The Dominican Republic national football team joined FIFA in 1959. Interest in the sport is relatively low. They do have a professional league, but it has only been running since 1970. Football is the fifth most popular sport in the country. Baseball is the most popular. Football is not helped by a lack of success at either youth or senior international level.
Located in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic is the second largest country in the region. Cuba is the biggest. It has an estimated population of ten million people. Long known for its sugar production the country has now become dominated by tourism. The country is the Caribbean’s largest tourist destination with many drawn in by expensive and exclusive areas.
The geography of the country is structured around four main mountain ranges. It has several small islands off its coast which are also part of their territory. The country’s attractive tropical climate is countered by it being one of the most highly polluted places in the world.
The first world cup the Dominican Republic national football team entered was in 1978. They then did not enter the following three tournaments until 1994. Since then they have attempted to qualify for all subsequent world cups but have never been successful.
