Football in Puerto Rico
Encyclopedia
Association Football is one of the leading sports of Puerto Rico
, ranking only behind baseball
, basketball
, boxing
, and volleyball
in national popularity and is the number one participation sport on the island (as it is on the mainland United States). There has been a significant growth in the sport in recent years, as traditionally football has played a very small role in Puerto Rico. The sport on the island is governed by the Puerto Rican Football Federation an affiliate of FIFA
.
colonial times, mostly by soldiers in the field in front of El Morro
. By 1904 games were being played there between sailor of foreign ships wail docked in San Juan
Harbor. But it wasn't until 1911 that the first organized club was formed, Comercio Sporting Club which would organize games between members of the club, the club then formed two teams, Minerva and Mercurio, this two teams would take part in the first organized tournament in Puerto Rican history, Copa Porananmiz. In 1913 two more clubs where formed San Juan FC and Ponce Sporting Club. Up until then football was mostly played by the Hispanic population of the island wail the Americans would play sports like baseball, basketball and Rugby, but in 1914 the a group of Americans formed Celtics FC and the first rivalry of Puerto Rican football was born. Celtics composed of Americans and San Juan FC composed of Puerto Ricans and Spaniards, it brought up the tensions between Hispanics and Americans in the island during this period. Later in 1914 Celtics traveled to Ponce
to face Ponce Sporting Club, in the first ever reported game between teams of different cities in Puerto Rico.
has been one of the weakest teams in the world. It did not even enter the qualification stage for the 2006 World Cup. Their highest FIFA ranking was 97 (March 1994) by using players from the USA, and lowest FIFA ranking was 202 (November 2004). Until 2008 Puerto Rico
had not fielded a national team since 2004 when they lost to Grenada
5-2, the last time they had won a match was back in 1993 when they won 4-0 against the Cayman Islands
.
From 2007 onwards, there has been an apparent belief in the news and commentaries by the President of FPF, that it is possible to enter a FIFA World Cup in 4 to 8 years, this is in the midst of the foundation of a team that is a member of the United Soccer Leagues First Division, the second tier of the American Soccer.
After a four year absence, the Puerto Rican national team re-emerged on January 16, 2008, with a 2-0 victory in a friendly against the Bermuda national team
. This friendly was played in preparation for a World Cup Qualifier against the Dominican Republic
scheduled for the 26th of March, 2008, which Puerto Rico won in a 1-0 victory.
began to play in the USL First Division
, the second tier of football in the United States at the time, and in 2008 the first ever unified competition the Puerto Rico Soccer League
was established, marking a major landmark in the history of the game on the island. Many clubs of the island are now affiliated with larger teams in some of the worlds major football leagues.
In 2011, club football teams on the island made another monumental leap. The Puerto Rico Islanders made a transition to the North American Soccer League
, which is the new second tier of football in the United States. In addition, Puerto Rico United
, Club Atlético River Plate Puerto Rico
, and Sevilla FC Puerto Rico made a transition to USL Pro
, the new third tier of football in the United States. The Puerto Rico Soccer League plans to hold a 2011 season introducing a series of promotion and relegation.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, ranking only behind baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, and volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
in national popularity and is the number one participation sport on the island (as it is on the mainland United States). There has been a significant growth in the sport in recent years, as traditionally football has played a very small role in Puerto Rico. The sport on the island is governed by the Puerto Rican Football Federation an affiliate of FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
.
Early Years (1900-1919)
It is said that the sport was played during SpanishSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
colonial times, mostly by soldiers in the field in front of El Morro
Fort San Felipe del Morro
Also known as Fort San Felipe del Morro or Morro Castle, is a 16th-century citadel located in San Juan, Puerto Rico.- Rundown :Lies on the northwestern-most point of the islet of San Juan, Puerto Rico...
. By 1904 games were being played there between sailor of foreign ships wail docked in San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
Harbor. But it wasn't until 1911 that the first organized club was formed, Comercio Sporting Club which would organize games between members of the club, the club then formed two teams, Minerva and Mercurio, this two teams would take part in the first organized tournament in Puerto Rican history, Copa Porananmiz. In 1913 two more clubs where formed San Juan FC and Ponce Sporting Club. Up until then football was mostly played by the Hispanic population of the island wail the Americans would play sports like baseball, basketball and Rugby, but in 1914 the a group of Americans formed Celtics FC and the first rivalry of Puerto Rican football was born. Celtics composed of Americans and San Juan FC composed of Puerto Ricans and Spaniards, it brought up the tensions between Hispanics and Americans in the island during this period. Later in 1914 Celtics traveled to Ponce
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
to face Ponce Sporting Club, in the first ever reported game between teams of different cities in Puerto Rico.
National team
Since its foundation the Puerto Rico national football teamPuerto Rico national football team
The Puerto Rico national football team is the national team of Puerto Rico and is controlled by Federación Puertorriqueña de Fútbol. Puerto Rico's national football team is a member of the Caribbean Football Union, part of the CONCACAF....
has been one of the weakest teams in the world. It did not even enter the qualification stage for the 2006 World Cup. Their highest FIFA ranking was 97 (March 1994) by using players from the USA, and lowest FIFA ranking was 202 (November 2004). Until 2008 Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
had not fielded a national team since 2004 when they lost to Grenada
Grenada national football team
The Grenada national football team is the national team of Grenada and is controlled by the Grenada Football Association. It is affiliated to the Caribbean Football Union of CONCACAF. The team is nicknamed The Spice Boys, a reference to the export of nutmeg from the country...
