Latvia national football team explained

The Latvia national football team (lv|Latvijas futbola izlase) represents Latvia in men's international football, and is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Latvia. They have never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, but did qualify for the European Championship in 2004 under head coach Aleksandrs Starkovs.

Latvia, alongside their Baltic rivals, Lithuania and Estonia, have also participated in the local sub-regional Baltic Cup tournament, which takes place every two years. Latvia has won the Baltic Cup championship a record 13 times, more than any other country in the history of the tournament, most recently in 2018.

Latvia's current home ground is the Daugava Stadium in Riga, although since the autumn of 2022 most games have been held at Skonto Stadium.

History

Early years

The Latvia national football team played their first official match on September 24, 1922, against Estonia, resulting in a 1–1 draw. The first goal in the team's history was scored by forward Edvīns Bārda. In 1920, the Latvian Football Union (today - Latvijas Futbola federācija) was established, which led to the formation of the national team. Latvia participated in the Football at the 1924 Summer Olympics, but lost their only match 0–7 to France. The team's first victory came on October 18, 1924, against Estonia, winning 2–0.^[2]

In 1928, Latvia triumphed in the inaugural Baltic Cup, defeating the national teams of Lithuania and Estonia. During the 1920s, some of the standout players included goalkeeper Arvīds Jurgens and the Bārda brothers—Edvīns, Arvīds, and Rūdolfs—as well as Voldemārs Grāvelis, Arnolds Tauriņš, and Alberts Šeibelis.

The 1930s marked a period of growth for the Latvian national team, particularly between 1936 and 1938 under Austrian coach Rudolf Stanzl. Latvia frequently played friendly matches against teams such as Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, and Poland. In 1937, Latvia participated in the 1938 FIFA World Cup qualification. Placed in Group 8 alongside Austria and Lithuania, Latvia achieved notable victories, beating Lithuania 4–2 in Riga, with a Fricis Kaņeps hat-trick and a goal from Iļja Vestermans. In Kaunas, they secured a 5–1 win with two goals each from Kaņeps, Vaclavs Borduško, and Iļja Vestermans. However, they lost 1–2 in a decisive away match against Austria, despite an early goal from Vestermans.

In April 1938, Austria's Anschluss rendered their team ineligible to participate in the FIFA World Cup. Despite Latvia being the group's runner-up, FIFA did not invite them to replace Austria.

Latvia played 99 official matches during the pre-war period from 1922 to 1940 and won the Baltic Cup 12 times. The last match of the pre-war Latvian national team was on July 18, 1940, against Estonia, ending in a 1–2 loss. The outbreak of World War II initially limited and eventually halted the team's activities entirely. During the German and Soviet occupations, the Latvian national team ceased to exist in its form during Latvia's independence.

The best players of the 1930s included Jānis Lidmanis, Ēriks Raisters, Jānis Rozītis, Fricis Kaņeps, Iļja Vestermans, and Aleksandrs Vanags. Ēriks Pētersons is considered the greatest Latvian footballer of the pre-war era, having scored 21 goals in 63 matches for the national team.

Latvian SSR National Team During the Soviet Era (1940–1991)

Latvian football's evident growth was abruptly halted and devastated when, in 1940, Latvia was occupied and annexed by the Soviet Union.The largest internal sports event in the Soviet Union was the Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR. Football was included in some editions, featuring teams representing the Soviet republics, as well as Moscow and Leningrad. In the 1956 Spartakiad, Latvia was represented by FC Daugava Riga. The team played four matches, securing three victories and suffering one defeat, with a goal difference of 10–7. ^[3]

Football returned to the Spartakiad program only in 1979, and once again, Latvia was represented by FC Daugava Riga. However, the results were poor, with one victory and five losses, and a goal difference of 10–16. In subsequent Spartakiads, youth teams (under 20 years old) participated instead.

During the Soviet occupation, the Latvian SSR national football team continued to compete in the Baltic Cup — a tournament first held in 1928 — until 1976.

The Early Years of the Restored Latvian National Team (1992–1997)

The country regained its independence in 1991, before, in 1990, the Latvian Football Federation (LFF) was reestablished, and Latvia rejoined FIFA shortly after regaining independence. However, the Latvian national football team had to be built from scratch. In December 1991, during an LFF executive committee meeting, Jānis Gilis was appointed as the first head coach of the restored national team. It was decided that the position of national team head coach was of such importance that it should not be combined with any club coaching roles. Gilis committed to focusing entirely on the national team, stepping down from his role with FK Pārdaugava's youth team. His competitor for the position, Marks Zahodins, expressed willingness to support Gilis as an assistant coach if needed.

Following his appointment, Gilis emphasized the challenge of assembling a team from scratch, meeting with potential players, and ensuring that those selected prioritized national pride above all else. The experimental team fielded in the autumn of 1991 was put together hastily, even lacking proper kits initially. Offers from international suppliers soon resolved this issue, and Gilis selected Vadims Ulbergs and Vladimirs Beškarevs as his assistants.

Latvia's first victory came on July 10, 1992, with a 2–1 win over Estonia, thanks to two goals by Ainārs Linards. Later that summer, Latvia began its campaign in the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification tournament. The team achieved historic draws against Spain (0–0) and Denmark (0–0) but suffered heavy defeats to Spain (0–5) and Ireland (0–4). With five draws and five points, Latvia finished 6th out of 7 teams in their group. Key players during this period included former Riga "Daugava" stars such as Jurijs Popkovs, Jurijs Ševļakovs, Oļegs Aleksejenko, Ainārs Linards, and Oļegs Karavajevs, as well as promising newcomers like Mihails Zemļinskis and Vitālijs Astafjevs.

