organization. This means they cannot play in big global events like the FIFA World Cup. Because of this, they do not have an official FIFA ranking. The team has often been ranked as one of the lowest in the world by the Elo ratings. In July 2016, they were even rated as the worst men's international team globally.
The team has won only a few official matches against other countries. They have never made it to the final rounds of a major tournament. Their biggest success was winning an exhibition tournament at the Micronesian Games in 1998.
Contents
History of the Team
The Northern Mariana Islands team is quite new to international football. They played their first match in 1998 at the Micronesian Games. After that, they played only one more game before their first football organization stopped working.
Later, a new group called the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association (NMIFA) was started in 2005. The national team was then reformed. They joined the EAFF in 2006 and became full members in 2008. Since then, they have mostly played in qualifying games for the EAFF East Asian Cup. They also tried to qualify for the AFC Challenge Cup once. They often play friendly matches against their neighbor, Guam, for a special trophy called the Marianas Cup.
Early Games (1998-1999)
The Northern Mariana Islands first played internationally at the 1998 Micronesia Games. This was an exhibition tournament, meaning it was just for show and not for medals. The games were also played with fewer players (9-a-side) and on smaller fields than usual.
Despite these differences, the team did very well. They won their first two matches 8–0 against "Palau B" and Yap. They lost 2–1 to Guam but then won their next two games by big scores: 12–1 against Palau and 11–2 against Pohnpei. They finished second in their group and made it to the final. In the final, they beat Guam 3–0, winning their first tournament title.
In 1999, the team played in the first Micronesian Soccer Cup. They lost their first game 7–0 to the Federated States of Micronesia. Their performance was not as strong as the year before.
Team Break and Return (2000s)
After 1999, the team stopped playing international matches for a while. The first football organization in the country closed down. No international games were played until the new Northern Mariana Islands Football Association (NMIFA) was formed in 2005.
In December 2006, the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) accepted the Northern Mariana Islands as a temporary member. This meant they received money each year to help grow football in the country. They became full members of the EAFF in September 2008.
Marianas Cup Matches (2007–2008)
After joining the EAFF, their first big games were against Guam in 2007. The first game, played in Saipan, ended in a 3–2 loss for the Northern Mariana Islands. Even though they lost, people were happy with how well the team played. However, the second game in Guam was much tougher, with Guam winning 9–0. This also meant Guam won the first Marianas Cup.
The two teams played again in 2008. Guam won again, 3–2, keeping the Marianas Cup. Even with the loss, the team showed improvement compared to their previous big defeat.
Joining the AFC (2009–Present)
In 2009, the team traveled to Guam for the 2010 East Asian Football Championship. They played in a group with Guam, Mongolia, and Macau. They lost all three games: 6–1 to Macau, 2–1 to Guam, and 4–1 to Mongolia. Despite the losses, they managed to score in every game.
In July 2009, the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association (NMIFA) became an associate member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). This was a big step for the team.
First Draw
On June 19, 2010, the Northern Mariana Islands had their first draw, a 1–1 tie with Guam in the Marianas Cup. The game ended early because it got too dark. Joe Wang Miller scored for the Northern Mariana Islands.
For the next two years, the team did not play any games. In July 2012, they entered the 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup. They had a mix of young and experienced players. They scored first against Guam, but Guam came back to win 3–1. They then lost to Macau, ending their chances in the tournament.
In 2013, the team played against teams from outside the EAFF for the first time in the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers. They faced strong teams like Palestine, Bangladesh, and Nepal. They lost all three matches: 6–0 to Nepal, 9–0 to Palestine, and 4–0 to Bangladesh.
First Victory
In 2014, the Northern Mariana Islands played in the EAFF Cup qualifying again. After losing 4–0 to Mongolia, they made history on July 23, 2014. They won their first-ever international match against Macau with a score of 2–1. Nicolas Swaim and Kirk Schuler scored the goals. This was a huge moment for the team and showed years of hard work paying off. However, they lost their final game to Guam 5–0 and were eliminated.
They played in the 2017 EAFF East Asian Cup qualifying but lost all three games. They lost 8–1 to Chinese Taipei, 3–1 to Macau, and 8–0 to Mongolia. The team faced challenges, including many players getting sick before the tournament.
FIFA Membership Bid (2020–Present)
On December 9, 2020, the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association (NMIFA) became the 47th full member of the AFC. In October 2021, FIFA announced that the islands had applied to become a member. If they join FIFA, they will be able to play in the World Cup qualifiers.
The Northern Mariana Islands were supposed to play in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification playoff round, but the AFC removed them from the draw.
Pacific Games (2023)
The Northern Mariana Islands played in football at the Pacific Games for the first time in the 2023 tournament. They played against Tahiti and Fiji. On November 27, 2023, they achieved their second victory against a FIFA-affiliated team, beating American Samoa 4–0. This was their first win in the Pacific Games, with captain Jireh Yobech scoring the team's first goal in the tournament.
