Latvia women's national football team

Latvia
Nickname(s)	Sarkanbaltsarkanie; (Red-white-red)
Association	Latvijas Futbola federācija
Confederation	UEFA (Europe)
Head coach	Romāns Kvačovs
Top scorer	Olga Ševcova (12)
FIFA code	LVA
First colours	Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	116 1 (15 March 2024)[1]
Highest	61 (December 2004 – March 2005; December 2005 – May 2006)
Lowest	119 (October – December 2022; June – August 2023)
First international
	Sweden 9–0 Latvia ; (Nynäshamn; Sweden 18 August 1993)
Biggest win
	Latvia 6–0 Lebanon ; (Geroskipou, Cyprus; 13 March 2015)
Biggest defeat
	England 20–0 Latvia ; (Doncaster, England; 30 November 2021)
Website	lff.lv/izlases/sieviesu-izlases/nacionala-sieviesu-izlase/

The Latvia women's national football team (Latvian: Latvijas sieviešu futbola izlase) represents Latvia in international football and is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Latvia. They have never qualified for the major tournament.

Latvia, alongside their Baltic rivals, Lithuania and Estonia, is also participating in the local sub-regional Women's Baltic Cup, which takes place every year. Latvia has won this tournament five times, the first time in 1997. The next moment of triumph had to wait until 2011, and in 2017, 2018 and 2019 Latvia won the trophy three years in a row.

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.[2]

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.[3]

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.[4]

After participating in the UEFA Women's Euro 1995 qualifying[5] and withdrew from all qualification until the qualification for the European Championships in 2009. Latvia's record in international qualification games is poor. In their competitive games, Latvia lost their first two games, against Israel and Bosnia and Herzegovina by three goals, before losing by one goal to Armenia.[6] 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.[7]

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.[8][9] However, Latvia lost the other two games against Luxembourg and Macedonia so it 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,[10] 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.[11] 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 to England in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA Group D match with 20–0. 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.[12]

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

Win Draw Lose Fixture

2023

14 July Friendly	Latvia	1–1	Azerbaijan	Riga, Latvia
18:00 UTC+2	Alina Dorofeeva 32'	Report	Karlīna Miksone 44'	Stadium: Jānis Skredelis' stadium Attendance: 295 Referee: Jeļena Jermolajeva

17 July Friendly	Latvia	1–1	Azerbaijan	Riga, Latvia
18:00 UTC+2	Karlīna Miksone 49'	Report	Sevinj Jafarzade 36'	Stadium: LNK Sporta Parks Attendance: 213 Referee: Jeļena Jermolajeva

22 September 2023 (2023-09-22) Nations League C	Latvia	0–1	Malta	Jūrmala, Latvia
		Report	Bugeja 83'	Stadium: Sloka Stadium Referee: Jana Van Laere (Belgium)

26 September UEFA Women's Nations League	Andorra	0–4	Latvia	Andorra la Vella, Andorra
18:00 UTC+2		Report	Miksone 15', 26', 45+4' Zaičikova 36'	Stadium: Estadi Nacional Referee: Nanna Løf Andersen (Denmark)

27 October UEFA Women's Nations League	Latvia	5–0	Moldova	Jelgava, Latvia
18:00 UTC+2	Suvitra 34', 39' Ševcova 63' Poļuhoviča 74', 76'	Report		Stadium: Zemgale Olympic Center Referee: Eirini Pingiou (Greece)

31 October UEFA Women's Nations League	Moldova	3–3	Latvia	Chișinău
18:00 UTC+2	Guțu 29' Colesnicenco 53' Cojuhari 78'	Report	Miksone 50', 90+1' (pen.) Voitāne 90+6'	Stadium: Stadionul Zimbru Attendance: 300 Referee: Frederikke Lydia Søkjær (Denmark)

1 December UEFA Women's Nations League	Latvia	4–0	Andorra	Riga
18:00 UTC+2	Olga Ševcova 42', 45', 47' Anastasija Poļuhoviča 68'	Report		Stadium: LNK Sporta Parks Referee: Silvia Gasperotti

5 December UEFA Women's Nations League	Malta	2–1	Latvia	Ta' Qali
18:00 UTC+2	Kailey Willis 58' Maria Farrugia 73'	Report	Karlīna Miksone 50' (pen.)	Stadium: Centenary Stadium Referee: Rita Vehapi

2024

23 February 2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League Play-offs	Latvia	0–3	Slovakia	Riga, Latvia
16:30 UTC+2		Report		Stadium: LNK Sporta Parks

27 February 2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League Play-offs	Slovakia	6–0 (9–0 agg.)	Latvia	Trnava, Slovakia
18:00 UTC+2		Report		Stadium: Anton Malatinský Stadium
Note: Slovakia won 9–0 on aggregate, and therefore both teams remained in their respective leagues.