In the qualification campaign for the 1996 UEFA European Championship, Latvia demonstrated increasing competitiveness, securing wins against Austria and Northern Ireland. The most memorable match of the campaign was a 2–3 loss to Portugal in Porto, where Latvia rallied from a 0–3 halftime deficit with two goals from young striker Vīts Rimkus, who became the team's top scorer of the campaign with five goals in five matches. This period also saw the emergence of new talents such as Imants Bleidelis, Andrejs Štolcers, and Igors Stepanovs.

In the qualification for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Latvia faced tough competition, narrowly losing to Austria, Scotland, and Sweden. However, the team secured victories against Belarus and Estonia. By this time, the squad's core included Skonto FC players such as Vitālijs Astafjevs, Igors Stepanovs, Marians Pahars, and Andrejs Štolcers.

In late 1997, Jānis Gilis stepped down as head coach, marking the end of an era. Around the same time, team captain and defensive leader Jurijs Ševļakovs retired from international football. These years laid the groundwork for Latvia's growing competitiveness on the international stage.

The 100st Game of the Restored Latvian National Team

On April 8, 1992, after a 52-year hiatus, the restored Latvian national football team played its first match in Bucharest, losing 0–2 to Romania. This marked Latvia's 100th match in its football history, with 10,000 spectators in attendance. The players experienced unfamiliar conditions, as accommodations, catering, and training facilities were of the highest standard.

A notable figure in the Latvian Football Federation (LFF) delegation was Vadims Ulbergs, who had witnessed the previous match between Latvia and Romania in 1937, a 0–0 draw at the ASK Stadium in Riga. The match in Bucharest attracted significant media attention, with representatives from all teams in the upcoming qualification cycle present, including the renowned Belgian coach Paul van Himst.

Romania fielded an almost full-strength team, with the only notable absence being Gheorghe Hagi, who was withheld by Real Madrid. The match also marked the debut of Romania's coach, Cornel Dinu. The game was hosted at the Complexul Sportiv Steaua, referred to as the "Temple of Romanian Football," built under the direction of one of Nicolae Ceaușescu's sons and maintained by the army. Tickets for the match were priced at 150 lei, approximately $2.50.

Latvia’s head coach, Jānis Gilis, opted to trust younger players and implemented a tactical scheme with two free defenders, placing additional pressure on the midfielders and forwards. The first half was promising, but in the second half, a lack of discipline allowed Romania to dominate territorially.

The match began with a costly mistake when goalkeeper Raimonds Laizāns slipped while preparing to save a 30-meter shot from Pavel Badea, allowing the ball to soar into the net. Latvia had an opportunity to equalize when Aivars Drupass, assisted by Jurijs Popkovs, made a sharp strike from six meters, but Romania’s goalkeeper Bogdan Stelea reacted brilliantly. Another defensive error early in the second half led to Romania’s second goal. Despite this, Laizāns recovered his composure, earning applause for saving a free kick by Gabi Balint in the 84th minute.

Rolands Bulders also came close to scoring but couldn’t produce a strong enough shot in a favorable position. While the team showed resilience, Gilis expressed disappointment with some players, including Vitālijs Teplovs and Aivars Drupass, who played with a minor injury. Ilmārs Verpakovskis, meanwhile, struggled due to his age. Gilis emphasized the need for a stronger attack, acknowledging that solid defense alone wouldn’t secure victories.

Romanian observers were astonished to learn that none of the Latvian players had ever competed for the Soviet national team or played in the Soviet Top League. This game provided Latvia with an opportunity to showcase its potential on the international stage, serving as a catalyst for growth. However, progress was hampered by a lack of professionalism in some teams and a casual attitude toward training among certain players.

Interestingly, in the early years, the Latvian national team coach’s salary was 8,500 rubles, equivalent to just $55.

The Starkovs–Verpakovskis Era and UEFA Euro 2004 (2001–2004)

Following Gary Johnson's departure, the experienced Skonto FC head coach Aleksandrs Starkovs was appointed as the head coach of the Latvian national team. Under Starkovs' leadership, Latvia finished the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification cycle with three narrow defeats against group favorites, showcasing the team's growing competitiveness.

The UEFA Euro 2004 qualification campaign began with a 0–0 draw against Sweden, followed by a vital 1–0 victory over Poland. Latvia then secured two wins against San Marino but suffered a setback with a loss to Hungary. Māris Verpakovskis emerged as the team's new offensive leader, replacing injury-plagued Marians Pahars, while veteran striker Vīts Rimkus returned to the squad.

Despite a 0–2 loss to Poland, which complicated Latvia’s position in the standings, the team rebounded with a 3–1 win over Hungary and a crucial 1–0 victory against Sweden. Verpakovskis scored in both matches, helping Latvia secure second place in their group and earn a spot in the play-offs.

In November 2003, Latvia faced Turkey, a strong opponent who had recently reached the semi-finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. In the first leg in Riga, Verpakovskis scored the only goal, giving Latvia a 1–0 advantage. The second leg in Istanbul was dramatic, with Turkey taking a 2–0 lead. However, Latvia fought back with goals from Juris Laizāns and Verpakovskis, securing a 2–2 draw. With a 3–2 aggregate victory, Latvia qualified for the UEFA European Championship for the first time in its history.

