Guam national football team

Guam

Nickname(s)	Matao[1]
Association	Guam Football Association
Sub-confederation	EAFF (East Asia)
Confederation	AFC (Asia)
Head coach	Gary White
Captain	Jason Cunlife
Most caps	Jason Cunlife (35)
Top scorer	Jason Cunlife (17)
Home stadium	Guam National Football Stadium
FIFA code	GUM
FIFA ranking	175 8 (9 April 2015)
Highest FIFA ranking	160 (February 2014)
Lowest FIFA ranking	205 (November 2004-February 2005)
Elo ranking	205 (31 March 2015)
Highest Elo ranking	205 (31 March 2015)
Lowest Elo ranking	227 (Early 2007)
First colours Second colours
First international
Fiji 12–0 Guam (Guam; August 24, 1975)
Biggest win
Guam 3–0 Macau  (Yona, Guam; 22 July 2012)  Guam 3–0 Macau  (Manila, Philippines; 29 September 2012)  Guam 3–0 Chinese Taipei  (Yangon, Myanmar; 6 March 2013)
Biggest defeat
North Korea 21–0 Guam (Taipei, Republic of China; 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 to the Asian Football Confederation's East Asian Football Federation region.

Guam is the 6th strongest National team in the East Asia Football Federation which also consists of Japan, South & North Korea and China, its highest FIFA ranking was 160 in February 2014.^[2] Since February 2012 they have been managed by Englishman Gary White.

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 one occasion. However, Guam was eliminated in the first round of Asian qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup after losing against Iran and Tajikistan.^[3]

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.^[4]

Coaching staff

Position	Name
Head coach	Gary White
Assistant coach	Mark Chargualaf
Assistant coach	Dominic Gadia
Goalkeeper coach	Adrian Creamer
Team Manager	Ross Awa
Trainer	Ian Lawton
Equipment Manager	Robby de Guzman

On 1 February 2012, White was appointed as head coach and also serves as the federations technical director.^[5] One of the first and most notable changes was the applying of the moniker ‘Matao’, a traditional term that represents courage amongst 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.^[6]

Since White took over Guam has doubled its wins and has seen 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.

Previous Coaches

• Willie McFaul (????–2003)
• Sugao Kambe (2003–2005)
• Norio Tsukitate (2005–2009)
• Kazuo Uchida (2011–2012)
• Gary White (2012–)

Players

Current squad

The following 23 players were called up to the squad for the 2015 East Asian Cup qualifiers.^[7]
Caps and goals updated as of 14 July 2014.

0#0 Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club 1 1GK Doug Herrick (1989-06-02) 2 June 1989 14 0 Unattached 18 1GK Bijan Gloston (1993-01-11) 11 January 1993 1 0 Marshall Thundering Herd 22 1GK Dallas Jaye (1993-06-19) 19 June 1993 5 0 South Florida Bulls 2 2DF Scott Guerrero (1990-08-22) 22 August 1990 24 0 Loyola Marymount Lions 3 2DF Jonahan Romero (1988-03-17) 17 March 1988 17 0 Strykers FC 4 2DF James Gawel (1987-01-29) 29 January 1987 7 0 Kapaolongo Dawgs 5 2DF Travis Nicklaw (1993-12-21) 21 December 1993 14 0 San Diego State Aztecs 6 2DF Micah Paulino (1992-11-16) 16 November 1992 22 0 Niagara Purple Eagles 15 2DF Shawn Nicklaw (1989-04-15) 15 April 1989 16 1 Jacksonville Armada FC 19 2DF Erik Ustruck (1985-12-04) 4 December 1985 3 0 Unattached 20 2DF A. J. DeLaGarza (1987-11-04) 4 November 1987 2 0 LA Galaxy 2DF Mason Grimes (1992-10-21) 21 October 1992 3 0 Tulsa Roughnecks 8 3MF Ian Mariano (1990-10-07) 7 October 1990 29 2 Pachanga Diliman F.C. 11 3MF Shane Malcolm (1991-10-13) 13 October 1991 4 0 Unattached 12 3MF Thaddeus Atalig (1995-05-07) 7 May 1995 8 0 Bowling Green Falcons 13 3MF Ryan Guy (1985-09-05) 5 September 1985 13 4 Unattached 14 3MF Reyn Johnson (1990-11-01) 1 November 1990 8 0 UMass Boston Beacons 16 3MF Ian Adamos (1988-04-03) 3 April 1988 14 0 SoCal Elite 21 3MF Josh Borja (1990-08-01) 1 August 1990 14 5 Los Angeles Galaxy 7 4FW John Matkin (1986-04-20) 20 April 1986 7 0 Unattached 9 4FW Marcus Lopez (1992-02-09) 9 February 1992 13 2 Unattached 10 4FW Jason Cunliffe (captain) (1983-10-23) 23 October 1983 35 17 Rovers FC 23 4FW Zachary DeVille (1993-03-23) 23 March 1993 10 2 San Diego Flash

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,^[8] 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 neighbour, 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 Taiwan 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 bottom of Group 2. Fiji and the Solomons lost their semi-finals and Fiji's conqueror Tahiti beat New Caledonia 2-1 after extra-time in the final.

