Anguilla

Anguilla 2012-13 Home

Few places can live up to the spectacle of an Anguilla shirt. The three dolphins of Anguilla surround the number in the centre of the chest and the whole thing is a lovely ocean blue without looking too plain. That there’s another shade of blue as a subtle trim certainly helps. Part of this is the distinctive striped pattern on it that helps indicate that it isn’t a fake. The collar is terrible, nothing will ever make me like them, and the details are all sublimated but the latter certainly isn’t unexpected. The desire to avoid a plain shirt and include some of the identity of Anguilla shows and isn’t that what matters?

This design was used in their famous 2014 World Cup qualification attempt. Wait, did I say famous? I meant short. They lost a double header against the Dominican Republic 6-0 (who went on to do respectably but not well) in the very first round of CONCACAF qualifying and that was it. Nonetheless, it ranks as one of their most success campaigns. They weren’t even allowed to play at home, but, considering their record, it probably wouldn’t have mattered.

Traditionally the tiny Caribbean island (a British Overseas territory) has followed the same pattern of results throughout their history. They joined FIFA in 1996 but didn’t take part in World Cup qualification for the ’98 world cup (it having already started) and have 1 draw in 10 games. This came in 2006 against the Dominican Republic. They’ve only ever played a single double header in WCQ, with 2 goals across 2 games against the Bahamas (5-2 loss on aggregate) being the only time they’ve scored. 2010 was their low point, with a 12-0 away loss and a 4-0 “home” loss to El Salvador. They’ve never progressed in the Caribbean Cup qualification and typically suffered there too. However, a few bright spots emerge when looking at their results against their neighbours, with the BVIs proving to be a competitive game. The Nations League brought then a draw against the Bahamas and then sadly a group with Guatemala where they lost heavily, and Puerto Rico, whom they almost drew with at home.

 Their women’s national team has been simultaneously more sporadic and more successful. Several of their games weren’t FIFA recognised but a few friendlies and an attempt at qualification for the Women’s Caribbean Cup in 2010 form the backbone of their results. A 3-0 loss to Barbados and a 2-0 win against Grenada were not enough to qualify. Their main competition has been against Antigua & Barbuda and the US Virgin Islands, though a handful of friendlies hardly merits that description. In terms of youth teams, a familiar pattern emerges. The men’s U20 side has 1 goal scored and 107 conceded in 14 games, the U17’s are harder to find information on but appear to have never won a game (though score more often) and the U15’s have 2 victories in 6 games but are only competitive against their fellow minnows. The women’s sides have again fared better, with 0 points being a rare sight, though the U20s take the crown for reaching the second round of 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship qualification by storming their group, 3 victories and only a single goal conceded. A draw with Grenada and 2 heavy losses ended their charge in the next round. All play irregularly.

Despite being an island nation, beach soccer doesn’t appear to have been played internationally and futsal follows the same trend.

Thus far they have not started qualification for the 2022 World Cup, but big things are not expected of them.