The key players during this period included Verpakovskis, captain Vitālijs Astafjevs, midfielders Juris Laizāns and Andrejs Rubins, defenders Mihails Zemļinskis and Igors Stepanovs, and goalkeeper Aleksandrs Koliņko.

Performance at UEFA Euro 2004

In the Euro 2004 finals held in Portugal, Latvia was drawn into a challenging group alongside the Czech Republic, Germany, and the Netherlands. In their opening match, Latvia delivered a strong performance but lost 1–2 to the Czech Republic, with Verpakovskis scoring Latvia’s first-ever goal in a major tournament.

The second match against Germany was historic, as Latvia achieved a 0–0 draw, earning their first point at a European Championship. The final group stage match saw Latvia face the Netherlands, where they suffered a 0–3 defeat, ending their journey in the tournament.

Although Latvia did not advance past the group stage, their performances, especially the draw against Germany, were widely praised. The campaign marked a golden era for Latvian football, with Starkovs' strategic leadership and Verpakovskis' outstanding form bringing the team to unprecedented heights.

This period remains a cornerstone in Latvian football history, demonstrating the team’s ability to compete on the European stage and inspiring future generations.

Starkovs' Dismissal and Return

2006 FIFA World Cup Qualification

After Latvia's historic success at UEFA Euro 2004, Aleksandrs Starkovs remained at the helm of the national team, but subsequent results failed to meet the high expectations set during the golden era. Latvia struggled in the qualification campaigns for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2008. The team faced challenges in maintaining consistency, and the departure of key players like Māris Verpakovskis and Mihails Zemļinskis from their peak form further weakened the squad.

Under Aleksandrs Starkovs, Latvia began its 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, but controversy struck in the opening match against Portugal when Starkovs was suspended for six games. His assistant, Jurijs Andrejevs, took charge from the sidelines, while Starkovs continued as head coach for the next four matches.

In November 2004, Starkovs resigned from his role, opting to manage Spartak Moscow in Russia. Andrejevs was promoted to head coach but failed to deliver notable success. Latvia ended the qualification cycle in 5th place in their group with 15 points from 12 matches. The team managed victories only against Luxembourg and Liechtenstein and drew with Russia, Estonia, and Slovakia. Notably, Latvia suffered their first defeat to Estonia since 1940, losing 1–2.

2008 UEFA European Championship Qualification

Latvia’s campaign for the 2008 UEFA European Championship began in a group featuring Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Northern Ireland, and Liechtenstein. The team started with a narrow 0–1 loss to Sweden at home, followed by a commanding 4–0 victory over Iceland and a 0–1 defeat to Northern Ireland.

After a shock loss to Liechtenstein in March 2007, Andrejevs resigned as head coach. In April, Aleksandrs Starkovs returned to lead the team. Under his guidance, Latvia achieved victories over Liechtenstein, Iceland, and Northern Ireland, but suffered defeats to Spain, Denmark, and Sweden. Latvia concluded the qualification cycle in 5th place in their group.

2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification

During his second tenure, Starkovs aimed to rebuild the team by integrating younger players while relying on experienced veterans like Vitālijs Astafjevs and Māris Verpakovskis to provide leadership. While Latvia did not achieve the same level of success as during the early 2000s, Starkovs' influence helped maintain competitiveness and ensured that the team remained a respected opponent in international football.In the fall of 2008, Latvia began their qualification campaign for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Drawn into a group with Greece, Israel, Switzerland, Moldova, and Luxembourg, Latvia opened with a 2–1 victory over Moldova in Chișinău. However, the team then suffered defeats to group favorites Greece (0–2 at home) and Switzerland (1–2 away), despite a header goal from Deniss Ivanovs.

Latvia bounced back with a 1–1 draw against Israel in Riga and two wins against Luxembourg (4–0 away and 2–0 at home). In a pivotal autumn match, Latvia defeated Israel 1–0 in Tel Aviv, keeping their hopes alive for a top-two finish.

On September 9, 2009, Latvia drew 2–2 against Switzerland at Skonto Stadium, maintaining their contention for second place as Greece surprisingly drew 1–1 against Moldova in Chișinău. At this stage, Latvia remained in a competitive position to vie for a spot in the FIFA World Cup.

In the penultimate and decisive match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification, Latvia faced Greece at the Athens Olympic Stadium. Despite taking a 2–1 lead in the first half through Māris Verpakovskis, a controversial penalty awarded to Greece early in the second half turned the tide. Theofanis Gekas scored from the spot and added two more goals, while Georgios Samaras also found the net, resulting in a 2–5 loss for Latvia.

In the final match of the campaign, Latvia defeated Moldova 3–2 at home. Despite finishing third in the group, Latvia narrowly missed out on qualification.

His second term further solidified Starkovs’ legacy as one of the most influential figures in the history of Latvian football, showcasing his dedication and impact on the national team’s development.

Group Standings SituationAs of the decisive matches, the group standings were tightly contested, with Latvia demonstrating resilience and ambition under Starkovs’ leadership. The team's ability to challenge strong opponents marked a continued effort to build on the success of the early 2000s.

