Latvia’s first encounters: A journey of discovery since independence

By Jānis Vītols

Before Latvia faces Serbia for the first time at Daugava Stadium in Rīga, it is worth reflecting on how the national team has fared in its historic “first meetings” against other nations since regaining independence in 1991. Each debut match has been more than a game – it has been a statement of presence on the international stage, a chance to write a new chapter in the nation’s football story.

When Latvia regained independence in 1991, football returned to the nation not only as a sport but as a symbol of freedom, identity, and hope. After decades under Soviet rule, the national team had to rebuild from scratch, creating a squad that could represent the country on the international stage. The early 1990s were a time of rediscovery, experimentation, and cautious optimism. Every match against a new opponent was more than just a game – it was a chance to announce Latvia’s presence to the world.

The first post-independence match came on 8 April 1992, a friendly against Romania at the National Stadium in Bucharest. While Romania was not a new opponent, the fixture was historic for Latvia: it was their first official outing as a fully independent nation in over 50 years. Though Latvia lost, the match brought together players and fans alike in a shared sense of beginning a new era. Just weeks later, on 26 May 1992, Latvia traveled to Malta for their first true debut match against a new nation since independence, at Centenary Stadium in Ta’ Qali. The 0-1 defeat was disappointing, but it marked the first of many “first meetings” that would define Latvia’s modern football history.

1992 game Malta vs Latvia. Latvian captain second from right – Oļegs Aleksejenko.

Less than two months later, Latvia played Estonia in the Baltic Cup at Daugava Stadium in Rīga. This match would be etched forever in the nation’s history. Ainārs Linards scored both goals in a 2-1 victory, giving Latvia its first competitive goals since regaining independence. The players on the field roared as Latvia celebrated a milestone that transcended football – a declaration that the nation had returned to the international scene.

Soon after, Latvia ventured into World Cup qualifying. Against Lithuania at Daugava Stadium, Linards again made history by scoring Latvia’s first goal in World Cup qualifying since independence, although Latvia lost 1-2. These early years were a mixture of triumph and learning, but each match, each goal, each save contributed to building the team’s identity.

The 1992/1993 qualifying campaign saw further steps into the unknown. Denmark, just fresh of winning the European champions, visited Riga for a match that many expected to be one-sided. Yet Latvia held the Danes to a 0-0 draw in front of 8,124 fans, showcasing determination and defensive organization. A similar 0-0 result followed against Spain at Daugava Stadium, signaling that even the giants of Europe could be challenged. In September 1992, Oļegs Aleksejenko scored in a 1-1 draw against Albania at Qemal Stafa Stadium in Tirana, adding to the growing list of players etching their names into Latvia’s post-independence history.

The mid-1990s brought both challenges and first victories against new nations. In 1994, Vladimirs Babičevs scored in a 1-0 away win over Liechtenstein, marking Latvia’s first debut victory in official competitive football. A few years later, in 1997, Latvia dominated Andorra 4-1 at Daugava Stadium, with Andrejs Štolcers, Imants Bleidelis (twice), and Igors Stepanovs contributing goals. These wins against smaller nations showed that Latvia could not only compete but also convincingly assert themselves against emerging football nations.

The late 1990s also brought one of Latvia’s most famous results: a 3-1 away victory against Norway in September 1998 at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo. Marians Pahars, Andrejs Štolcers, and Mihails Zemļinskis scored, leaving a lasting impression of Latvia’s ability to triumph against strong European sides. This period also included a memorable encounter against Brazil on 26 June 1999 at Estadio Jaquim Americo Guimaraes in Curitiba. Facing now known legends like Ronaldo, Dida, Roberto Carlos, Cafu, and the 19-year-old Ronaldinho on his national team debut, Latvia fell 0-3, but the match became an unforgettable experience for the team and its fans.

The 2000s were filled with moments of both hope and hardship. Latvia defeated San Marino 1-0 away at Stadio Olimpico in Serravalle in 2000, with Aleksandrs Jeļisejevs scoring, and overcame Kazakhstan 2-1 at OC Ventspils Stadium in 2002, with Mihails Zemļinskis and Andrejs Štolcers finding the net. In friendlies during 2005-2006, Latvia drew 2-2 with Japan at Skonto Stadium, thanks to goals from Vits Rimkus and Andrejs Rubins, earned a 1-1 draw with North Korea in Phuket with Ģirts Karlsons scoring, and narrowly lost 0-1 to the United States at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. These matches against far-flung opponents not only tested the team’s skill but also exposed them to the diversity of global football.

EURO 2004 represented the pinnacle of Latvia’s first encounters. For the first time and right now still for the only time they made it big. The squad got two first time meetings, losing 1-2 to Czechia at Estadio Municipal de Aveiro, with Māris Verpakovskis scoring Latvia’s historic first goal in a major tournament, and 0-3 to the Netherlands at Estadio Municipal de Braga. These matches were a declaration that Latvia could reach the grandest stages of European football, even as underdogs. This also paid tribute to those who paved the way in the early 1990s, when the Latvian national team first took shape under one of football’s greatest minds, Jānis Gilis – who, sadly, never got to see his dream of a Latvian team in a major tournament fulfilled.

