Meet the last country on earth without a national football team

The Marshall Islands are the only country on Earth without a national football team, but are hoping to change this in the near future.

The group of volcanic islands were occupied by the US during World War Two, where they used the location for their nuclear tests, before becoming a sovereign nation in 1986.

Fast forward to the present day, the Marshall Islands are now hoping to join world football, as they look to not only create a team, but to become competitive while doing so.

At the forefront of their efforts to venture into the sport, is Englishman Lloyd Owers, who has been appointed as technical director for the country.

The Marshall Islands in World War Two via BBC

Speaking to the BBC, Owers revealed how the venture started and his motivation behind the idea. "It started via emails, then it became easier to speak via WhatsApp because of the time difference," said Owers.

"Then it got to the stage where I was asked to put together a proposal alongside my own philosophy on how I saw the game growing."

Marshall Islands technical director Lloyd Owers

Owers would go on to add: "On a personal level it was the opportunity to be part of something that was as big as this; the only nation in the world without a defined national team.

"But it was also the ambition of it. The federation wants to be part of the OFC, but also wants to eventually become a Fifa member.

"They don't just want to be playing against local countries, they want to be part of a bigger programme.

"We know we want to be part of World Cup qualifiers. We want be part of the OFC Championship, we want be part of mainstream football.

"I think in 10 years, if we keep going the way the federation wants to push their aims and ambitions, there's no reason that wouldn't happen."

The country hopes to drive more attention to the dangers of climate change, such as rising sea levels, through the creation of their football team. The federation have since released their first shirt, with the hope the Marshallese players will wear it during their first game in summer 2024.