Position	Team	Points
1.		17
2.		14
3.		14
4.		12
5.		5
6.		3

2012 UEFA European Championship Qualification

From September 2010 to October 2011, Latvia competed in the UEFA Euro 2012 qualification tournament, drawn into Group F with Greece, Croatia, Israel, Georgia, and Malta.

Latvia began the campaign with a 0–3 home defeat to Croatia, followed by a 2–0 away win against Malta. In October, Latvia lost 0–1 to Greece in Athens but secured a last-minute 1–1 draw against Georgia in Riga thanks to Aleksandrs Cauņa equalizer.

The 2011 campaign saw Latvia lose twice to Israel (1–2 both home and away) before securing a 1–0 victory against Georgia in Tbilisi and a 1–1 draw with Greece in Riga. Latvia ended the cycle with a 2–0 win over Malta but concluded with a 0–2 loss to Croatia. Latvia finished fourth in the group, missing out on qualification.

2014 FIFA World Cup Qualification

Latvia participated in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification from September 2012 to October 2013. The team was placed in Group G alongside Greece, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lithuania, and Liechtenstein.

Latvia started with losses to Greece (1–2), Bosnia and Herzegovina (1–4), and Slovakia (1–2) but managed a 2–0 victory against Liechtenstein. However, their form faltered in 2013, starting with a disappointing 1–1 draw against Liechtenstein and a heavy 0–5 loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Following the Bosnia defeat, there were calls within the Latvian Football Federation (LFF) to dismiss head coach Aleksandrs Starkovs, but the board voted against it. Despite the decision, Starkovs later submitted his resignation.

Transition to Pahars’ Leadership

After Starkovs' resignation, former national team player Marians Pahars was appointed as head coach with a contract extending until the end of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification cycle. This marked a new chapter for the Latvian national team, as Pahars sought to rejuvenate the squad and improve its competitiveness on the international stage.

Latvian National Team Under Marians Pahars (2013–2017)

First Matches and Early SuccessMarians Pahars’ tenure as head coach of the Latvian national football team began with a friendly match against Estonia, which ended in a 1–1 draw. His first victory came on September 6, 2013, during the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, with a 2–1 win against Lithuania in Riga. However, the team suffered two away losses (0–1 against both Greece and Lithuania) before finishing the campaign with a 2–2 draw against Slovakia. Latvia concluded the qualification cycle in 5th place in their group, ahead of Liechtenstein but trailing Lithuania by three points.

Baltic Cup Victory (2014)In the 2014 Baltic Cup, Latvia defeated Estonia in the semifinals following a penalty shootout and secured the title by beating Lithuania 1–0 in the final, with Nauris Bulvītis scoring the winning goal. This victory marked Latvia's 22nd Baltic Cup win.

2016 UEFA European Championship QualificationThe Euro 2016 qualification campaign was Pahars’ first full qualification cycle as head coach. Latvia was drawn into Group A alongside the Czech Republic, Iceland, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, and Turkey.

Latvia started with a 0–0 draw away against Kazakhstan. They then lost 0–3 at home to Iceland, followed by a 1–1 draw with Turkey. A heavy 0–6 defeat to the Netherlands concluded the year.In 2015, Latvia drew 1–1 against the Czech Republic, conceding an equalizer in the 90th minute, and lost 0–2 in a rematch against the Netherlands.

A 1–1 draw in Turkey and a 2–2 draw in Iceland highlighted occasional resilience.However, the campaign ended on a sour note with a 0–1 home defeat to Kazakhstan, leaving Latvia in last place (6th) in the group standings.Baltic Cup Success (2016)Latvia rebounded in June 2016 by winning the Baltic Cup for the 23rd time. They defeated Lithuania 2–1 and drew 0–0 with Estonia to secure the title.

2018 FIFA World Cup Qualification and Resignation

Latvia began their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign with a promising 1–0 away win against Andorra. However, the team struggled in subsequent matches:

Losses to the Faroe Islands (0–2), Hungary (0–2), Portugal (1–4), and Switzerland (0–1) followed.On March 28, 2017, Latvia suffered a crushing 0–5 defeat to Georgia in a friendly match. This prompted Marians Pahars to submit his resignation, ending his tenure as head coach.

Despite occasional successes, including two Baltic Cup victories, Pahars’ time as coach was marked by inconsistency in competitive matches, culminating in a disappointing World Cup qualification campaign.

Starkovs' Third Stint and Foreign Coaches (2017–2020)

Starkovs' Third TermOn April 19, 2017, Aleksandrs Starkovs was appointed head coach of the Latvian national team for the third time, replacing Marians Pahars. Starkovs' return saw a series of disappointing results, with the sole victory being a 1–0 win against Andorra on October 10 in the final match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.

During his tenure, Latvia reached its lowest-ever FIFA World Ranking, falling to 148th place in September 2017. After a shocking 0–1 loss to Gibraltar on March 25, 2018, Starkovs was dismissed.

Miksu Paatelainen (2018–2019)On May 24, 2018, Finnish coach Miksu Paatelainen was appointed head coach. Under his leadership, Latvia won the 2018 Baltic Cup, a bright moment amidst otherwise underwhelming results.

Latvia’s campaign in the 2018–2019 UEFA Nations League was disappointing. In their League D group alongside Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Andorra, Latvia failed to win a match, collecting only four points and finishing third in the group. Following these results, Paatelainen left his position.

