The Latvia national soccer team is the representative team for Latvia in international football competitions. The team is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation, which was founded in 1921. Latvia became a member of FIFA in 1922 and joined UEFA in 1992 after regaining independence from the Soviet Union.

History and Major Successes:

• Early Years: Latvia played its first international match in 1922 against Estonia. During the interwar period, the team participated in the Baltic Cup, a tournament among the Baltic states, achieving some regional success.
• Post-Independence Era: After regaining independence in 1991, Latvia began competing again in international football. The team's most significant achievement came when they qualified for the UEFA European Championship in 2004, their first major tournament. Although they did not advance beyond the group stage, qualifying for the tournament was a historic achievement for Latvian football.

Notable Players:

• Marian Pahars: Known for his time in the English Premier League with Southampton, Pahars was a key player for Latvia and became a prominent figure in promoting Latvian football internationally.
• Imants Bleidelis: A midfielder who was part of the squad during Euro 2004 and played an influential role in the national team during his career.
• Vitālijs Astafjevs: One of the most capped players for Latvia, he served as a central figure in the national team for many years and was known for his leadership on the field.

Notable Coaches:

• Gary Johnson: An English coach who led the national team in the mid-1990s, playing a role in developing the team's style and competitiveness post-independence.
• Aleksandrs Starkovs: Perhaps the most renowned Latvian coach, Starkovs guided the team to their historic Euro 2004 qualification. His tenure is remembered as a high point in Latvian football.

Latvia continues to compete in various international competitions and aims to qualify for future European Championships and World Cups, building on its footballing heritage and aspiring to further successes.