Football: Things get worse for Federated States of Micronesia

The Federated States of Micronesia lost their latest game at the Pacific Games/Olympic qualifying tournament in Papua New Guinea to Vanuatu 46-0. Photo / Getty Images

If you thought the Federated States of Micronesia football team couldn't get any worse... well, they did.

FSM lost their latest game at the Pacific Games/Olympic qualifying tournament in Papua New Guinea to Vanuatu 46-0. That came on the back of their opening 30-0 loss to Tahiti and 38-0 thumping by Fiji.

That means they have lost the three games by a combined 114-0 and conceded a goal, on average, every two-and-a-half minutes.

It could have been worse. FSM looked on course to concede 50 when they trailed 42-0 after 75 minutes.

The Fiji result topped Australia's record for the largest victory in an international football match (they beat American Samoa 31-0 in 2001) but, because the Pacific Games is an age-group tournament (under 23), they won't be re-writing the history books.

The FSM are formed by four small islands in the South Pacific that are spread over 100km.

The islands have no organised football and have relied on playing teams from visiting ships for practice matches.

They have around 500 players, 150 of which come from schools on the islands of Phonpei, Chuuk and Yap.

FSM don't fall under the Oceania Football Confederation or Asian football umbrella, so don't receive any development grants other than from the UN, who promote sport as a means of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

But football is incredibly popular across the Federated States and their passionate fans had something to cheer about 16 years ago when they registered their one and only win over the Northern Marianas.

The FSM are appearing at the Pacific Games for the second time, after they travelled to Fiji in 2003 where they conceded 52 goals across four group games.

But are they the worst football team in the world? Probably not.

That honour may fall to the Nigerian lower league side Akurba FC who were beaten 79-0 and 67-0 in two league matches in 2013 before they were suspended.

New Zealand are due to take on New Caledonia in their Olympic qualifier this afternoon.