Slaviša Stojanović (2019–2020)On March 1, 2019, Slovenian coach Slaviša Stojanović was named head coach. His tenure was marked by a record nine consecutive defeats during the UEFA Euro 2020 qualification campaign. Latvia managed only one win, a surprise 1–0 victory over Austria in their final group match.

Latvia finished last in their group, which included Poland, Austria, North Macedonia, Slovenia, and Israel. In January 2020, the Latvian Football Federation terminated its contract with Stojanović, ending a tumultuous chapter in the team’s history.

This period highlighted Latvia’s struggles on the international stage, with fleeting moments of success overshadowed by poor performances and instability at the managerial level.

Dainis Kazakevičs’ Era: The Positive Vector and Challenges (2020–2023)

In early 2020, the Latvian football community increasingly voiced the need for a local specialist to lead the national team—someone familiar with the nuances of Latvian football. Amid political uncertainty within the Latvian Football Federation (LFF), which was briefly without a president, the regular rotation of head coaches seemed unlikely to yield a long-term solution. Thus, following Slaviša Stojanović’s dismissal, Dainis Kazakevičs was appointed as head coach for a three-year term.

Early Struggles and Nations League CampaignsIn the 2020–2021 UEFA Nations League, Latvia competed in Group D alongside the Faroe Islands, Malta, and Andorra. Despite high hopes, the team failed to secure a win in its first five matches, drawing four and losing to Malta. Latvia finally claimed a decisive 5–0 victory against Andorra in the last game but finished third in the group.

Despite this disappointing start, the LFF remained committed to Kazakevičs’ long-term vision. This decision bore fruit with an eight-match unbeaten streak (including friendlies) and Latvia's triumph in the 2022–2023 UEFA Nations League. Latvia won their group against Andorra, Moldova, and Liechtenstein, securing promotion to League C.

Late Setbacks and Narrow SuccessThe campaign nearly unraveled in the penultimate match, where Latvia suffered a surprising 1–2 defeat to Moldova in front of a packed home crowd in Riga. This result left the decisive final game against Andorra fraught with tension.

In Andorra, Latvia took the lead in the 50th minute through Vladislavs Gutkovskis. However, a critical error by goalkeeper Pāvels Šteinbors allowed Andorra to equalize two minutes before full time. The draw left the team stunned, but Latvia retained first place in the group due to a superior goal difference over Moldova, earning promotion to League C. Unfortunately, the shaky end to the season dashed Latvia’s hopes of securing a playoff spot for UEFA Euro 2024.

Mounting Criticism and Kazakevičs’ DepartureKazakevičs faced criticism from the outset, with skeptics questioning his suitability for the role. Although the five-match winning streak in 2022 brought some relief, doubts persisted. By 2023, public pressure reached a peak, with the slogan “DainisOut” gaining traction.

The national team’s performance in 2023 exacerbated discontent. Out of ten matches, Latvia lost nine, scoring just two goals in their last six games. Even a win over Armenia was overshadowed by fan protests, as supporters demonstratively left the stands during the first half, demanding Kazakevičs’ resignation.

The sustained public and media pressure eventually led to the termination of Kazakevičs’ contract, bringing an end to his tenure as head coach.

LegacyKazakevičs’ era was a mix of modest successes and persistent challenges. While Latvia’s Nations League promotion to League C marked a positive milestone, inconsistent performances and public dissatisfaction highlighted the difficulty of building a cohesive and competitive national team.

Team image

Kits

Latvia's kit is traditionally a carmine red jersey with white trim, carmine red shorts and socks, whilst their current away kit is all predominantly white. Latvia's kits have been produced by various manufacturers.

Crest

Until July 2018, the team crest consisted of the Latvian Football Federation logo, when it was switched to a shield with a football in the colors of the Latvian flag and 'LATVIJA' written above. A similar crest with a head of a howling wolf was also unveiled as a secondary logo for use in souvenirs etc. as part of the #11vilki (#11wolves) brand.^[4]

Kit suppliers

Kit supplier	Period
Umbro	1992-1994
Adidas	1994-1996
Tro	1996–1998
Puma	1998–2000
Tramondi	2000–2002
Adidas	2002–present

Media coverage

All Latvian matches are currently broadcast with full commentary on the Go3 web streaming service, owned by TV3 Group. Since the 1990s, LTV7 (initially LTV2) was the broadcaster of all of the team games, before the All Media Baltics conglomerate took over broadcasting rights in September 2018.^[5] Games were broadcast on the group's TV6 channel and the TVPlay and Viaplay streaming platforms. All Media Baltics later became TV3 Group.

From the 2022 season until the 2028 season, Latvia's home and away qualifiers, and friendlies both home and away were broadcast live exclusively by Swedish Viaplay Group on their web streaming service. On 20 July 2023, Viaplay announced that it will leave the market of the Baltic states.^{[6] [7]} Upon exiting, all sports licences owned by Viasat - including the Baltic broadcasting rights for the Baltic Cup, UEFA Champions League, Premier League, Formula 1 and the NHL - were acquired by TV3 Group.^[8] This means that the matches of the Latvian national football team are returning LTV7, in September 2024.^{[9] [10]}

Stadium

In recent years, the home venue of the team has fluctuated between Skonto Stadium and the Daugava Stadium in Riga. Daugava was the main venue of the team from 1992 to 2000, when Skonto Stadium was unveiled as a temporary location due to the planned renovation of the Daugava. However, the renovation of the complex only began in 2017, with the first stage completed a year later.

