Marshall Islands make history with first-ever international football match
The Marshall Islands finally got off the mark in international football on Thursday and promptly lost 4-0 to the U.S. Virgin Islands on a high school pitch in Arkansas, but not before making history as the world's newest national team.
The remote Pacific nation with fewer than 40,000 people played their first-ever international at the 3,000-capacity Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium in Springdale, better known as home to the local high school's American football team.
"I feel surreal this morning; it's one of those out-of-body experiences," technical director Lloyd Owers told Reuters before the historic match. "I don't think we or anyone else thought we'd be here in two and a half years. The fact that it's going viral across the world is a great feeling."
The English ex-semi-professional player from Oxfordshire, who took charge in 2022, led a squad this week that included players experiencing 11-a-side football for the first time.
With just five training sessions together, the 20-man squad spans generations from a 15-year-old to a player in his early 40s.
"The (team) were a bit nervy, understandably, but we have a good dynamic off the field and that has helped raise our game," Owers added. "Now we're going into these games wanting to compete and turn that nervous energy into a positive experience."
The match kicked off the Marshall Islands' own creation — the Outrigger Challenge Cup, a four-team tournament featuring two FIFA members, Turks and Caicos Islands (world-ranked 206th)and U.S. Virgin Islands (207th), plus local side Ozark United's under-19 team.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Ong Beng Seng fined $30k in case linked to ex-minister Iswaran after judge cites judicial mercy
Singapore Why was Ong Beng Seng fined instead of jailed? Key points from the case
Singapore ICA to review Ong Beng Seng's PR status after he is fined for abetting obstruction of justice
Singapore Drug trafficker gets death sentence commuted after President Tharman grants clemency
Asia Former China envoy to Singapore Sun Haiyan reappears after reported questioning
Life Founder of Singapore Symphony Orchestra Choo Hoey dies at 90
Singapore Hawkers at Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre will not need to provide free meals under new contracts
Northwest Arkansas was chosen as the venue because it hosts the largest Marshallese community in the United States and offers a convenient mid-point for Caribbean opponents.
The Marshall Islands Soccer Federation, established in 2021 with the support of British volunteers and self-funded, harbours ambitions that extend beyond Thursday's outing.
FIFA membership would unlock up to $8 million in funding over four years, but confederation membership is required first.
Despite writing to Oceania, the Marshall Islands claim to have received no response, with the confederation citing a 'lack of direct air links' as the barrier.
They are, however, considering applying to CONCACAF (the North American confederation) and the AFC (Asian confederation).
Saturday brings their next challenge against the Turks and Caicos Islands and another chance to make history. REUTERS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
14 minutes ago
- Straits Times
While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Aug 17, 2025
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Russian President Vladimir Putin leaving a press briefing in Alaska after his summit with US President Donald Trump on Aug 15. Outline emerges of Putin's offer to end his war in Ukraine Russia would relinquish tiny pockets of occupied Ukraine and Kyiv would cede swathes of its eastern land which Moscow has been unable to capture, under peace proposals discussed by Russia's Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump at their Alaska summit, sources briefed on Moscow's thinking said. The account emerged the day after Mr Trump and Mr Putin met at an airforce base in Alaska, the first encounter between a US president and the Kremlin chief since before the start of the Ukraine conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is due to travel to Washington on Aug 18 to discuss with Mr Trump a possible settlement of the full-scale war, which Mr Putin launched in February 2022. Although the summit failed to secure the ceasefire he said he had wanted, Mr Trump said in an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity that he and Mr Putin had discussed land transfers and security guarantees for Ukraine, and had 'largely agreed'. READ MORE HERE US 'proposed Nato-style joint defence guarantees for Kyiv' PHOTO: EPA The US has proposed Ukraine be protected by a Nato-style collective defence guarantee to allay fears of renewed Russian aggression in the event of a peace deal, Italy's premier and diplomatic sources said Aug 16. The suggestion was raised during a call US President Donald Trump held with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders on Aug 16, the day after Mr Trump's summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore I want to divorce my husband and be a single mother: More victims speaking up on emotional abuse Singapore