Latvian national football team
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| Nickname(s) | Sarkanbaltsarkanie (Red-white-red) |
|---|---|
| Association | Latvijas Futbola federācija |
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Head coach | vacant |
| Captain | Kaspars Gorkšs |
| Most caps | Vitālijs Astafjevs (167) |
| Top scorer | Māris Verpakovskis (29) |
| Home stadium | Skonto Stadium |
| FIFA code | LVA |
| FIFA ranking | |
| Current | 111  2 (9 March 2017)
|
| Highest | 45 (November 2009) |
| Lowest | 119 (June 2013) |
| Elo ranking | |
| Current | 106 (26 January 2017) |
| Highest | 45 (25 September 1938) |
| Lowest | 124 (April 1995) |
| First international | |
 Latvia 1–0 Estonia  (Riga, Latvia; 24 September 1922) |
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| Biggest win | |
Latvia 5–0 Lithuania  (Riga, Latvia; 30 May 1935) Latvia 5–0 Lithuania (Võru, Estonia; 1 June 2012)  Gibraltar 0–5 Latvia (Gibraltar, Gibraltar; 29 March 2016) |
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| Biggest defeat | |
 Sweden 12–0 Latvia (, Sweden; 29 May 1927) |
|
| European Championship | |
| Appearances | 1 (first in 2004) |
| Best result | Group stage, 2004 |
The Latvia national football team (Latvian: Latvijas futbola izlase) represents the country in international football competitions, such as the World Cup and the European Championships. It is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Latvia. They have never qualified for the World Cup, but have qualified for the European Championship, in 2004, under Aleksandrs Starkovs. The team is now being managed by Marians Pahars. Latvia's home ground is the Skonto Stadium in Riga, where they have played their matches since its opening in 2000.
Latvia played their first match in 1922, a game against Estonia, which finished in a 1–1 draw. Latvia have won the Baltic Cup 12 times, and have played 99 official games during its pre-war period from 1922 to 1940.
In 1937, the Latvian team participated in the first qualification tournament for the 1938 World Cup. Latvia were placed in Group 8, alongside Austria and Lithuania. Latvia beat Lithuania 4–2 in Riga, after an Fricis Kaņeps hat-trick and an Iļja Vestermans goal. In Kaunas, they won 5–1, after two goals each from Kaņeps, Vaclavs Borduško, and Vestermans, but lost 1–2 in the decisive match against Austria, despite an early goal from Vestermans. In April 1938, the Austrian Anschluss relegated the Austrian team, however, Latvia was not invited by FIFA as the group's runner-up.
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