The team then returned to the Daugava after an 18-year absence in the summer of 2018 with a game against Estonia on June 2nd.^[11] However, since mid-2022 home matches were once again temporarily moved to Skonto Stadium due to problems with the grass pitch and other issues. Works on replacing and upgrading the pitch began in October 2023.^[12] At the time, Latvian Football Federation president Vadims Ļašenko said that Skonto would become the main home of the men's team, with Daugava serving as a backup and the venue for the women's and youth national teams.^[13]

In the interwar era between 1921 and 1940, games were held in various locations such as the Army Sports Club Stadium in Riga and others.

Home venues record

The following table provides a summary of Latvia's results at home venues since 1992..

Stadium	City / town					Win %	Last match hosted
Skonto Stadium	Riga	2024
Daugava Stadium	Riga	2022
Daugava Stadium	Liepāja	2024
Olympic Stadium	Ventspils	2002
ASK Stadium	Riga	1994
Ozolnieki Stadium	Ozolnieki	1994
Totals		102	35	23	44

Results and fixtures

See main article: Latvia national football team results (2020–present). The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

2026

Coaching staff

Position	Name
Head coach	Paolo Nicolato[14]
Assistant coach	Massimo Paganin
	Aleksandrs Cauņa
Video Analyst	Leonardo Carletti
Video Analyst	Iļja Ščaņicins
Fitness coach	Māris Smirnovs
Fitness coach	Vincenzo Pincolini
Goalkeeping coach	Andris Vaņins
Physiotherapist	Artūrs Ivuškāns
	Jurijs Ksenzovs
	Dmitrijs Jefremenkovs
Masseur	Sergejs Avakovs
Doctor	Boriss Novikovs
Manager	Roberts Mežeckis
Kitman	Jānis Zeltiņš
Media officer	Iļja Poļakovs

Manager statistics

.

Team	From	To	Record
			G	W	D	L	Win %
Jānis Gilis	1992	1997
Revaz Dzodzuashvili	1998	1999
Gary Johnson	1999	2001
Aleksandrs Starkovs	2001	2004
Jurijs Andrejevs	2004	2007
Aleksandrs Starkovs	2007	2013
Marians Pahars	2013	2017
Aleksandrs Starkovs	2017	2018
Mixu Paatelainen	2018	2018
Slaviša Stojanovič	2019	2019
Dainis Kazakevičs	2020	2023
Paolo Nicolato	2024

Coaching history

• Technical Commission (1922–1923)
• Juris Rēdlihs-Raiskums (1924)
• Willy Malousek (1924)
• Walter Wilson (1925)
• Ferenc Molnár (1926)
• Karl Kurz (1927)
• Willy Malousek (1929)
• Juris Rēdlihs-Raiskums (1930–1931)
• Jānis Lapiņš (1932–1934)
• Ferenc Voggenhuber (1935)
• Rudolf Stanzel (1936–1939)
• Kārlis Upenieks (1940)
• Jānis Gilis (1992–1997)
• Revaz Dzodzuashvili (1998–1999)
• Gary Johnson (1999–2001)
• Aleksandrs Starkovs (2001–2004)
• Jurijs Andrejevs (2004–2007)
• Aleksandrs Starkovs (2007–2013)
• Marians Pahars (2013–2017)
• Aleksandrs Starkovs (2017–2018)
• Mixu Paatelainen (2018)
• Slaviša Stojanovič (2019–2020)
• Dainis Kazakevičs (2020–2023)
• Paolo Nicolato (2024–present)

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League C matches against North Macedonia and Armenia on 14 and 17 November 2024.

Caps and goals as of 17 November 2024, after the match against Armenia.

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up within the last twelve months. ^RET Retired from national team
^INJ Injured player
^WD Withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue
|}

Player records

^[15]

Players in bold are still active with Latvia.

Most appearances

width=30px	Rank	width=150px	Player	width=50px	Caps	width=50px	Goals	width=100px	Period
1	Vitālijs Astafjevs	167	16	1992–2010
2	Andrejs Rubins	117	9	1998–2011
3	Juris Laizāns	113	15	1998–2013
4	Imants Bleidelis	106	10	1995–2007
5	Mihails Zemļinskis	105	12	1992–2005
6	Māris Verpakovskis	104	29	1999–2014
7	Igors Stepanovs	100	4	1995–2011
	Andris Vaņins	100	0	2000–2019
9	Aleksandrs Koliņko	94	0	1997–2015
10	Kaspars Gorkšs	89	5	2005–2017

Top goalscorers

width=30px	Rank	width=175px	Player	width=50px	Goals	width=50px	Caps	width=50px	Average	width=100px	Period
1.	Māris Verpakovskis	29	104		1999–2014
2.	Ēriks Pētersons	24	63		1929–1939
3.	Vitālijs Astafjevs	16	167		1992–2010
4.	Marians Pahars	15	75		1996–2007
	Juris Laizāns	15	113		1998–2013
6.	Alberts Šeibelis	14	54		1925–1939
7.	Iļja Vestermans	13	23		1935–1938
	Valērijs Šabala	13	53		2013–2019
9.	Aleksandrs Cauņa	12	45		2007–2015
	Jānis Ikaunieks	12	65		2014–present
	Mihails Zemļinskis	12	105		1992–2005