5 April Euro 2025 qualifying	Latvia	3–4	North Macedonia	Riga
	Miksone 7', 76' Poļuhoviča 63'	Report	Rochi 17' Ročāne 25' (o.g.) Andonova 32' Gornela 69' (o.g.)	Stadium: LNK Sporta Parks Referee: Lovisa Johansson (Sweden)

9 April Euro 2025 qualifying	Moldova	0–1	Latvia	Chișinău
		Report		Stadium: Zimbru Stadium Referee: Teresa Oliveira (Portugal)

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

As of 22 February 2024

Role	Name
Head Coach	Romāns Kvačovs
Assistant coach	Anna Poņatovska
Assistant coach	Kirils Buravcevs
Goalkeeping coach	Marks Bogdanovs
Physiotherapist	Mārtiņš Kacens
Team doctor	Anastasija Oprisņaka
Kit manager	Jevgēnijs Vasjukovs
Team manager	Marta Lielause

Manager history

Viktors Lūkins (1992–1993)
Vladimirs Serbins (1994–1996)
Grigorijs Rožkovs (1996–2003)
Agris Bandolis (2003–2010)[13]
Didzis Matīss (2010–2021)
Romāns Kvačovs (2021–present)[14]

Players

Current squad

The following players have been called up for the 2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League C matches against Slovakia on 23 February 2024.[15]

Caps and goals are correct as of 6 December 2023.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Sofija Ņesterova	(2001-08-06) 6 August 2001	10	0	SFK Rīga
12	1GK	Enija Anna Vaivode	(1993-12-28) 28 December 1993	27	0	Unattached
23	1GK	Alīna Skļemenova	(2004-03-15) 15 March 2004	1	0	SK Super Nova

2	2DF	Ligita Tumāne	(1996-05-01) 1 May 1996	27	0	ASD Spezia
3	2DF	Kristīne Evelīna Lodziņa	(1998-08-28) 28 August 1998	4	0	FS Metta (women)
4	2DF	Marina Teļukeviča	(2005-09-19) 19 September 2005	1	0	SFK Rīga
5	2DF	Anna Flakse	(1999-01-31) 31 January 1999	36	0	SFK Rīga
7	2DF	Paula Liniņa	(2001-05-06) 6 May 2001	19	0	FS Metta (women)
10	2DF	Anastasija Ročāne	(1992-06-07) 7 June 1992	74	3	SPG Lustenau/Dornbirn
21	2DF	Alexandra Mairn	(2003-12-10) 10 December 2003	0	0	Michigan State Spartans
22	2DF	Sofija Gergeležiu	(2003-08-31) 31 August 2003	14	0	SFK Rīga

15	3MF	Amēlija Lipšāne	(2005-03-31) 31 March 2005	5	0	FS Metta (women)
16	3MF	Anna Kristīne Gornela	(1997-09-09) 9 September 1997	19	0	ŽNK Mura
18	3MF	Anna Marija Valaka	(1999-11-14) 14 November 1999	17	0	SFK Rīga
20	3MF	Anastasija Vainere	(2004-09-23) 23 September 2004	2	0	FS Metta (women)
17	3MF	Signija Šenberga	(2003-03-13) 13 March 2003	9	0	FS Metta (women)

8	4FW	Viktorija Zaičikova	(2000-08-04) 4 August 2000	52	4	ÍBV
9	4FW	Anastasija Poļuhoviča	(2005-03-06) 6 March 2005	15	4	SFK Rīga
11	4FW	Diāna Suvitra	(2002-01-09) 9 January 2002	8	3	SFK Rīga
13	4FW	Sandra Voitāne	(1999-05-20) 20 May 1999	60	15	Keflavík ÍF
14	4FW	Olga Ševcova	(1992-11-26) 26 November 1992	56	13	Fenerbahçe
19	3MF	Karlīna Miksone	(2000-03-21) 21 March 2000	62	16	Czarni Sosnowiec

Recent call ups

The following players have been called up to the Latvia squad in the past 12 months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up

