Martinique national football team Martinique national football team The Martinique national football team () represents the French overseas department and region of Martinique in international football. The team is controlled by the Ligue de Football de la Martinique (), a local branch of French Football Federation (). On 7 August 2010, the national team adopted the nickname "Les Matinino", which pays tribute to the history of the island. As an overseas department of the French Republic, Martinique is not a member of FIFA and is therefore not eligible to enter the FIFA World Cup or any competition organised first-hand by the organisation. Martiniquais, being
Martinique island of iguanas". When Columbus landed on the island in 1502, he christened the island as Martinica; through the influence of the neighboring island of Dominica (La Dominique), it came to be known as Martinique. The island is called "Madinina" by the locals. The island was occupied first by Arawaks, then by Caribs. The Carib people had migrated from the mainland to the islands about 1201 CE, according to carbon dating of artifacts. They were largely displaced, exterminated and assimilated by the Taino, who were resident on the island in the 1490s. Martinique was charted by Columbus in 1493, but