Home Stadium
The Northern Mariana Islands play their home matches at the Oleai Sports Complex in Saipan. This stadium is mainly used for soccer games and can hold 2,000 people. It has a grass field and a running track around it.
Team Look
Colors
The team's home uniform is all sky blue shirts, shorts, and socks, with a white design on the shirt. Their away uniform is the opposite: all white shirts, shorts, and socks with a sky blue design.
Kit History
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Home
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Away
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Logo
The team uses the same logo as the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association. The logo has a Latte stone in the background, which is a traditional pillar used by the ancient Chamorro people. On top of this is a soccer ball, and over that, a two-tone wave that matches the colors of the national flag.
Nickname
The team is called the "Blue Ayuyu." An Ayuyu is the local name for the Coconut crab, also known as the Robber crab, found in the Mariana Islands.
Recent Matches
Here are some of the team's recent match results from the last year:
Win Draw Loss
2024 Matches
| April 6 Friendly | Northern Mariana Islands |
2–2 | Guam |
Koblerville, Northern Mariana Islands |
| --:-- UTC+11 |
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Stadium: NMI Training Center |
| April 7 Friendly | Northern Mariana Islands |
2–1 | Guam |
Koblerville, Northern Mariana Islands |
| --:-- UTC+11 |
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Stadium: NMI Training Center |
| December 21 Friendly | Northern Mariana Islands |
1–2 | Guam |
Koblerville, Northern Mariana Islands |
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Stadium: NMI Soccer Training Center |
| December 22 Friendly | Northern Mariana Islands |
0–8 | Guam |
Koblerville, Northern Mariana Islands |
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Stadium: NMI Soccer Training Center |
Coaches of the Team
Many different coaches have led the Northern Mariana Islands national football team over the years. They have helped the team grow and improve.
| Head coach | Dates | Pld | W | D | L | Win % | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stefan Bossler |
1998–1999 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 71.4 | 1998 Micronesian Games 1999 Micronesian Cup |
 Jeff Korytoski |
2007 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 2008 East Asian Football Championship |
| Nicolas Swaim |
2008 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | Marianas Cup |
 Sugao Kambe |
2009 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.0 | 2010 East Asian Football Championship |
| Nicolas Swaim |
2010 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | Marianas Cup |
| Chikashi Suzuki |
2012 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.0 | 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup |
 Koo Luam Khen |
2013 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.0 | 2014 AFC Challenge Cup |
| Kiyoshi Sekiguchi |
2014–2017 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 16.7 | 2015 EAFF East Asian Cup 2017 EAFF East Asian Cup |
| Michiteru Mita |
2017–2023 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 11.1 | 2019 EAFF E-1 Football Championship |
| Konomo Suzuki |
2024 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50.0 | |
| Atsushi Hanita |
2024- | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 |
Team Players
Current Squad
These players were called up for the friendly matches against Guam in April 2024.
Caps (games played) and goals are correct as of April 7, 2024, after the match against Guam.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Christopher Aninzo | 6 January 2000 | 6 | 0 | MP United |
| 12 | GK | John Bucayo | 10 March 2001 | 1 | 0 | MP United |
| 25 | GK | Toves Merrick | 1 December 2004 | 4 | 0 | Kanoa |
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| 2 | DF | Kohtaro Goto | 23 May 2004 | 2 | 0 | Park University |
| 3 | DF | Jerald Aquino | 25 October 2004 | 5 | 0 |  Tuloy |
| 4 | DF | Ocanada Ronnel | 26 February 2001 | 6 | 0 | MP United |
| 5 | DF | Jehn Joyner | 9 October 1997 | 10 | 0 | Bank of Guam Strykers |
| 6 | DF | Lucas Knecht | 30 March 1993 | 11 | 0 | Georgia Southwestern State University |
| 14 | DF | Enrico del Rosario | 21 March 1997 | 6 | 0 | Northern Kentucky Nitro |
| 16 | DF | Dai Podziewski | 31 August 2001 | 2 | 0 | Suffolk University |
| 20 | DF | Euly Ermitanio | 30 March 2000 | 3 | 0 | University of Guam |
| 21 | DF | Jeremiah Diaz | 12 January 2004 | 1 | 0 | Park University |
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| 7 | MF | Anthony Fruit | 10 January 2001 | 2 | 0 |  SG Aumund-Vegesack |
| 8 | MF | Michael Barry | 10 November 1995 | 10 | 0 | Saint Leo University |
| 10 | MF | Ryu Tanzawa | 4 March 1998 | 3 | 0 | Paire |
| 13 | MF | Jireh Yobech | 8 July 1996 | 12 | 1 | Inter Godfather's |
| 17 | MF | Ariel Narvaez Jr. | unknown | 5 | 1 | Eleven Tiger |
| 18 | MF | Dev Bachani | 4 May 2005 | 6 | 0 | Tuloy |
| 25 | MF | Markus Toves | 27 May 2007 | 6 | 2 | Kanoa |
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| 9 | FW | Nolan Ngewakl | 8 July 2008 | 4 | 1 | Latte |
| 11 | FW | Taka Borja | 20 November 2003 | 2 | 1 | Teen Ayuyu |
| 15 | FW | Sunjoon Tenorio | 20 May 2001 | 3 | 1 | Warner Pacific Knights |
| 19 | FW | Michah Griffin | 26 October 1997 | 3 | 1 | MP United |
| 22 | FW | Ruben Guerrero | unknown | 4 | 2 | Kanoa |
| 23 | FW | Richard Steele | 30 March 2004 | 1 | 0 | Park–Gilbert Buccaneers |
| 24 | FW | Joe Wang Miller | 3 February 1989 | 17 | 4 | Guam Shipyard |
Player Records
Players in bold are still active with Northern Mariana Islands.
