Marshall Islands Set for Historic Debut at Outrigger Challenge Cup in Arkansas
A Debut for World Soccer's Last Newcomer
The Marshall Islands national football team is about to make history. For the first time ever, the Pacific island nation will field an 11-a-side international side, competing in the 2025 Outrigger Challenge Cup in Springdale, Arkansas, from August 13 to 16.
In an interview with Marshall Islands Assistant Manager Justin Walley, he puts the team’s ambitions simply:
“We want to show the world we’re ready for international football.”
The four-team tournament will feature the Marshall Islands, Turks & Caicos Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Ozark United U19s. In terms of competition, the Marshall Islands will face three teams with varying levels of experience and global standing. Both the U.S. Virgin Islands and Turks & Caicos Islands sit near the very bottom of FIFA’s world rankings around 206th and 207th place respectively, marking them among the least-established teams in international play. Meanwhile, Ozark United U19s are a local youth side still in development, offering a stark contrast to the more seasoned national programs.
While the games will provide competition against established opponents, the trip to Arkansas also offers the chance to connect with a Marshallese diaspora in Arkansas. With the largest Marshallese community overseas living there, the location offers a competitive stage, an opportunity to challenge Caribbean opponents, and a chance to connect with a passionate community.
Building the squad has been a global project. The coaching team works on the ground in Majuro while maintaining strong contacts in the US, supported by a player database that spans multiple continents. “We coach on the ground in Majuro, we have good contacts in the US, and have a database for coaching,” Walley said. “Scouting across the Marshall Islands, Hawaii, US, and Europe, we’re open to people approaching us from all over.” That open-door policy has paid off, bringing together both homegrown talent and Marshallese players with US college-level experience.
The Outrigger Challenge Cup, however, is just the first step in a much bigger plan. “We want to join the AFC, OFC, or CONCACAF and then beyond that, FIFA of course,” Walley said. “Those are our big goals. We want to play in World Cup Qualifying one day. Getting one of those bodies to recognize us and bring us in is a big step.”
While excitement is already building among Marshallese fans both at home and abroad, making this historic debut hasn’t been easy or cheap. “Our efforts are completely self-funded, and one of the ways we’ve financed this tournament is through selling replica shirts,” he revealed. The Marshall Islands kit and other merchandise are available for purchase on their website.
The Outrigger Challenge Cup will test the Marshall Islands against experienced opposition, but for Walley and his players, it’s also a chance to measure their progress, connect with their community, and set a benchmark for the future. However the results fall, the experience gained in Springdale will help shape the next steps in the team’s journey toward becoming a recognized force in international football.
How to Watch
Thanks to the Marshall Islands Soccer Federation’s streaming partner, Spiideo, live-streams of all five matches of the Outrigger Challenge Cup will be available for purchase.
($5 per match or 5 matches for $15)
In-person tickets can be purchased here.
Tournament Schedule
All matches will be played at Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium in Springdale, Arkansas. Kick-off times are in Central Daylight Time:
Wed, Aug 13 – US Virgin Islands v Turks & Caicos Islands – 7:00 PM
Thu, Aug 14 – Turks & Caicos Islands v Ozark United U19s – 5:00 PM
Thu, Aug 14 – Marshall Islands v US Virgin Islands – 8:00 PM
Sat, Aug 16 – Marshall Islands v Turks & Caicos Islands – 1:00 PM
Sat, Aug 16 – US Virgin Islands v Ozark United U19s – 4:00 PM