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
Invasion of Martinique (1809) squadron at the Battle of Martinique. By 1808 there were no French squadrons at sea: any that left port were eliminated or driven back in a series of battles, culminating at the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The fleet that was destroyed at Trafalgar had visited Martinique the year before and was the last full scale French fleet to visit the Caribbean for the rest of the war. With the bulk of the French Navy confined to port, the British were able to strike directly at French colonies, although their reach was limited by the significant