The Gozo representative football team (Maltese: It-tim rappreżentattiv Għawdxi tal-futbol) represents the island of Gozo, Malta, in football. It is organised by the Gozo Football Association and its home stadium is the Gozo Stadium.
It is not affiliated with FIFA or UEFA and therefore is not eligible to enter either the World Cup or European Championship. The Gozo representative football team has however played a number of Non-FIFA international football matches featuring players who are considered as 'Gozitans' for matches of the Gozo Football League, including appearances at Island Games and the now-defunct Viva World Cup.
Moreover, as of 2023, Gozo[1] has also participated in 5 editions of UEFA Regions' Cup as Malta's representative, with their debut appearance coming in the inaugural edition in 1999.
Over the years, a Gozo XI has also played friendlies against football clubs - particularly those from the mainland, fielding players playing in the Gozo Football League and, occasionally, Gozitans playing in Malta.
Historical records suggest that a team representing the island of Gozo had already played a couple of matches way before the turn of the millennium.[2] Indeed, during the 1970s a side representing Gozo was invited to join in the Independence celebrations and play 2 friendly matches against local sides. Other historical records indicate that a Gozitan team might have been involved in more matches before this period.[3] Indeed, the first ever match for a Gozitan representative team came in January 1937, where a Gozo XI faced Tarxien Rainbows in a friendly match played at the then Silver Jubilee Stadium.[4]
For a period, a Gozitan representative team also played in the Maltese FA Trophy but the Gozo Football Association's decision to organise Gozo F.C. and have it play in the Maltese football league system eventually led to lengthy hiatus of the Gozo representative team. Indeed, the next known Gozitan appearance came in 1999, when a selection representing Gozo played in first edition of the UEFA Regions Cup. Ten years after, specifically in 2009, the Gozo representative football team debuted in the Viva World Cup by playing in the 2009 Viva World Cup. In the following year, Gozo hosted the 2010 edition of the Viva World Cup[5] and therefore, once again, Gozo had the opportunity to participate in the said Cup. Overall, Gozo's performance was disappointing as they finished at the bottom of their group but the team could find solace in the fact that the win against Provence was their first ever win on the field against international opponents.[6] Gozo's appearance in the 2010 Viva World Cup was, however, their last appearance in the now-defunct competition.
That said, the launching of the Gozo Cup[7] during the same year presented an opportunity for the representative side to play friendly matches against Maltese football clubs. The Gozo Cup ran for four consecutive years and during the intervening period the Gozo representative also played a number of friendlies, including the famous 17–1 victory in an international football match against the Raetia national football team in Xewkija.[8]
Since then, Gozo's appearances primarily came at the UEFA Regions' Cup. Indeed, the Gozitan representative football team appearance in the 2017 edition of the bi-annual UEFA Regions Cup marked Gozo's participation in, and hosting of, the tournament for the third edition running.[9] They also participated in the subsequent edition, namely the 2019 edition.
In 2022 Gozo joined the Island Games Association and this made the Gozo representative football team eligible to participate in the biannual multi-sport event's football tournament.[10] This marked Gozo's return to the international fuora following a hiatus of over a decade.
The following players were called-up for the 2023 Island Games by coach Mark Buttigieg.[12]
Caps and goals correct as of 20 June 2023
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