Guam national football team
| |||
Nickname(s) | Matao[1] | ||
---|---|---|---|
Association | Guam Football Association | ||
Confederation | AFC (Asia) | ||
Sub-confederation | EAFF (East Asia) | ||
Head coach | Karl Dodd | ||
Most caps | Jason Cunliffe (40) | ||
Top scorer | Jason Cunliffe (12) | ||
Home stadium | Guam National Football Stadium | ||
FIFA code | GUM | ||
| |||
FIFA ranking | |||
Current |
193 | ||
Highest | 146 (August – September 2015) | ||
Lowest | 205 (November 2004 – February 2005) | ||
Elo ranking | |||
Current |
209 | ||
Highest | 197 (June 2015) | ||
Lowest | 228 (March 2007) | ||
First international | |||
(Guam; August 24, 1975) | |||
Biggest win | |||
(Guam; April 1, 2007) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
(Taipei, Taiwan; March 11, 2005) |
The Guam national football team is the national association football team for the United States territory of Guam 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/Coca-Cola World Ranking at 146 in 2015 after impressive victories over Turkmenistan and India.[2]
History
Guam's 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.[3]
Recently, Guam has found success by winning the EAFF preliminary competition and qualifying for the semi-final round in 2012, 2013, and 2014. In 2016, Guam automatically qualified for the semifinal round based on its FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. Guam finished third out of four teams in Group A of the 2014 Challenge Cup qualifiers, completing group play with a 3–0 victory over Chinese Taipei, a win over its regional rival for the first time in history. During November 2013's FIFA International games schedule, Guam beat Cambodia 2–0 and drew with Laos 1–1. Both these International fixtures were played away at the opponents' home national stadiums.
On June 11, 2015, during the 2018 World Cup qualifiers of 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.[4][5]
Guam National Team Officials
Position | Name |
---|---|
Manager | |
Assistant coach | |
Goalkeeper coach | |
Team Manager | |
Head of Sports Science | |
Physiotherapist | |
Team Doctor | |
Video Analyst | |
Media Officer | |
Equipment Director |
On 1 February 2012, Gary White was appointed as head coach and also served as the federation's technical director.[6] The same year, Guam Football Association officially adopted the nickname Matao for the team, which refers to the highest social class in ancient Chamorro society[7][8]. National football teams in Guam also began using the Inifresi (Chamorro pledge) regularly before every training session and all matches.[9]
Before 2012, the men's national team had only won twice against FIFA member nations - a 1-0 win against Mongolia in 2009 and a 2-0 win over American Samoa in 2011. In 2012, Guam defeated Macau-China twice - a 3-0 victory in that year's EAFF East Asian Cup Preliminary Round 1 tournament in Guam and another 3-0 victory in the 2012 Philippines Football Peace Cup in Manila. In Round 2 of the EAFF East Asian Cup Preliminary Round, Guam battled to a 1-1 draw with Chinese Taipei, marking the first point earned in the semifinal round of the regional tournament. In 2013, Guam finished third of four teams in Group A of the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualification, completing group play with a resounding 3–0 victory over Chinese Taipei, a win over the regional rival for the first time in history. Due to the success of the Matao, FIFA Futbol Mundial (April 2013 episode #137) and various other world media have featured 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.[10] With the EAFF E-1 Football Championship semifinal round set for November 2016, Guam acquired head coach Darren Sawatzky on an interim basis.[11]
In late 2017, Guam Football Association announced the appointment of Australia's Karl Dodd as the new Matao Head Coach.[12] Since arriving in Guam in early 2018, Dodd has called prospective players into a training camp in California, where they played against San Diego State University's men's soccer team, as well as LA Galaxy II[13]
Previous Coaches
Willie McFaul (1999–2003) Sugao Kambe (2003–2005) Norio Tsukitate (2005–2009) Kazuo Uchida (2011–2012) Gary White (2012–2016) Darren Sawatzky (2016–2017) Karl Dodd (2017- )
Players
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.
