Eritrea's national football team represents one of Africa's youngest sovereign nations, a country that gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993 following a decades-long struggle. The team competes under the Eritrea Football Federation and is affiliated with both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), participating in qualifying rounds for the Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA World Cup.
Football in Eritrea has roots that predate independence, with clubs based in the capital Asmara and other cities forming the backbone of domestic competition. Teams such as Red Sea F.C., Denden FC, and Tele S.C. are among those that have shaped the local football landscape, alongside a range of community and regional clubs spread across the country.
The national team has faced significant structural and resource challenges that have limited its competitiveness on the continental stage. Eritrea has not qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations finals, and its FIFA ranking has historically placed it among the lower-tier African nations. High-profile player defections during international tournaments brought the team considerable international attention in the 2010s, reflecting broader issues of national migration that have affected squad continuity.
In recent years, the Eritrea Football Federation has worked to stabilise domestic football and develop a more consistent pathway for young players. The local league features clubs primarily concentrated in Asmara and surrounding regions. The team's identity is closely tied to the resilience and pride of a young nation still building its sporting institutions, and matches carry deep symbolic weight for Eritreans both at home and in the diaspora.