‘That goal is within arm’s reach’
By Emmanuel T. Erediano
emmanuel@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
The NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville, now equipped with upgraded facilities and international-standard fields, stands ready to host its first major international football event—a milestone the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association has long envisioned.
With a sense of accomplishment and hope, NMIFA President Jerry Tan shared in an interview with Variety on Nov. 8 that hosting an official high-level regional competition is no longer just an aspiration but a realistic target for the near future.
“That goal is within arm’s reach,” Tan said, following last week’s visit by two Asian Football Confederation representatives to Saipan for the NMIFA Ordinary Congress.
The AFC, headquartered in Malaysia and a member of FIFA, took the opportunity to survey the Koblerville football center during their stay.
“We surprise a lot of people when they come here and take a look at our program and our facility. It’s really amazing,” Tan added.
The Koblerville Soccer Training Center now boasts two international-standard soccer fields and a string of recent improvements, which were made possible through AFC support. These include a modern conference room, upgraded restrooms, and—for the first time—dedicated locker rooms for both home and visiting teams.
Hosting an international event was at the core of discussions between NMIFA and the AFC delegates.
“We already met the international standard,” Tan said. He recalled earlier days when NMIFA hosted visiting teams under makeshift tents due to limited facilities.
But much has changed. “Now, the Koblerville facility is fully equipped with what it takes to host an official regional AFC event,” Tan said.
The addition of proper locker rooms, a key benchmark for international hosting, marks a new chapter for CNMI football.
Though NMIFA has previously hosted friendly matches against teams from Mongolia, the Philippines, and Hong Kong, Tan noted that their guests have expressed interest in returning—this time, for official competitions.
“So definitely, in the next few years, starting 2026, we will be hosting an international event,” Tan added.
He is confident that bringing major regional tournaments to the Marianas will inspire the entire community and cultivate the next generation of players. “Our community and parents will have the chance to watch their kids here at home, and witness high-level, which will further enhance interest as the standard would be higher,” he said.