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | GK | Doug Herrick | 2 June 1989 | 26 | 0 | |||
22 | GK | Dallas Jaye | 19 June 1993 | 6 | 0 | |||
18 | GK | Sean Evans | 10 July 1999 | 0 | 0 | |||
2 | DF | Alex Lee | 5 January 1990 | 9 | 0 | |||
5 | DF | Micah Paulino | 16 November 1992 | 26 | 0 | |||
6 | DF | Mason Grimes | 21 October 1992 | 14 | 0 | Unattached | ||
8 | DF | Justin Lee | 5 January 1990 | 10 | 0 | |||
14 | DF | Brandon McDonald | 16 January 1986 | 10 | 1 | |||
20 | DF | A. J. DeLaGarza | 4 November 1987 | 12 | 0 | |||
25 | DF | Scott Leon Guerrero | 22 August 1990 | 21 | 0 | |||
3 | MF | Jonahan Romero | 17 March 1988 | 26 | 0 | |||
10 | MF | Jason Cunliffe (captain) | 23 October 1983 | 40 | 15 | |||
13 | MF | Ryan Guy | 5 September 1985 | 28 | 3 | |||
17 | MF | Ian Mariano | 7 October 1990 | 31 | 2 | |||
21 | MF | Marcus Lopez | 2 August 1992 | 20 | 2 | |||
28 | MF | Rin Katsumata | 3 July 1997 | 0 | 0 | |||
9 | FW | Edward Na | 12 February 1996 | 4 | 0 | |||
12 | FW | Tye Perdido | 28 November 1988 | 2 | 0 | |||
16 | FW | Conner Cappelletti | 10 January 1989 | 3 | 0 | |||
23 | FW | Shane Malcolm | 13 October 1991 | 17 | 2 |
Recent call-ups
The following players have also been called up to the Guam squad within last 12 months. Retired players are not listed.
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Bijan Gloston | 11 January 1993 | 3 | 0 | ||||
DF | Shawn Nicklaw | 15 April 1989 | 24 | 1 | ||||
DF | Josh Borja | 1 August 1990 | 14 | 5 | ||||
DF | Isiah Lagutang | 3 August 1997 | 1 | 0 | ||||
DF | Christian Schweizer | 6 January 1995 | 16 | 0 | ||||
DF | Jonathan Odell | 25 February 1995 | 1 | 0 | ||||
DF | Gen Fudo | 10 December 1995 | 0 | 0 | ||||
MF | Travis Nicklaw | 21 December 1993 | 21 | 1 | ||||
MF | Jan-Willem Staman | 1 September 1984 | 4 | 0 | ||||
MF | Dylan Naputi | 4 January 1995 | 29 | 3 | ||||
MF | Mark Chargualaf | 3 January 1991 | 23 | 0 | ||||
MF | Marlon Evans | 3 August 1997 | 1 | 0 | ||||
MF | Ian Adamos | 3 April 1988 | 14 | 0 | ||||
MF | Thaddeus Atalig | 7 May 1995 | 8 | 0 | ||||
MF | Donovan Reyes | 20 April 1996 | 0 | 0 | ||||
FW | Min Sung Choi | 16 October 1992 | 2 | 0 | ||||
FW | John Matkin | 20 April 1986 | 17 | 1 | ||||
FW | Zachary DeVille | 23 March 1993 | 10 | 2 | ||||
FW | Michael Benito | 11 January 1998 | 0 | 0 |
Results and fixtures
2018
2 September 2018 2019 EAFF E-1 Championship First preliminary round | Guam | 4–0 | Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia | |
13:00 UTC+8 | Mendiola Lopez Cunliffe |
Report | Stadium: MFF Football Centre Attendance: 105 Referee: Gu Chunhan (China) |
4 September 2018 2019 EAFF E-1 Championship First preliminary round | Macau | 2–0 | Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia | |
13:00 UTC+8 | Lam Ka Seng Leong Ka Hang |
Report | Stadium: MFF Football Centre Attendance: 106 Referee: Kao Jung-fang (Chinese Taipei) |
6 September 2018 2019 EAFF E-1 Championship First preliminary round | Mongolia | 1–1 | Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia | |
17:00 UTC+8 | Tsedenbal |
Report | Mendiola |
Stadium: MFF Football Centre |
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 a score of 1–0 in the 2010 East Asian Cup Preliminary Competition,[14] 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 3-2 in Hong Kong against the host country in November 2016.