Hat-tricks

Player	Competition	Against	Home/Away	Result	Date
	International Friendly		Home	6–3
			Home	3–1
			Away	3–3
4	International Friendly		Home	5–2
	International Friendly		Home	6–2
Hugo Vītols	International Friendly		Home	6–1
			Home	4–2

• ⁴ Player scored 4 goals

Clean sheets

Rank	Player	Games
1	Andris Vaņins	25
2	Aleksandrs Koliņko	21
3	Oļegs Karavajevs	13
4	Raimonds Laizāns	12
5	Arvīds Jurgens	5
Jānis Bebris	5
Pāvels Šteinbors	5
8	Jānis Kļaviņš	4
Roberts Ozols	4
10	Andrejs Piedels	2

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record									width=1% rowspan=28		Qualification record
Year	Result	Position
1930	Did not enter	Declined invitation
1934	Did not enter
1938	Did not qualify								3	2	0	1	10	5
1950	Part of the	Part of the
1954
1958
1962
1966
1970
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994	Did not qualify	12	0	5	7	4	21
1998	10	3	1	6	10	14
2002	8	1	1	6	5	16
2006	12	4	3	5	18	21
2010	10	5	2	3	18	15
2014	10	2	2	6	10	20
2018	10	2	1	7	7	18
2022	10	2	3	5	11	14
2026	To be determined	To be determined
2030
2034
Total									85	21	18	46	93	144

UEFA European Championship

See main article: Latvia at the UEFA European Championship.

UEFA European Championship record											Qualifying record
Year	Result	Position							Squad
1960	Part of the	Part of the
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996	Did not qualify	10	4	0	6	11	20
2000	10	3	4	3	13	12
2004	Group stage	14th	3	0	1	2	1	5	Squad	10	6	2	2	13	8
2008	Did not qualify	12	4	0	8	15	17
2012	10	3	2	5	9	12
2016	10	0	5	5	6	19
2020	10	1	0	9	3	28
2024	8	1	0	7	5	19
2028	To be determined	To be determined
2032
Total	Group stage	1/8	3	0	1	2	1	5	—	80	22	13	45	75	135

UEFA Nations League

UEFA Nations League record
Season	Division	Group	width=28		width=28		width=28		width=28		width=28		width=28		width=35		width=28
2018–19	D	1	6	0	4	2	2	6		51st
2020–21	D	1	6	1	4	1	8	4		53rd
2022–23	D	1	6	4	1	1	12	5		50th
2024–25	C	4	In progress
Total			18	5	9	4	22	15	50th

Baltic Cup

Baltic Cup record
Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
	Champions	1st	2	2	0	0	4	0
	Runners-up	2nd	2	1	1	0	5	3
	Runners-up	2nd	2	1	1	0	6	5
	Runners-up	2nd	2	1	0	1	2	3
	Champions	1st	2	2	0	0	5	1
	Abandoned	1st	2	1	1	0	3	2
	Runners-up	2nd	2	0	2	0	3	3
	Champions	1st	2	2	0	0	4	2
	Champions	1st	2	1	1	0	6	2
	Runners-up	2nd	2	0	2	0	2	2
	Runners-up	2nd	2	1	1	0	3	1
	Runners-up	2nd	2	1	0	1	4	4
	Champions	1st	2	1	1	0	2	0
	Runners-up	2nd	2	1	0	1	2	1
	Champions	1st	2	2	0	0	4	0
	Third place	3rd	2	0	1	1	2	3
	Runners-up	2nd	2	1	0	1	2	2
	Runners-up	2nd	2	1	0	1	2	1
	Champions	1st	2	2	0	0	7	2
	Champions	1st	2	1	1	0	2	1
	Runners-up	2nd	1	0	0	1	0	2
	Champions	1st	2	2	0	0	3	1
	Runners-up	2nd	2	0	2	0	0	0
	Champions	1st	2	2	0	0	6	1
	Champions	1st	2	2	0	0	1	0
	Champions	1st	2	1	1	0	2	1
	Champions	1st	2	1	1	0	2	1
	Runners-up	2nd	2	1	0	1	4	3
	Runners-up	2nd	2	1	0	1	2	2
	Third place	3rd	2	1	0	1	1	2
Total	13 Titles	30/30	59	33	16	10	91	51

Olympic Games

Olympic Games record
Year	Result	Position							Squad
1924	Second round	15th	1	0	0	1	0	7	Squad
Total	Second round	1/1	1	0	0	1	0	7	—

Head-to-head record

As of 17 November 2024 after match against .^[16]