The 2010s brought further variety and remarkable victories. Latvia traveled to Victoria Stadium in Gibraltar in 2016 and achieved one of their largest post-independence wins: a 5-0 demolition of the hosts. Jānis Ikaunieks scored twice, alongside Kaspars Dubra, Valērijs Šabala, and Aleksejs Višņakovs. That same year, the team suffered a 0-2 home defeat to the Faroe Islands, and in 2017 faced Saudi Arabia (0-2) and Kosovo (3-4), the last calendar year before 2025 in which Latvia faced two new opponents.

The 2020s have already brought new milestones. In March of this year, Latvia faced England at Wembley for the first time, losing 0-3 in front of nearly 80,000 spectators. It was the most-attented game in the history of Latvian football – club or country – and a record that will be hard to surpass.

Now, Serbia comes to Daugava Stadium in Rīga, marking another historic first. For the first time in eight years, Latvia will face two new opponents in the same calendar year, and for the first time since EURO 2004 in a official competition.

Since regaining independence, Latvia have faced 58 new opponents, compiling a record of 8 wins, 13 draws, and 37 defeats. Broken down by decade: the 1990s saw 3 wins, 6 draws, and 13 losses; the 2000s, 3 wins, 6 draws, and 13 losses; the 2010s, 2 wins, 1 draws, and 10 losses; and the 2020s so far with one defeat against England.

From Oļegs Aleksejenko in in Tirana against Albania, to Māris Verpakovskis in Portugal, to Andrejs Štolcers, Jānis Ikaunieks, and others leaving their mark against debut opponents, Latvia’s journey is one of resilience, discovery, and occasional triumph. Each first encounter tells a story of hope, pride, and the enduring spirit of Latvian football. Serbia will now join that narrative, adding a new chapter to a journey that spans continents, legendary opponents, and some unforgettable memories.

Decade-by-decade record of Latvia’s first meetings against new nations (1992–2025)

1990s (Post-Independence Debut Opponents)

Record: 3 wins, 6 draws, 13 losses

Malta – 26 May 1992, Centenary Stadium (Ta’ Qali), Away, 0-1 L
Denmark – 26 Aug 1992, Daugava Stadium (Rīga), Home, 0-0 D
Ireland – 09 Sep 1992, Landsdowne Road (Dublin), Away, 0-4 L
Spain – 23 Sep 1992, Daugava Stadium (Rīga), Home, 0-0 D
Albania – 11 Nov 1992, Qemal Stafa (Tirana), Away, 1-1 D – Goals: Oļegs Aleksejenko
Northern Ireland – 2 June 1993, Daugava Stadium (Rīga), Home, 1-2 L – Goals: Ainārs Linards
Georgia – 26 June 1994, ASK Stadions (Rīga), Home, 1-3 L – Goals: Vitālijs Astafjevs
Portugal – 9 Oct 1994, Daugava Stadium (Rīga), Home, 1-3 L – Goals: Jevgēņijs Miļevskis
Liechtenstein – 15 Nov 1994, Sport Park (Eschen), Away, 1-0 W – Goals: Vladimirs Babičevs
Cyprus – 12 Mar 1996, Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium (Larnaca), Away, 0-1 L
Scotland – 5 Oct 1996, Daugavas Stadium (Rīga), Home, 0-2 L
Belarus – 9 Oct 1996, Dinamo Stadium (Minsk), Away, 1-1 D – Goals: Mihails Zemļinskis
Switzerland – 2 Apr 1997, Stadion Allmend (Luzern), Away, 0-1 L
Andorra – 25 June 1997, Daugava Stadium (Rīga), Home, 4-1 W – Goals: Andrejs Štolcers, Imants Bleidelis, Igors Stepanovs
Azerbaijan – 19 Aug 1997, Daugava Stadium (Rīga), Home, 0-0 D
Israel – 17 May 1998, ASK Stadium (Rīga), Home, 1-5 L – Goals: Valentīns Lobaņovs
Iceland – 19 Aug 1998, Laugardarsvollur (Reykjavik), Away, 1-4 L – Goals: Aleksejs Šarando
Norway – 6 Sep 1998, Ullevaal (Oslo), Away, 3-1 W – Goals: Marians Pahars, Andrejs Štolcers, Mihails Zemļinskis
Slovenia – 14 Oct 1998, Ljudski vrt (Maribor), Away, 0-1 L
Tunisia – 10 Nov 1998, Stade Olympique El Menzah (Tunis), Away, 0-3 L
Greece – 31 Mar 1999, Daugavas Stadium (Rīga), Home, 0-0 D
Brazil – 26 Jun 1999, Estadio Jaquim Americo Guimaraes (Curitiba), Away, 0-3 L