Your odds of winning the Toto jackpot? One in 14 million Opinion Confessions of a born-again Singaporean Singapore Over 280 vapes seized, more than 640 people checked by police, HSA in anti-vape raids at nightspots Singapore SPLRT disruption: 28km of cables to be tested during off-service hours; works to end by Aug 23 Singapore First-half GDP boost likely temporary; Republic must stay relevant amid challenges: Chan Chun Sing Life Six-figure sales each durian season: Why S'pore durian sellers are now live selling on TikTok Singapore Airport-bound public bus to be fitted with luggage rack in 3-month trial: LTA 'As one of the security guarantees for Ukraine, the American side proposed a non-Nato Article 5 type guarantee, supposedly agreed with Putin,' one diplomatic source told AFP on condition they not be identified. READ MORE HERE Israel prepares to relocate residents to southern Gaza PHOTO: REUTERS Gaza residents will be provided with tents and other shelter equipment starting from Aug 17 ahead of relocating them from combat zones to the south of the enclave 'to ensure their safety,' the Israeli military said on Aug 16. This comes days after Israel said it intended to launch a new offensive to seize control of northern Gaza City, the enclave's largest urban centre, in a plan that raised international alarm over the fate of the demolished strip, home to about 2.2 million people. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Aug 17 said that before launching the offensive, the civilian population will be evacuated to what he described as 'safe zones' from Gaza City, which he called Hamas' last stronghold. READ MORE HERE US suspends visas for Gazans after Loomer posts PHOTO: REUTERS The US government said on Aug 16 it is suspending visitor visas for Gazans after a far-right influencer with the ear of President Donald Trump complained that wounded Palestinians had been allowed to seek medical treatment in the United States. The announcement came one day after a series of furious social media posts by Ms Laura Loomer, who is known for promoting racist conspiracy theories and claiming that the 9/11 terrorist attacks were an inside job. 'All visitor visas for individuals from Gaza are being stopped while we conduct a full and thorough review of the process and procedures used to issue a small number of temporary medical-humanitarian visas in recent days,' the State Department, which is led by Mr Marco Rubio, wrote on X. READ MORE HERE One win does not signal that 'City are back' PHOTO: REUTERS The several thousand Manchester City fans who travelled to Molineux on Aug 16 sang 'City are back' as Pep Guardiola's men kicked off their season with a thorough 4-0 Premier League thrashing of Wolverhampton Wanderers. But Guardiola, whose once-mighty team stormed to four consecutive league titles before last season's shocking third-place finish, pleaded patience, saying that one win meant little. 'The start is a good result, (but) no more than last season. Last season, we started against Chelsea, 2-0 (win), and look what happened later,' Guardiola told Sky Sports.
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Defending champ Jannik Sinner subdues Terence Atmane to reach Cincinnati ATP final
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Italy's Jannik Sinner hitting autographed balls into the crowd after beating Terence Atmane of France on Aug 16. CINCINNATI - World number one Jannik Sinner ruthlessly subdued 136th-ranked Terence Atmane 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 on Aug 16 to reach the final of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open. Italy's Sinner, celebrating his 24th birthday, ended French qualifier Atmane's dream run and will now try to become the first man since Roger Federer in 2014-15 to win back-to-back titles in Cincinnati. In the Aug 18 final he will face either world number two Carlos Alcaraz or third-ranked Alexander Zverev, who faced off later on Aug 16. Sinner, tuning up for the US Open in his first tournament since winning Wimbledon, has not dropped a set en route to the final. Atmane gave birthday boy Sinner a Pokemon card shortly before they went on court, but he was in a less giving mood once they were under way. The 23-year-old Frenchman, who beat world number four Taylor Fritz and ninth-ranked Holger Rune to reach the semis, looked right at home in the biggest match of his career, using his powerful lefty forehand to good effect. But Sinner surrendered just three points in his first six service games as they went to the tiebreaker with neither man facing a break point. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Over 280 vapes seized, more than 640 people checked by police, HSA in anti-vape raids at nightspots Singapore SPLRT disruption: 28km of cables to be tested during off-service hours; works to end by Aug 23 Singapore First-half GDP boost likely temporary; Republic must stay relevant amid challenges: Chan Chun Sing Life Six-figure sales each durian season: Why S'pore durian sellers are now live selling on TikTok Singapore Airport-bound public bus to be fitted with luggage rack in 3-month trial: LTA Asia Australian universities slash staff, courses as rising wages and foreign student curbs bite Life Meet the tutors who take O-level exams every year to create a 'war mate' bond with their students Life Pivot or perish: How Singapore restaurants are giving diners what they want Atmane double faulted on the first point of the decider and Sinner was away, powering to a 5-2 lead and pocketing the set at his second opportunity. Sinner showed a first sign of vulnerability as he needed five game points to hold serve in the opening game of the second set. But that was the closest look Atmane got at his serve, and Sinner broke the Frenchman for a 3-1 lead and again to seal the match. AFP
