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PRESS RELEASE – Not only has the Matao once again achieved its highest ever FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking in the listing’s latest release, but for the first time in history, Guam has also leapfrogged over East Asian adversary Chinese Taipei as published on the FIFA Web site Oct. 17.

Guam’s Ian Mariano heads to the goal after getting past Chinese Taipei’s last defender in a match of the AFC Challenge Cup qualifier played earlier this year in Yangon, Myanmar. Mariano scored one of three goals in Guam’s 3-0 shut out of Chinese Taipei, with captain Jason Cunliffe scoring the other two. (courtesy photo)

Guam now claims No. 171, five spots above 176-ranked Chinese Taipei, a country Guam blanked 3-0 earlier this year in an AFC Challenge Cup qualifier match in Yangon, Myanmar.

“The strides we’ve made in international football in just the past two years clearly shows with Guam’s jump in world rankings and current place as the sixth-best East Asian nation,” said Matao head coach Gary White. “Last year, we developed a program to effectively become the fifth-ranked East Asian nation in 10 years time and I can proudly say we’re looking to achieve our goal for Guam’s national program sooner than expected.

“These achievements wouldn’t have been possible without the continuous support of Guam Football Association president Richard Lai, GFA executives, and of course, the local community. With a few friendly matches against Cambodia and Laos next month, we can move further up the ranking ladder. It is my aim to get Guam in the top 150 in 2014,” White added.

The Matao’s ranking has steadily improved from No. 193 in February 2012 when White first arrived in Guam. Before 2012, Guam boasted only two wins total – a 1-0 win over Mongolia in 2009 and a 2-0 win over American Samoa in 2011 – since joining FIFA in 1996.

The starting 11 players in Guam’s match against Hong Kong at the East Asian Football Federation East Asian Cup semifinal round in 2012 pose for a photo before the match with Guam Football Association executives and staff. Standing in back row from left to right are GFA Executive Committee member George Lai, equipment manager Robby De Guzman, Asst. Coach Jimmy Okuhama, Douglas Herrick, Travis Nicklaw, Shawn Nicklaw, Micah Paulino, Jonahan Romero, Jason Cunliffe and Head Coach Gary White. In front, from left to right, are Ian Adamos, Zachary DeVille, Ryan Guy, Elias Merfalen, and Scott Leon Guerrero. (courtesy photo)

The official rivalry with Chinese Taipei, as documented by FIFA, began August 10, 1996, with the first of nine encounters to date. Guam dropped the 1996 match 9-2. The worst result came in 2007 when Chinese Taipei blanked Guam 10-0; however, the men’s national team has closed the scoring gap since then. Just a year later, the team reduced the scoring gap to just three goals, then to two in 2009. In December 2012, Guam nearly defeated Chinese Taipei in the EAFF East Asian Cup semifinal round, but the Matao’s opponents managed to salvage a 1-1 draw in stoppage time. Chinese Taipei, a country with over 23 million people, later succumbed to Guam 3-0 in 2013.

Since White’s arrival, Guam has played in 13 official matches in various tournaments and friendly matches, with notable shut out wins over Macau and Chinese Taipei under captain Jason Cunliffe. The team’s roster also has expanded to feature other professional players, including Ryan Guy of the New England Revolution, Douglas Herrick of the Seattle Sounders, and Shawn Nicklaw, formerly with HB Køge in Denmark. Soon to join Guam’s squad is the L.A. Galaxy’s A.J. DeLaGarza, who recently committed his international future to Guam. DeLaGarza played alongside football great David Beckham when the former English national captain suited up for the Los Angeles-based MLS team.

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