5-2, the last time they had won a match was back in 1993 when they won 4-0 against the Cayman Islands
Cayman Islands national football team
The Cayman Islands national football team is the national team of the Cayman Islands and is controlled by the Cayman Islands Football Association. It is a member of FIFA and CONCACAF. Cayman Islands' home ground is Truman Bodden Stadium in George Town and their head coach is Mark Campbell...
.
From 2007 onwards, there has been an apparent belief in the news and commentaries by the President of FPF, that it is possible to enter a FIFA World Cup in 4 to 8 years, this is in the midst of the foundation of a team that is a member of the United Soccer Leagues First Division, the second tier of the American Soccer.
After a four year absence, the Puerto Rican national team re-emerged on January 16, 2008, with a 2-0 victory in a friendly against the Bermuda national team
Bermuda national football team
The Bermuda national football team is the national team of Bermuda and is controlled by the Bermuda Football Association. A member of CONCACAF, it is not among its strongest teams....
. This friendly was played in preparation for a World Cup Qualifier against the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic national football team
The Dominican Republic national football team is the national team of Dominican Republic and is controlled by the Dominican Football Federation. Football is not the most popular sport in the country, losing out to baseball by a large margin...
scheduled for the 26th of March, 2008, which Puerto Rico won in a 1-0 victory.
Club football
Until recently club football had been a very limited affair involving a handful of amateur teams in several separate leagues. In recent years, as the domestic game has grown in popularity, this has started to change. The Puerto Rico IslandersPuerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders is a Puerto Rican professional football team based in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
began to play in the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
, the second tier of football in the United States at the time, and in 2008 the first ever unified competition the Puerto Rico Soccer League
Puerto Rico Soccer League
The Puerto Rico Soccer League or PRSL is an association football league in Puerto Rico. It is the first unified football league in the island's history, and had a total of six teams for the 2011 season. Association football has been growing in popularity in recent years, and this is an attempt to...
was established, marking a major landmark in the history of the game on the island. Many clubs of the island are now affiliated with larger teams in some of the worlds major football leagues.
In 2011, club football teams on the island made another monumental leap. The Puerto Rico Islanders made a transition to the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League (2010)
The North American Soccer League is a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico which began league play on April 9, 2011. It has been provisionally sanctioned as the second tier of soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, behind Major League Soccer in the...
, which is the new second tier of football in the United States. In addition, Puerto Rico United
Puerto Rico United
Puerto Rico United is a Puerto Rican professional association football team based in Aguada, Puerto Rico. Founded in 2007, the team plays The team competes in the Puerto Rico Soccer League....
, Club Atlético River Plate Puerto Rico
Club Atletico River Plate Puerto Rico
Club Atlético River Plate Puerto Rico is a Puerto Rican professional association football team based in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. Founded in 2007, the team plays in the Puerto Rico Soccer League, and is the reigning Supercopa DirecTV champion....
, and Sevilla FC Puerto Rico made a transition to USL Pro
USL Pro
The USL Professional Division, commonly known as USL Pro , is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that began its inaugural season in 2011....
, the new third tier of football in the United States. The Puerto Rico Soccer League plans to hold a 2011 season introducing a series of promotion and relegation.
Puerto Rican association football leagues and associations
- Puerto Rico Soccer LeaguePuerto Rico Soccer LeagueThe Puerto Rico Soccer League or PRSL is an association football league in Puerto Rico. It is the first unified football league in the island's history, and had a total of six teams for the 2011 season. Association football has been growing in popularity in recent years, and this is an attempt to...
- Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Puerto RicoLiga Nacional de Futbol de Puerto RicoLiga Nacional de Futbol de Puerto Rico is a football league in Puerto Rico which started play on July 25, 2009. The league features 17 teams for the 2011 season...
- Campeonato Nacional de Fútbol de Puerto RicoCampeonato Nacional de Fútbol de Puerto RicoCampeonato Nacional de Fútbol de Puerto Rico is an amateur football league in Puerto Rico. As of 2008 it has been replaced as the highest level football league in the country by the Puerto Rico Soccer League...
(defunct) - Liga Mayor de Fútbol NacionalLiga Mayor de Fútbol NacionalLiga Mayor de Fútbol Nacional, known more commonly as just Liga Mayor was one of the two amateur football leagues in Puerto Rico played during the late 1990s and early 2000s...
(defunct) - Puerto Rican Football Federation
Puerto Rican teams
- Puerto Rico men's national football teamPuerto Rico national football teamThe Puerto Rico national football team is the national team of Puerto Rico and is controlled by Federación Puertorriqueña de Fútbol. Puerto Rico's national football team is a member of the Caribbean Football Union, part of the CONCACAF....
- Puerto Rico women's national football teamPuerto Rico women's national football teamThe Puerto Rico women's national football team is the national women's football team of Puerto Rico and is overseen by the Puerto Rican Football Federation.-World Cup record:-CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup record:-References:** ...