Only one nation in the world has never played an 11-a-side match since the Marshall Islands made their international debut last year, and they are set to play on home soil for the first time in 2027.
In August 2025, the island country with a population of around 42,000 travelled to Arkansas, USA, to take part in the four-team Outrigger Challenge Cup after securing funding through a crowdfunding campaign and shirt sales worth a combined sum of over £20,000.
Their first match ended in a 4-0 loss against the US Virgin Islands, a nation ranked 206th in the world, before Josiah Blanton and Aaron Anitok-Brokken scored their first-ever goals in a 3-2 defeat to the Turks & Caicos Islands – a team that competes in Group A of the CONCACAF Nations League C.
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A year on from their last match, the Marshall Islands have officially announced they will play their first-ever fixture on home soil in 2027. To ensure the encounter goes ahead, with their opponents yet to be confirmed, they are raising the money by selling their newly-released home shirt, which costs £49.99.
The jersey, built from traditional Marshallese tattooing motifs, is available for pre-sale and funds the MISF’s football activity. As the last sovereign nation without a traditional football federation or local 11-a-side leagues, the Marshall Islands receive no state backing or confederation grants, and they aren’t the only nation in the same unfortunate position.
Nauru are the last nation yet to play international football
After the Marshall Islands finally played their first international match in August 2025 and are scheduled to return to the pitch in 2027, it means only one country in the world are still yet to play a men’s 11-a-side match at international level.
That is Nauru, the world’s smallest island nation.
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The microstate – which is far more renowned for playing rugby – has a population of just 12,000 people, though it does have a relatively long history in football.
Despite only having one hard sand pitch on the island, they did come very close to playing an international match when representative teams faced a Solomon Islands expatriate team in 1994 and a refugee side in 2014.
Over the past three years, plans for the nation to play international football have accelerated, beginning with the appointment of Charlie Ponroy to lead the project in 2023. He was joined shortly after by former Premier League striker Dave Kitson, who was appointed as the nation’s head coach and football ambassador.
His involvement immediately brought international attention to Nauru’s efforts to establish itself on the map, and one of their biggest milestones was launching the official Nauru football kit. Designed in collaboration with kit makers Stingz and backed by sponsors Giordano and Young Pioneer Tours, the kit’s striking design drew comparisons to the iconic jerseys of Boca Juniors.
Nauru’s home shirt (Photo: Stingz)
But since releasing the kit over two years ago – which became a critical lifeline for developing football on the island – they’ve not come any closer to raising enough funds to play international football.
Part of that is down to everyday life on the island being a struggle. According to a survey conducted by the World Health Organisation, 69.9 per cent of adults in Nauru are classed as obese and around 40% have Type 2 diabetes.
There has been a conscious effort to improve activity levels in Nauru, and their sport of choice is Aussie Rules, which 30% of the locals play.
Nauru will get a huge chance to put themselves on the map when they host the Micronesian Games in 2028 – a multi-sport event that includes football and will showcase the island’s desire to grow its international reputation through sport.
“They are trying to change the image for the better and get involved in more sport,” Pomroy said via BBC Sport.
“They [Nauru] want people to see the country in a more positive light rather than the punchline of a joke.
“So whether it’s football, whether it’s Aussie rules, whether it’s rugby, basketball, cricket, weightlifting… just to be part of building a healthier Nauru is enough.
“But being a football lover, the best way I know how to have an impact is through football.”
Nauru’s biggest issue remains finding a place to play on the island, as much of the land is privately owned or uninhabitable. Volunteer Tyrone Deiye is hoping to use some of his family’s land to create more pitches than the sole one that currently exists, and this would dramatically increase their chances of hosting an international match.