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
She won big in Genting, but getting $240k winnings back to Singapore was dicey
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SINGAPORE – Winning a large sum of money at a casino may seem like a dream come true, but few anticipate the challenges and stress involved in bringing that money back home if the win happens overseas. Ms Sherylynn Kok, 28, experienced this first-hand in A pril , after winning RM800,000 ($244,000) at a slot machine in a Genting Highlands casino. She, her boyfriend and her parents were on a weekend getaway at the hill resort. On that fateful Friday afternoon, they began playing at the jackpot machines. Ms Kok was initially on a losing streak. 'I kept changing slot machines and finally sat down at a random one,' recalls the owner of a frozen food supply company and social media agency. Five minutes in, she triggered a feature game offering four jackpot tiers: mini, minor, major and grand, each with rising prize values and shrinking odds. She pressed the button. The columns began aligning on the payline. Three of the grand prize symbols appeared on the screen, along with a small message at the bottom of the screen: She had won the grand prize of RM800,000. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Over 280 vapes seized, more than 640 people checked by police, HSA in anti-vape raids at nightspots Singapore SPLRT disruption: 28km of cables to be tested during off-service hours; works to end by Aug 23 Singapore First-half GDP boost likely temporary; Republic must stay relevant amid challenges: Chan Chun Sing Life Six-figure sales each durian season: Why S'pore durian sellers are now live selling on TikTok Singapore Airport-bound public bus to be fitted with luggage rack in 3-month trial: LTA Asia Australian universities slash staff, courses as rising wages and foreign student curbs bite Life Meet the tutors who take O-level exams every year to create a 'war mate' bond with their students Life Pivot or perish: How Singapore restaurants are giving diners what they want Shortly after, a group of security guards, along with a few casino staff, approached Ms Kok and her boyfriend and checked the machine. After verifying that it was a legitimate win, she was asked to head to the cashier to collect her winnings. Stacks of RM10,000 notes , separated into eight bundles of RM100,000, filled up a backpack that was 'crazy heavy', she said. As she had never carried such a huge sum before, she requested security guards to escort her back to her hotel room. 'They said walking around the casino was fine, but the moment we exited the casino, they cannot guarantee anything won't happen.' That night, the group took turns to guard the backpack. It was the weekend, so they could not remit the money back to Singapore and all the banks were closed. The group also learnt that transfers needed to be made using a Malaysian bank account, which none of them had. When they reached the airport to get on their return flight to Singapore, they found out that carrying such a large amount of cash out of the country required approval from Malaysia's national bank. Ms Kok's parents returned to Singapore first, while she and her boyfriend figured out their next steps. The next day, she managed to open a Malaysian bank account with OCBC, which offered dual-currency access, with the flexibility to switch between ringgit and Singapore dollar . Ms Kok claims she is disciplined when gambling, setting a firm limit on how much she is willing to lose before she starts. 'I gamble not because I want to earn money, but because once in a while, there is nothing to do, and I have no plans over the weekends.' When told of her win, some friends advised her to invest her money or treat herself to some luxury shopping or a holiday. 'I am very risk-averse, and I don't understand complex investment options, so keeping the money in a simple bank account seems safer,' says Ms Kok. She has heard stories of others who came into large sums of money, only to spend it in a matter of months. A friend of a friend won $1.4 million from Toto. The woman impulsively invested in various businesses, spent lavishly, and ultimately used up all the money in less than a year. Ms Kok refers to herself as 'low-maintenance' and is not drawn to conspicuous spending and luxury items. To her, this windfall is a gift of time – a chance to slow down in her career and not hustle as hard. But she does not see it as a ticket to early retirement. 'I keep trying to steer myself away from the thinking that I am rich or like I have money. I don't think $200,000 will last you a lifetime.'
