Barbados makes for a great football tour destination, with a large number of junior soccer teams ready and waiting to test their skills against school or club football teams. The real fantasy island of Barbados, with its white sand beaches, blue-green sea and musical rhythm in the air, also boasts an extensive variety of sports and activities. Their obsession with cricket is marginally diminished as netball, hockey, football and rugby gain momentum across the island.
The Barbados national football team, nicknamed Bajan Pride, is controlled by the Barbados Football Association. It has never qualified for a major international tournament, although they did come close to qualifying for the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup. In 2001, it surprised many by making the semi-final round of the 2002 World Cup Qualifiers. In the first game of this round, they pulled off a shock 21 win over Costa Rica, but lost their five remaining games. In 2004, Barbados gained a shock 11 draw at home to Northern Ireland.