2000s

Record: 3 wins, 6 draws, 13 losses

Slovakia – 4 Feb 2000, Stelios Kyriakides Stadium (Paphos), Neutral, 0-0 D
Belgium – 7 Oct 2000, Skonto Stadium (Rīga), Home, 0-4 L
San Marino – 15 Nov 2000, Stadio Olimpico (Serravalle), Away, 1-0 W – Goals: Aleksandrs Jeļisejevs
Croatia – 24 Mar 2001, Maksimir (Zagreb), Away, 1-4 L – Goals: Andrejs Štolcers
Ukraine – 15 Aug 2001, Skonto Stadium (Rīga), Home, 0-1 L
Russia – 14 Nov 2001, Skonto Stadium (Rīga), Home, 1-3 L – Goals: Vitālijs Astafjevs
Luxembourg – 27 Mar 2002, Stade Alphonse Theis (Hesperange), Away, 3-0 W – Goals: Andrejs Rubins, Juris Laizāns, Vladimirs Koļesņičenko
Kazakhstan – 17 Apr 2002, Olimpiskais Centrs Stadium (Ventspils), Home, 2-1 W – Goals: Mihails Zemļinskis, Andrejs Štolcers
Uzbekistan – 20 Aug 2003, Skonto Stadium (Rīga), Home, 0-3 L
Kuwait – 20 Dec 2003, Stelios Kyriakides Stadium (Paphos), Neutral, 0-2 L
Czechia – 15 June 2004, Estadio Municipal de Aveiro (Aveiro), Neutral, 1-2 L – Goals: Māris Verpakovskis
Netherlands – 23 June 2004, Estadio Municipal de Braga (Braga), Neutral, 0-3 L
Wales – 18 Aug 2004, Skonto Stadium (Rīga), Home, 0-2 L
Oman – 1 Dec 2004, Bahrain National Stadium (Riffa), Neutral, 2-3 L – Goals: Vits Rimkus, Andrejs Rubins
Bahrain – 3 Dec 2004, Bahrain National Stadium (Riffa), Away, 2-2 D – Goals: Vladimirs Koļesņičenko, Arturs Zakreševskis
Japan – 8 Oct 2005, Skonto Stadium (Rīga), Home, 2-2 D – Goals: Vits Rimkus, Andrejs Rubins
Thailand – 24 Dec 2005, Phang Nga Province Stadium (Phang Nga), Away, 1-1 D – Goals: Genādijs Soloņicins
North Korea – 26 Dec 2005, Surakul Stadium (Phuket), Neutral, 1-1 D – Goals: Ģirts Karlsons
USA – 28 May 2006, Pratt & Whitney Stadium (East Hartford), Away, 0-1 L
Moldova – 22 Aug 2007, Skonto Stadium (Rīga), Home, 1-2 L – Goals: Vitālijs Astafjevs
Armenia – 11 Feb 2009, Tsirion (Limassol), Neutral, 0-0 D
Honduras – 14 Nov 2009, Tiburcio Carias Andino (Tegucigalpa), Away, 1-2 L – Goals: Vladimirs Koļesņičenko

2010s

Record: 2 wins, 1 draws, 10 losses

South Korea – 22 Jan 2010, La Rosadela (Malaga), Neutral, 0-1 L
Angola – 3 Mar 2010, Estádio 11 de Novembro (Talatona), Away, 1-1 D – Goals: Ģirts Karlsons
Ghana – 5 June 2010, MK Dons (Milton Keynes), Neutral, 0-1 L
China – 17 Nov 2010, Tuodong (Kunming), Away, 0-1 L
Bolivia – 9 Feb 2011, Mardan Sports Complex (Antalya), Neutral, 2-1 W – Goals: Māris Verpakovskis, Aleksandrs Cauņa
Montenegro – 15 Aug 2012, Podgorica City Stadium (Podgorica), Away, 0-2 L
Bosnia and Herzegovina – 11 Sept 2012, Bilino Polje (Zenica), Away, 1-4 L – Goals: Kaspars Gorkšs
Qatar – 24 May 2013, Jassin Bin Hamad Stadium (Doha), Away, 1-3 L – Goals: Jurijs Žigajevs
North Macedonia – 5 Mar 2014, Phillip II of MAC (Skopje), Away, 1-2 L – Own goal
Gibraltar – 29 Mar 2016, Victoria Stadium (Gibraltar), Away, 5-0 W – Goals: Jānis Ikaunieks, Kaspars Dubra, Valērijs Šabala, Aleksejs Višņakovs
Faroe Islands – 7 Oct 2016, Skonto Stadium, Home, 0-2 L
Saudi Arabia – 7 Nov 2017, Estadio Nacional, Neutral, 0-2 L
Kosovo – 13 Nov 2017, Olympic Stadium Adem Jashari (Mitrovica), Away, 3-4 L – Goals: Gļebs Kļuškins, Dāvis Ikaunieks

2020s (So Far)

Record: 0 wins, 0 draws, 1 loss

England – 24 Mar 2025, Wembley Stadium (London), Away, 0-3 L
Upcoming: Serbia – To be played at Daugava Stadium (Rīga), first meeting

Latvia’s first encounters: A journey of discovery since independence