Most Games Played
Nicolas Swaim has played the most games for the Northern Mariana Islands, with 17 appearances between 2009 and 2018. Joe Wang Miller is second with 15 games, and current captain Jireh Yobech is third with 14 games.
Top Goal Scorers
Joe Wang Miller is the team's top scorer with 4 goals in 15 games. Kirk Schuler is second with 3 goals in 9 games.
Youngest Players to Play
The Northern Mariana Islands team has given many young players their first chance to play international football. Three players from the Northern Mariana Islands are among the nine youngest players globally to make their debut before turning 15.
- Lucas Knecht was the youngest male player ever to play in an international match at 14 years and 2 days old in 2007.
- Joel Fruit debuted at 14 years and 177 days in 2012.
- Kennedy Izuka debuted at 14 years and 242 days in 2012.
Several other players also made their debuts before their 16th birthdays.
Oldest Players to Play
The team has also given many older players a chance to play. Of the 88 players worldwide who have played international football after their 40th birthday, 11 are from the Northern Mariana Islands.
- Wesley Bogdan was the nation's oldest player when he first played in 2007 at 48 years and 243 days old.
Only two other players in history have played at an older age: Giorgos Koudas from Greece and Barrie Dewsbury from Sark.
Tournament History
The Northern Mariana Islands have played in a few international tournaments. They are not part of the FIFA World Cup because they are not FIFA members.
AFC Asian Cup
The team was able to try and qualify for the AFC Asian Cup through the AFC Challenge Cup starting in 2011. They did not enter the 2010 AFC Challenge Cup. When they failed to qualify for the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup, they also missed out on the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. They were not eligible for the 2019 and 2023 AFC Asian Cups because those qualifiers were also World Cup qualifiers. They were excluded from the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification.
AFC Challenge Cup
The team tried to qualify for the AFC Challenge Cup once in 2013 after becoming an associate member of the AFC in 2009. They lost all three of their matches and did not score any goals. The AFC Challenge Cup was later stopped.
EAFF E-1 Football Championship
The EAFF E-1 Football Championship is the main tournament the Northern Mariana Islands have played in since they rejoined international football. They have tried to qualify for every championship since they joined the EAFF, but they have not yet succeeded.
Micronesian Games
The Northern Mariana Islands first played at the 1998 Micronesia Games. This football tournament was an exhibition event. The team won the tournament, which is their only major success to date. They have not entered the Micronesian Games since, as football is not always included in the games.
Micronesian Cup
The team played in the Micronesian Cup in 1999. They finished in third place after losing their only match 7–0.
Marianas Cup
The Marianas Cup is a special trophy played for whenever the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam meet in a match.
- In 2007 and 2008, the Northern Mariana Islands were runners-up.
- In 2010, they shared the championship with Guam after a 1–1 draw.
- In 2012, they were runners-up again.
World Rankings
FIFA Ranking
The Northern Mariana Islands are not members of FIFA, so they do not have an official FIFA ranking. They are also not yet included in the AFC's ranking list, even though they are full members. The islands have been trying to join FIFA since October 2021.
Elo Rating
The team's Elo rating has generally gone down since their first official game in 1998. They started at 214 and are currently at 238. This is partly because they have only had a few wins and draws since 2007. Their current ranking shows they are one of the lowest-ranked international football teams in the world.
Honors
Regional Titles
- Micronesian Games
Gold medal (1): 1998
Friendly Titles
- Marianas Cup (1): 2010 (shared)
More to Explore
- Northern Mariana Islands women's national football team
- Northern Mariana Islands national under-18 football team
See also
In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de las Islas Marianas del Norte para niños
