The next emerging football nation? Dominican Republic to play first Olympic football tournament
“In the Caribbean and in CONCACAF, in the next few years, I think the Dominican Republic could be one of the biggest teams,” says Las Vegas Lights midfielder Edison Azcona.
This is not all talk, Azcona delivered on the pitch helping his nation qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics through a remarkable run to the 2022 CONCACAF U20 Championship final.
The feat of qualification has made the national team a more exciting prospect for players of Dominican descent in European leagues.
Junior Firpo (Leeds United), Peter Gonzalez (Real Madrid), Edgar Pujol (Real Madrid), Oscar Urena (Girona) and Jose de Leon (Alavez B) were all recruited prior to the tournament.
“I think anyone would want to come and play in the Olympics, I think that’s a great experience for anybody and I’m very excited to get to Paris already,” buzzed Azcona.
Carlos Heredia, who has made 15 senior appearances for the Dominican Republic and spent time in England with MK Dons and Wolves, said: “I think the staff and people working at the federation have to present a very attractive proposal to these kinds of players because most of us have a dual-nationality.
“In my case Spain. Once they get the call up, and say they are going to come, it’s trying to find a way to retain them and not making it a one-off.”
With a new influx of talent playing in Europe, some players were denied a dream opportunity to play in the Olympics, including Dominican domestic league left-back Michael Sambataro.
Sambataro said: “The truth is I’m very surprised, I didn’t expect it at all. I always had the information that I was going to be there, and more being part of the major selection.
“Let’s hope that this very important selection can achieve great things.”
Thinking positively, Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Xavier Valdez said: “I think it raises the level of competition in the national team.
“It makes other guys that weren’t called up really have to step up their level and compete with these guys and even though they might not replace a Firpo, they might replace someone else they’re competing with.
“It’s going to make it much more competitive to be called into the national team and I really think that shows growth in a team.”
The makeup of the final 21-man squad is largely dual-nationals who play in Europe (17), two American league players in Azcona and Valdez, as well as Josue Baez (O&M FC) and Angel Montes de Oca (Cibao FC) who will be representing the domestic league – Liga Dominicana de Fútbol.
Squads are required to be composed of players under 23 years of age, with three permitted exceptions.
Valdez said: “It’s a U23 tournament so there’s youth and with youth there’s error. It’s about doing my job as best as possible, managing the errors and being as much as a leader as I can.”
One of the exceptions, 27-year-old Firpo was the first player of Dominican descent to play in the English Premier League, but is not yet revered in his home country in comparison to Dominican Major League Baseball (MLB) stars.
This is because football’s popularity is still on the rise, with Transfermarkt putting Liga Dominicana de Fútbol’s average attendance at 570 people per game, for the eight-team league started in 2015.
Heredia predicted: “85% of Dominicans don’t know who these guys are but once they come here there’s a plan to market them.
“Probably five percent [of Dominicans] watch our national football team games but I do know there’s a lot of support from our diaspora outside the island, from people who live in soccer countries.”
There will be no baseball at Paris 2024, an event at which the nation earned a bronze medal in Japan 2020, but this could mean more eyes are turned towards the emerging football team.
“It’s funny because everyone sees our flag and they think of other sports. It’s an honour to be at the Olympics and be playing a sport that many did not think we would get to the Olympics playing,” added Valdez.
In their maiden tournament, the DR will compete in Group C with Uzbekistan, Spain and Egypt playing in Bordeaux, Nantes and Paris.
Uzbekistan will also enter their first men’s Olympic football tournament, while Spain boast a 1992 gold medal and Egypt will compete in their twelfth tournament.
Spanish talents Fermin Lopez (Barcelona) and Alejandro Baena (Villarreal) were part of Spain’s winning Euros squad and will also play at the Olympics.
Former Manchester City defender Eric Garcia and 17-year-old Pau Cubarsi, who could have done a job in the senior squad with 32 La Liga appearances for Barcelona last season, also make the trip to Paris.
Despite a preparation friendly 7-0 loss to Thierry Henry’s France thanks to braces from Michael Olise and Alexandre Lacazette, the side still remain optimistic for their hopes in the tournament.
Azcona said: “We are going with the mindset that we know we can get out of the group. The first game against Egypt is going to be a crucial one for us, I think that’s a game that we do have to win. The goal is to get a medal at the end of the day.
“I’m looking forward to playing with and against all these big names, making a name for myself. It’s definitely going to be a dream come true.”
Playing at one of the world’s biggest sporting events, it is hoped an impact can be felt from the team flying their flag and sounding their anthem.
Valdez said: “My mother is a principal in the Bronx and a lot of her students are Dominicans who play football. Those are the kids that we would like to motivate to see that it’s possible.
“Especially as a Dominican player, there are not that many opportunities in the country. It’s difficult to move elsewhere because of VISAs, passports and restrictions but it will show that there really is a pathway out of the country which many guys have already taken. It will be amazing for them just to be able to see us succeed, hopefully that wares off on them and they can see that they can succeed as well.”
In football terms, the country has been overshadowed by its neighbour on the island of Hispaniola, Haiti.
In men’s football Haiti were the second ever Caribbean nation to compete at a World Cup in 1974, competed at the 2016 Copa America and have played in 16 CONCACAF Gold Cups including a triumph in 1973.
Conversely, the Dominican Republic men are yet to play at a major tournament.
However, with this age group having already competed at an U20 World Cup, having a spot booked at Paris 2024 and recruitment from across the United States and Europe helping aid competition, Los Quisqueyanos are emerging from the shadows.