DF	Kristiāna Zacmane	(1999-05-20) 20 May 1999	3	0	FK Auda	v. Lithuania, 10 April 2023
DF	Ērika Gricienko	(2002-11-30) 30 November 2002	3	0	SFK Rīga	v. Lithuania, 10 April 2023
DF	Dana Ņikitina	(1999-03-25) 25 March 1999	3	0	SFK Rīga	v. Lithuania, 10 April 2023
DF	Nikola Brahmane	(1998-09-10) 10 September 1998	4	0	FK Auda	v. Lithuania, 10 April 2023
DF	Sofija Garanča	(2004-05-28) 28 May 2004	12	2	Rēzeknes BJSS

MF	Katrīna Daņilova	(2004-05-10) 10 May 2004	6	0	FS Metta (women)	v. Andorra, 1 December 2023
MF	Nelle Treimane	(2003-11-12) 12 November 2003	13	1	FS Metta (women)	v. Andorra, 1 December 2023
MF	Viktorija Vengreviča	(1997-08-06) 6 August 1997	2	0	BFC Daugavpils	v. Lithuania, 10 April 2023
MF	Nelle Treimane	(2003-11-12) 12 November 2003	12	1	FS Metta (women)	v. Lithuania, 9 October 2022
MF	Taisija Smirnova	(2003-09-24) 24 September 2003	7	0	Liepājas FS	v. Andorra, 26 September 2023
DF	Selga Penelope Vitmore	(2002-03-10) 10 March 2002	2	0	SK Super Nova	v. Moldova, 31 October 2022

FW	Renāte Fedotova	(1996-12-12) 12 December 1996	35	13	FK Saned	v. Lithuania, 9 October 2022
FW	Tatjana Baličeva	(1998-04-06) 6 April 1998	26	0	SFK Rīga	v. Lithuania, 9 October 2022
FW	Monika Štube	(1999-09-15) 15 September 1999	2	0	Bradford City	v. Azerbaijan, 17 July 2023
FW	Emīlija Sofija Druviņa	(2003-08-15) 15 August 2003	7	0	FS Metta (women)	v. Azerbaijan, 17 July 2023

Records

*Active players in bold, statistics correct as of 19 August 2021.

Most Capped Players

As of 6 December 2023

Rank	Player	Year(s)	Caps
1	Anastasija Ročāne	2011-	74
2	Karlīna Miksone	2015-	62
3	Sandra Voitāne	2015-	60
4	Olga Ševcova	2011-	56
5	Viktorija Zaičikova	2017-	52
6	Renāte Fedotova	2013-	49
7	Elīza Spruntule	2011-2021	49
8	Kristīne Giržda	2012-2021	47
9	Marija Ibragimova	2012-2019	38
10	Anna Flakse	2017-	36

Top goalscorers

As of 1 December 2023

Rank	Player	Year(s)	Goals	Caps
1	Karlīna Miksone	2015-	16	62
2	Renāte Fedotova	2013-	16	62
3	Sandra Voitāne	2015-	15	60
4	Olga Ševcova	2011-	13	56
5	Liene Vāciete	2015-2017	7	21
6	Viktorija Zaičikova	2017-	4	52
6	Anastasija Poļuhoviča	2022-	4	15
8	Anastasija Ročāne	2011-	3	74
9	Diāna Suvitra	2023-	3	8
10	Sofija Garanča	2023-	2	12

Competitive record

FIFA Women's World Cup

Year	Result	GP	W	D*	L	GF	GA	GD	GP	W	D*	L	GF	GA	GD
FIFA Women's World Cup record									Qualification record
1991	Did not exist								Did not exist
1995	Did not qualify								UEFA Euro 1995
1999	Did not enter								Did not enter
2003
2007
2011
2015	Did not qualify								3	0	1	2	0	4	–4
2019									3	1	2	0	7	3	+4
2023									10	1	0	9	8	63	–55
2027	To be determined								To be determined
Total	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	16	2	3	11	15	70	0

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

UEFA Women's Championship

Year	Result	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA
UEFA Women's Championship record								Qualifying record
1984 to 1993	Did not exist							Did not exist
1995	Did not qualify							4	0	0	4	1	18
1997	Did not enter							Did not enter
2001
2005
2009	Did not qualify							3	0	0	3	1	8
2013								3	1	0	2	1	3
2017								3	1	1	1	5	5
2022								8	0	0	8	2	39
2025	To be determined							To be determined
Total	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	21	2	1	18	10	73