Guam national football team

History

Guam has a population of just 180,000 and is based in the Asian Football Confederation’s sub-region of East Asia. The team was founded in 1975 and joined FIFA in 1996. It's one of FIFA's smallest Member Associations in population and size. It has competed in World Cup qualification on two occasions. However, Guam was eliminated in the first round of Asian qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup after losing against Iran and Tajikistan and was eliminated in the second round of qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup .

Recently Guam has found success by winning the EAFF preliminary competition and qualifying for the semi final round in 2012, 2013, and 2014. Guam finished third during the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualification and they completed their group play with a resounding 3–0 victory over Chinese Taipei for the first time in history. During November 2013's FIFA International games schedule Guam beat Cambodia 2–0 and tied with Laos 1–1. Both these International fixtures were played away at the opponents' home national stadiums. A succession of positive results have lifted Guam to a record-high of 160 on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, and a credible position of 33 of the AFC’s 46 nations.

On June 11, 2015 during the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification Group D, Guam clinched their first-ever World Cup Qualifier win beating Turkmenistan 1–0. The game was the first time Guam hosted a World Cup qualifier on their home soil. Just a few days later Guam hosted their second World Cup qualifier to India and defeated them by a 2–1 scoreline. The win was notable considering India's FIFA rankings sits 33 spots ahead at No. 141, their population is in the billions and they were recently dubbed the 'sleeping giants of football' by FIFA.

Guam National Team Officials

On 1 February 2012, White was appointed as head coach and also served as the federation's technical director. One of the first and most notable changes was the applying of the moniker Matao, a traditional term that represents courage among the indigenous Chamorro population. The strong connection with the local culture has elevated the nation team to a new level of recognition and popularity within the nation. Another notable change was integrating Inifresi (Chamorro pledge) before every game.

Since White took over Guam has doubled its wins and has seen achieved a record high FIFA ranking. Guam finished third during the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualification and they completed their group play with a resounding 3–0 victory over Chinese Taipei for the first time in history. White has started a 10-year plan which aims to elevate the national team to fifth in East Asia, behind Japan, North and South Korea and China, all of whom have World Cup experience. Due to the success of the Matao, FIFA Futbol Mundial (April 2013 episode #137) and various other world media have featured White and the progress of the Guam national football team. On 30 May 2016, White was appointed as head coach of Shanghai Shenxin in the China League One. As of July 2016 a replacement has not been named.

Previous Coaches

Current squad

The following players were called up to for the 2017 EAFF E-1 Football Championship against Chinese Taipei national football team, the Hong kong national football team and North Korea national football team. Caps and goals updated as of 1 December 2016.

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the Guam squad within last 12 months. Retired players are not listed.

Records

Guam registered its first victory over a member of FIFA on 11 March 2009, 35 years after making its debut. They beat Mongolia, by 1–0 in the 2010 East Asian Cup Preliminary Competition, at home in Yona. Christopher Mendiola scored the only goal after 9 minutes.

The second victory was a 2–0 against American Samoa on 1 September 2011, in Group A at the 2011 Pacific Games in Noumea, New Caledonia. Dylan Naputi and Elias Merfalen scored in the second half.

Guam has beaten its nearest neighbor, the Northern Mariana Islands on four occasions from 2007 to 2009. Although a member of the East Asia Football Federation since 2006, the islands are not FIFA members.

Recently they have recorded further victories over Chinese Taipei and Macau in International competition and were narrowly beaten 2–1 in Hong Kong against the host country in December 2012.

1975 South Pacific Games

Guam first competed in football at the 1975 South Pacific Games which it hosted in August of that year. They lost their first ever game to Fiji and then lost to the Solomon Islands to finish at the bottom of Group 2.

1979 South Pacific Games

Guam competed in South Pacific Games Football – 1979 in Fiji and was placed in Group 4 alongside New Caledonia and the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu). During the tournament, held in September 1979, Guam lost to New Caledonia and to the New Hebrides as both of the other teams advanced.

1991 South Pacific Games

The 1991 South Pacific Games saw Guam's first matches since the 1979 tournament, twelve years previous. In Papua New Guinea, Guam were in Group 2 and lost their opener to Tahiti on 9 September 1991. On 12 September they lost to Fiji before losing to New Caledonia.

1996 Asian Cup

In Guam's first Asian Cup qualification attempt at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Ryan Stepp at 15 years of age became the youngest player to score in Asian Cup qualification in a 9–2 loss to Chinese Taipei.

2002 World Cup Qualification

Guam entered World Cup qualification for the first time for the 2002 tournament which was jointly held in Japan and South Korea. They were put in Group B of the first qualifying round, against Iran (qualifiers in 1998) and Tajikistan. Each team played each other once in the Takhti Stadium in the city of Tabriz, Iran.

2006 AFC Challenge Cup

The first-ever 2006 AFC Challenge Cup was held in Bangladesh in April 2006. As a competition for Asia's weakest teams, there was no qualification scheme. Guam were put in Group C alongside the hosts, Palestine and Cambodia.

Guam played their first game at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka, on 1 April, in front of 3,000 people and were defeated by Palestine, for whom Fahed Attal scored six times. Bangladesh then defeated Guam on 3 April, with two late goals from Mohammed Abul. The match was watched by 18,000. Three days later 550 people watched Cambodia defeat Guam at the Bangladesh Army Stadium.

2013 EAFF East Asian Cup

In 2012, the first round of preliminary competition was hosted by Guam. Guam finished first within the tournament advancing to Round 2 of preliminary competition.

2014 AFC Challenge Cup

Guam finished third during the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualification and completed their group play with a resounding 3–0 victory over Chinese Taipei for the first time in history.

2015 EAFF East Asian Cup

In 2014, the first round of preliminary competition was hosted by Guam. Guam finished first, advancing to the semifinal round for the third-straight time.

2018 World Cup Qualification

Guam entered the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification Group D. Guam hosted the qualifiers for the first time at the Guam FA National Training Centre in Harmon, which was built with financial assistance from FIFA’s Goal Programme. During the qualifying round, Guam clinched their first FIFA World Cup Qualifying win by defeating Turkmenistan. Just a few days later Guam won their second FIFA World Cup Qualifying match beating India. The win was notable considering India's FIFA ranking sits 33 spots ahead at No. 141, the size of India's population and their recently having been dubbed "the sleeping giants" of football by FIFA.

World Cup

AFC Asian Cup

East Asian Football Championship

AFC Challenge Cup

South Pacific Games

Micronesia Games

Philippine Peace Cup