1975 South Pacific Games
- Additional information: 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
- Additional information: 1979 South Pacific Games
Guam competed in South Pacific Games Football – 1979[15] 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
- Additional information: 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.[16]
1996 Asian Cup
- Additional information: 1996 AFC Asian Cup qualification
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
- Additional information: 2002 FIFA 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
- Additional information: 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
- Additional information: 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
- Additional information: 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualification
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
- Additional information: 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
- Additional information: 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
Guam entered the 2018 World Cup qualifiers in Group D. Guam hosted the qualifiers for the first time at the Guam Football Association National Training Center 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 ever 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 reputation as they were recently dubbed "the sleeping giants" of football by FIFA.[4][5]
Tournament record
World Cup
FIFA World Cup record | FIFA World Cup Qualification record | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 35 | |||||||||
Withdrew | |||||||||||||||
8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 16 | ||||||||||
To be determined | To be determined | ||||||||||||||
Total | - | 0/21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 51 |
AFC Asian Cup
- 2019 – Withdrew from the third tournament due to financial constraints.
East Asian Football Championship
- 2003 – 5th place in qualifiers
- 2005 – 5th place in qualifiers
- 2008 – 6th place in qualifiers
- 2010 – Qualified to Round 2 (Preliminary Competition winners)
- 2013 – Qualified to Round 2 (Preliminary Competition winners)
- 2015 – Qualified to Round 2 (Preliminary Competition winners)
- 2017 - Automatically qualified to Round 2 (Ranked higher than bottom four countries in East Asia region)
AFC Challenge Cup
South Pacific Games
(South) Pacific (Mini) Games record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
Did not compete | ||||||||
Group stage | 7th place | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 16 | |
Group stage | 11th place | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 16 | |
Did not compete | ||||||||
Group stage | 8th place | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 37 | |
Group stage | 8th place | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 35 | |
Group stage | 8th place | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 23 | |
Did not compete | ||||||||
Group stage | 9th place | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 21 | |
Did not compete | ||||||||
Total | Group stage | 6/17 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 9 | 148 |
Micronesian Games
- 1998 – Champions
Philippine Peace Cup
- 2012 – Third place
References
- ↑ Mike Nauta Jr. (2012-06-01). "Guam men's national soccer team now known as 'Matao'". Marianas Variety. Guam. Archived from the original on 2014-03-17. Retrieved 2012-06-02.
- ↑ "FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking − Guam Men's Ranking". fifa.com. FIFA. 6 August 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
- ↑ "Ambitious Guam climbing high". fifa.com. FIFA. 21 February 2014.
- 1 2 "Tiny Guam slay sleeping giants India in World Cup qualifier". uk.reuters.com. Reuters. 16 June 2015.
- 1 2 "White: It was a historic event for Guam". fifa.com. FIFA. 15 June 2015.
- ↑ "Guam coach Gary White wants to manage in Premier League". BBC Sport. 11 January 2013.
- ↑ Center, Pacific News. "Guam Nat'l Soccer Team Will Called Matao. | PNC News First". pacificnewscenter.com. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
- ↑ "» Matao and Acha'ot". www.guampedia.com. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
- ↑ Center, Pacific News. "BBC: Guam Matao Coach Gary White Wants to Manage in Premier League - PNC News First". pacificnewscenter.com.
- ↑ 关于盖瑞怀特(Gary White) 先生出任上海申鑫足球俱乐部主教练的公告 (in Chinese)
- ↑ "Darren Sawatzky takes over Guam National Team". Sounder At Heart. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
- ↑ User, Super. "Guam Football Association - GFA appoints Australia's Dodd as Matao Head Coach beginning 2018". www.guamfa.com. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
- ↑ "STATESIDE MATAO CAMP FIRST OF ITS KIND - GSPN - Guam Sports Network". GSPN - Guam Sports Network. 2018-04-06. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
- ↑ Steve Menary (11 September 2009). "Guam on the rise". World Soccer Magazine. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
- ↑ hif:South Pacific Games Football - 1979
- ↑ "Guam - List of International Matches". rsssf.com.
External links
- Guam Football Association (in English) (in Spanish)