National teams meet in US for training camps
National Team

National teams meet in US for training camps

·National Team

The Marshall Islands men's and women's squads came together in Northwest Arkansas for the federation's most ambitious camp to date.

The Marshall Islands Soccer Federation held its first simultaneous men's and women's national team training camps in Northwest Arkansas during February 2026.

The women's team, participating in their third annual camp, focused on futsal training. Head coach Katie Smith noted: "This was the best camp yet. The players were fully committed and the program is making strides." Seven new players were evaluated, with all being selected for consideration in future national team events. The squad aims to make their international debut in fall 2026 or spring 2027.

The men's program held its inaugural talent identification camp, identifying 14 new prospects following their historic first 11-a-side international match in August 2025. Six newcomers were selected for future international consideration. The squad scrimmaged against Ozark United's under-19 team and continues preparing for the June 2026 Outrigger Challenge Cup.

Assistant coach Dean Johnson stated the team aimed to "discover players who can improve the depth of our squad and we've been able to identify some quality."

Both squads jointly conducted a coaching session for 50 local children, and the federation covered all training expenses and accommodations for participants. The federation continues pursuing confederation membership with aspirations of competing in 2034 World Cup qualification.