By Craig Stephen
Officials in the world’s newest football nation are appealing to New Zealand’s football community for help, with free shipping available for donated equipment to the North Pacific.
The Marshall Islands became the last sovereign nation to establish their own football team last year when local officials on the archipelago of about 45,000 people joined forces with three English football administrators.
One of those, Marshall Islands Soccer Federation commercial director Matt Webb, told Friends of Football the federation has ambitious plans over the next 12 months, including hosting the country’s first-ever international football match in the capital, Majuro.
Before that can happen, however, the federation needs better facilities and equipment.
“We need match-quality goals, dugouts and line-marking equipment — one-off costs but once we’ve got those we’re good to go,” Webb said.
The federation’s appeal to New Zealand has been boosted by an offer from Auckland-based international haulage company Pacific Bulk Fuels to transport donated equipment free of charge.
The arrangement came about after federation officials were introduced to a senior leader at the company, who offered to ship equipment at no cost if it can be delivered to a New Zealand port.
“It’s an amazing offer that we are keen to take advantage of,” Webb said.
The Marshall Islands hosted futsal’s Ratak Cup in April. Photo credit: Marshall Islands Soccer Federation.
The proposed international match could form part of the next Outrigger Challenge Cup, planned for June or July 2027. The tournament could also feature men’s and women’s futsal internationals.
The federation are also preparing to launch a new national team jersey to support ongoing fundraising efforts.
Plans are underway to establish the Marshall Islands’ first national domestic league next year, an important step towards greater international recognition for the game.
The Marshall Islands made their 11-a-side international debut in June 2025 in Springdale, Arkansas, home to one of the world’s largest Marshallese communities outside the islands.
They played against long-standing FIFA members the US Virgin Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands in their first official fixtures.
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How to help
Anyone able to help the Marshall Islands Soccer Federation with equipment donations can contact the organisation at marshallislandssf@gmail.com.
Craig Stephen
Craig Stephen writes about football for a number of publications. He is the author of Bombs and Boots, a book that tells how New Zealand football came of age in the 1960s and 1970s.
This story was first published on July 27, 2026.