Latvia women's national football team

History

In the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), women's football was not a recognized sport – in 1972, the Sports Committee of the USSR even banned women's football competitions. That is why women played the first official football matches in Latvia only in 1989, when the first women's team "Latvija" was created. The players were mostly invited from other sports, so the football players had good physical preparation, and several players from Lithuania were also invited to help. In 1990, the team was renamed to RAF Jelgava, participating in the first championship of the highest league of the USSR, where they took eighth place in the competition of 24 teams. RAF played one more season in the top league of the USSR, but another team from Latvia – Ogres "Fortūna" – competed in the first league of the USSR. After the collapse of the USSR, the "RAF" professional team disbanded, and thus women's football in Latvia continued to exist only at the amateur level.

On 18 August 1993, The Latvian women's national team made its debut and played its first international match in the European Championship qualification tournament, losing in the first match away to Sweden, which was already one of the most important women's football countries in the world at the time.

After the first qualifying tournament, Latvia did not participate anymore in European Championship qualifying tournaments until 2006. Changes had already been introduced in the selection system, by holding the previous preliminary tournament for the weakest European national teams before the qualification, which the Latvian national team never managed to overcome, which meant that Latvia did not have the opportunity to meet the best national women's football teams in Europe for a long time.

After participating in the UEFA Women's Euro 1995 qualifying and withdrew from all qualification until the qualification for the European Championships in 2009.

Latvia's record upon its return to international qualification games was poor. Latvia lost their first two games, against Israel and Bosnia and Herzegovina by three goals, before losing by one goal to Armenia. Mini-tournaments after the qualification disaster proved no better for Latvia. Finishing last, in December 2008, Latvia lost 0–3 to Croatia and 0–5 to Turkey.

The first victory

Latvia won its first official match on 5 March 2011 over Lithuania in the qualifying 2013 European Championship preliminary round with a lone goal by Jūlija Sokolova. However, Latvia lost the other two games against Luxembourg and Macedonia so the team didn't go through.

First World Cup qualification

In 2013, the Latvian women's national team took part in the World Cup qualification tournament for the first time, in the first round of the preliminaries, they drew 0:0 with Luxembourg in their debut match, but then lost 0–2 to Albania and Malta. After four years, the Latvian women's national team won the first victory in the World Cup selection, defeating Estonia 4–0 in the preliminaries, but it was not enough to enter the basic qualification tournament, as the first place in the group was won by the national team of Kazakhstan, with whom Latvian football players played a draw 2–2.

Modern times

The Latvian women's football team won its first World Cup qualification victory against Luxembourg. Latvia won its first World Cup qualification victory on 24 June 2022 over Lithuania in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA Group D with a lone goal by Nelle Treimane.

On November 30, 2021, the Latvian national team lost 20–0 to England in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA Group D match. After the game, this game received a huge amount of attention, shining a light on the shortcomings of the qualifiers and European women qualifying system. Several experts emphasized that such a game should not have happened. This game again sparked discussions about going back to pre-qualification.

Stadium

In October 2023, Latvian Football Federation president Vadims Ļašenko said that Skonto Stadium would become the main home of the men's team, with Daugava Stadium serving as a backup and the venue for the women's and youth national teams. Previously, the women's team has played in various grounds, including Arkādija Stadium and the LNK Sports Park in Riga, Sloka Stadium in Jūrmala, Zemgale Olympic Center in Jelgava and others.

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

;Legend

2025

• Tahiri
• Miksone
• Smaili
• Memeti
• Miksone
• Voitāne
• Strazdiņa
• Jonušaitė
• Rogačiova
• Liužinaitė
• Miksone
• Andersone
• Šeškutė

2026

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

Manager history

• Latvia Viktors Lūkins (1992–1993)
• Latvia Vladimirs Serbins (1994–1996)
• Latvia Grigorijs Rožkovs (1996–1998)
• Latvia Ģirts Marausks (1999–2002)
• Latvia Agris Bandolis (2003–2010)
• Latvia Didzis Matīss (2010–2021)
• Latvia Romāns Kvačovs (2021–2024)
• Latvia Liene Vāciete (2025-)

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the friendly match against Poland on 2 December 2025 in Gdańsk.

:Caps and goals correct as of 2 December 2025, after the match against Poland.

Recent call ups

The following players have also been called up to the squad within the past 12 months.

;Notes

• INJ = Withdrew due to injury
• MED = Withdrew due to medical reasons
• PRE = Preliminary squad

Records

|- |2 |2013–2022 |17 |52 | |- |2015–present |15 |77 | |- |2009–present |15 |78 | |- |5 |2015–2017 |7 |24 | |- |6 |2022–present |6 |30 | |- |7 |2017–present |5 |69 | |- |2017–2019 |4 |19 | |- |2011–present |4 |103 | |- |2023–present |3 |21 | |- |2006–2018 |3 |37 | |}

Competitive record

FIFA Women's World Cup

:*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

UEFA Women's Championship

:*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

UEFA Women's Nations League

Women's Baltic Cup

Notes

References

References

1. "Latvijas sieviešu futbola izlase".
2. "Sweden - Latvia". UEFA.
3. "Latvijas sieviešu futbola izlase (in latvian)". Nacionālā enciklopēdija.
4. (23 September 2020). "Women EURO Qualifiers 1993/1994 » Group 4". World of Football.
5. (30 November 2021). "Latvia [Women] » Fixtures & Results 2006". World of Football.
6. (30 November 2021). "Latvia [Women] » Fixtures & Results 2008". World of Football.
7. [https://www.uefa.com/womenseuropeanqualifiers/match/2005316--latvia-vs-lithuania/ Statistics] of the match in [[UEFA]]'s website
8. "Latvijas sieviešu futbola izlasei uzvara pār Lietuvu Eiropas čempionāta kvalifikācijas priekšsacīkšu turnīra spēlē". LETA.
9. "Luxembourg - Latvia 0:0". World of Football.
10. (24 June 2022). "Vēsturiska diena Latvijas sieviešu futbolam - pirmā uzvara Pasaules kausa kvalifikācijā". Sportacentrs.
11. "20-nil thrashing against England a wake-up call for Latvia's women's football". FIFA.
12. Kļavenieks, Mārtiņš. (2023-09-28). ""Daugavas" stadions pārtop: vieglatlēti gaida manēžu; drīz mainīs futbola zālienu un skrejceliņu".
13. "Latvijas sieviešu futbola izlase".
14. (25 November 2025). "Latvijas nacionālās sieviešu izlases galvenā trenere Liene Vāciete nosaukusi kandidātu sarakstu, kas izsaukts uz gaidāmo pārbaudes spēli pret Poliju. Mačs notiks 2. decembrī Gdaņskā.". Latvijas Futbola federācija.
15. [https://lff.lv/izlases/sieviesu-izlases/nacionala-sieviesu-izlase/ Latvian Squad]
16. [[https://lff.lv/izlases/sieviesu-izlases/statistika/ Statistics]]