By James Sablan
james@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
THE NMI U15 Boys National Soccer Team is being tested in the EAFF U15 Championship 2025, facing some of the region’s toughest opponents while showing that, although scorelines tell one story, the development of football in the NMI tells another.
The tournament began on Dec. 18 at the Hooray International Football Training Base with a daunting opening match against Chinese Taipei or Taiwan.
From the opening whistle, the NMI boys were met with a level of pace and technical precision rarely seen in domestic play. Chinese Taipei’s clinical execution led to a 10–0 victory, but the match served as a critical baseline for the young NMI athletes.
Despite the lopsided score, NMI coaches noted the team’s refusal to crumble. Players such as Travis Kileleman-Hix and midfielders Yutaka Kadokura and Arstin Tagabuel were tasked with absorbing sustained pressure, giving the squad an immediate understanding of the international standard required for future success.
On Saturday, the NMI team began to find its footing.
The squad returned to the pitch against Macau, and the adjustments from its opening match were evident. NMI tightened its defensive shape and improved communication across the lines.
Although the match ended in a 2–0 loss, the performance marked a significant step forward. NMI limited Macau’s chances and showed flashes of composure in possession, moving the ball with greater confidence than it had just 48 hours earlier.
“This steady improvement is exactly what tournaments like this are about — growth through competition and learning through challenge,” the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association said in a social media post.
James Sablan has been a sports reporter for Variety since 2013. He was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College and covers all local sports.