1979 South Pacific Games

Guam competed in South Pacific Games Football - 1979^[9] 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.^[10]

1996 Asian Cup

In Guam's first Asian Cup 1996 attempt at Ho Chi Min City, 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 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.

Tournament record

World Cup

• 1930 to 1974 – Did not exist
• 1978 to 1994 – Not FIFA member
• 1998 – Did not enter
• 2002 – Did not qualify
• 2006 to 2010 – Withdrew
• 2014 – Did not enter

Asian Cup

• 1956 to 1992 – Did not enter
• 1996 to 2004 – Did not qualify
• 2007 to 2015– Did not enter

East Asian Football Championship

• 2003 – Did not qualify to Round 2 (5th place in qualifiers)
• 2005 – Did not qualify to Round 2 (5th place in qualifiers)
• 2008 – Did not qualify to Round 2 (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)

AFC Challenge Cup

• 2006 – Round 1
• 2008 – Did not qualify, 4th in qualifying group
• 2010 – Did not enter
• 2012 – Did not enter
• 2014 – Did not qualify

South Pacific Games

• 1963 to 1971 – Did not enter
• 1975 – Round 1
• 1979 – Round 1
• 1983 – Did not enter
• 1987 – Did not enter
• 1991 – Round 1
• 1995 – Round 1
• 2003 – Did not enter
• 2007 – Did not enter
• 2011 – Round 1

Micronesia Games

• 1998 – Champions
• 2001 – Did not enter

Philippine Peace Cup

• 2012 - Third Place

References

External links

• Guam Football Association (English) (Spanish)

Football in Guam Guam Football Association National teams Men's U-23 U-20 U-18 Women's Competitions Guam Men's Soccer League Guam FA Cup

International association football FIFA World Cup Confederations Cup U-20 World Cup U-17 World Cup Olympics Youth Olympics Universiade World Rankings Player of the Year FIFA Ballon d'Or Geography Teams Debuts Competitions Federations Codes Asia AFC – Asian Cup U-23 U-19 U-16 U-14 Africa CAF – Africa Cup of Nations U-23 U-20 U-17 North America, Central America and the Caribbean CONCACAF – Gold Cup U-20 U-17 U-15 South America CONMEBOL – Copa América U-20 U-17 U-15 Oceania OFC – Nations Cup U-20 U-17 Europe UEFA – European Championship U-21 U-19 U-17 Non-FIFA NF-Board – Viva World Cup CONIFA - ConIFA World Football Cup ConIFA European Football Cup IGA - Island Games Games All-Africa Games Asian Games Central America Central America and Caribbean East Asian Games Francophonie Games Indian Ocean Island Lusophony Games Mediterranean Games Pan American Games Pan Arab Games Pacific Games South Asian Games Southeast Asian Games See also International women's football

National football teams of Asia (AFC) South East Asia (ASEAN) Australia Brunei Cambodia Indonesia Laos Malaysia Myanmar Philippines Singapore Thailand Timor-Leste Vietnam Central Asia (CAFA) Afghanistan Iran Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan East Asia (EAFF) China PR Chinese Taipei Guam Hong Kong2 Japan Korea DPR Korea Republic Macau2 Mongolia Northern Mariana Islands1 South Asia (SAFF) Bangladesh Bhutan India Maldives Nepal Pakistan Sri Lanka West Asia (WAFF) Bahrain Iraq Jordan Kuwait Lebanon Oman Palestine Qatar Saudi Arabia Syria United Arab Emirates Yemen Defunct North Vietnam South Vietnam South Yemen Former Israel (moved to UEFA in 1994) Kazakhstan (moved to UEFA in 2002) New Zealand (formed the OFC in 1966) 1 Provisional Associate Member - Not a member of FIFA 2FIFA and AFC use Hong Kong and Macau; the EAFF uses Hong Kong, China and Macau, China.

National football teams of East Asia (EAFF) Men's China PR Chinese Taipei Guam Hong Kong Japan Korea DPR Korea Republic Macau Mongolia Northern Mariana Islands† Women's China PR Chinese Taipei Guam Hong Kong Japan Korea DPR Korea Republic Macau Mongolia Northern Mariana Islands† †AFC provisional Associate Member * FIFA and AFC use Hong Kong and Macau; the EAFF uses Hong Kong, China and Macau, China.