Opponent	Pld	W	D *	L	GF	GA	GD
	5	0	5	0	6	6	0
	11	7	4	0	23	2	+21
	1	0	1	0	1	1	0
	6	2	1	3	7	8	–1
	9	2	1	6	9	24	−15
	5	1	3	1	4	5	−1
	1	0	1	0	2	2	0
	6	1	1	4	7	13	−6
	2	0	0	2	1	7	−6
	1	1	0	0	2	1	+1
	2	0	0	2	1	9	−8
	1	0	0	1	0	3	−3
	3	0	0	3	0	6	−6
	1	0	0	1	0	1	−1
	6	0	0	6	1	17	−16
	3	0	1	2	1	4	−3
	5	0	1	4	4	13	−9
	4	0	1	3	1	7	−6
	61	28	22	11	95	63	+32
	17	4	3	10	18	32	−14
	8	2	5	1	5	5	0
	1	0	0	1	0	7	−7
	10	3	2	5	10	18	−8
	4	0	1	3	2	13	−11
	1	0	0	1	0	1	−1
	4	3	0	1	11	3	+8
	8	1	2	5	6	13	−7
	1	0	0	1	1	2	−1
	7	1	0	6	7	16	−9
	7	2	3	2	12	12	0
	8	1	1	6	6	18	−12
	2	0	1	1	2	5	−3
	7	2	4	1	7	5	+2
	1	0	0	1	3	4	−1
	2	0	1	1	1	3	−2
	12	9	2	1	19	5	+14
	57	29	12	16	119	79	+40
	7	6	1	0	20	4	+16
	7	3	1	3	8	5	+3
	5	3	0	2	11	9	+2
	4	0	2	2	2	5	−3
	5	0	0	5	0	14	−14
	2	1	1	0	3	2	+1
	5	0	0	5	2	11	−9
	7	2	0	5	4	8	−4
	4	1	1	2	4	5	-1
	2	1	0	1	4	4	0
	16	2	2	12	15	42	−27
	6	0	0	6	4	18	−14
	1	0	0	1	1	3	−2
	6	0	0	6	3	17	−14
	5	0	1	4	0	9	−9
	4	0	1	3	2	7	−5
	5	4	1	0	9	1	+8
	1	0	0	1	0	2	–2
	4	0	0	4	1	7	−6
	5	0	3	2	5	9	−4
	5	1	0	4	2	9	−7
	2	0	0	2	0	2	−2
	4	0	1	3	0	9	−9
	17	2	4	11	12	54	−42
	5	0	1	4	3	9	−6
	1	0	1	0	1	1	0
	1	0	0	1	0	3	−3
	10	1	5	4	15	22	−7
	3	0	1	2	1	3	−2
	1	0	0	1	0	1	−1
	1	0	0	1	0	3	−3
	3	0	0	3	0	5	−5
Total	418	118	101	199	495	692	−197

• Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Honours

Regional

• Baltic Cup
  • Champions (13): 1928, 1932, 1936, 1937, 1993, 1995, 2001, 2003, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018
  • Runners-up (14)
  • Third place (2)

Friendly

• King's Cup
  • Champions (1): 2005

See also

• Latvia men's national under-21 football team
• Latvia men's national under-19 football team
• Latvia men's national under-17 football team
• Latvia women's national football team
• Latvia women's national under-17 football team

External links

• • Latvia at FIFA
• Latvia at UEFA
• Latvia at RSSSF

Notes and References

1. Web site: Krīgers . Renārs . Jauna identitāte . www.lff.lv . LFF . 15 October 2018 . 4 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190404183833/https://lff.lv/faniem/11vilki/ . live .
2. Web site: Latvian national team history . LFF.lv . LFF . 29 November 2024.
3. Web site: Спартакиада народов СССР . Wikiwand.com . 29 November 2024.
4. Web site: 2018-07-18 . Vilks - Latvijas futbola izlases jaunā identitāte . Wolf - the new identity of the Latvian national football team . 2023-05-07 . TVNET . lv . 7 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230507092043/https://sports.tvnet.lv/5770595/vilks-latvijas-futbola-izlases-jauna-identitate . live .
5. Web site: All Media Baltics pārraidīs visas Latvijas izlases spēles . 2024-04-10 . LFF.lv . lv.
6. Web site: Eliņš . Rolands . Futbola izlases, NHL un F1 raidtiesību īpašniece "Viaplay" atstās Baltijas valstu tirgu . Sportacentrs.com . 20 July 2023 . Sportacentrs . 20 July 2023.
7. Web site: Straumēšanas pakalpojumu sniedzējs 'Viaplay' aiziet no Baltijas tirgus . Delfi.lv . LETA . 20 July 2023.
8. Web site: "Viaplay" un TV3 grupas noslēdz vienošanos Baltijas valstīs . 2024-04-10 . LFF.lv . lv.
9. News: "Futbols atgriežas mājās!" – Latvijas Televīzija iegūst tiesības pārraidīt Latvijas nacionālās futbola izlases spēles UEFA rīkotajās sacensībās. LTV. 4 September 2024.
10. Web site: Latvijas izlases spēles atgriežas Latvijas Televīzijā . 2024-10-14 . LFF.lv . lv.
11. Web site: 2018-05-15 . Daugava Stadium in Riga to open at end-May after reconstruction . 2024-06-11 . The Baltic Course Baltic States news & analytics.
12. Web site: Kļavenieks . Mārtiņš . 2023-09-28 . 'Daugava' Stadium in Rīga to get major upgrades . 2024-06-11 . . en.
13. Web site: Kļavenieks . Mārtiņš . 2023-09-28 . «Daugavas» stadions pārtop: vieglatlēti gaida manēžu; drīz mainīs futbola zālienu un skrejceliņu . 2024-06-11 . LSM.lv . lv.
14. Web site: Oficiāli: Par Latvijas izlases nākamo treneri kļūst itālis Nikolato . 5 February 2024 .
15. Web site: Latvia . National Football Teams.
16. Web site: World Football Elo Ratings: Latvia. Elo Ratings. 6 July 2017. 29 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180129004602/http://www.eloratings.net/Latvia. live.