Latvia's national football team is governed by the Latvian Football Federation (LFF) and competes under UEFA. The domestic football structure traces its professional roots to 1992, when the top-flight Virslīga was established following Latvia's restoration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The early years of the league were dominated by Skonto FC of Riga, who achieved a remarkable run of thirteen consecutive Virslīga titles from the league's inaugural season before the club eventually collapsed financially and dissolved in 2016 — a defining chapter in Latvian football history.
On the international stage, Latvia's most celebrated moment came at UEFA Euro 2004 in Portugal, where the national team made its first and, to date, only appearance at a major international tournament. The achievement was the culmination of a generation of talent that included midfielder Marians Pahars and defender-midfielder Kaspars Gorkšs, who went on to play in the English Football League with clubs including QPR and Reading. Latvia has never qualified for a FIFA World Cup.
Domestically, the Virslīga continues to develop with clubs such as Riga FC and FK RFS competing at the top level, while a four-tier league pyramid supports the game across the country. In UEFA Nations League competition, Latvia has operated in the lower divisions, competing in League D in the 2022–23 season.
Latvian football carries the identity of a small nation punching for recognition on the European stage, with Euro 2004 remaining the touchstone moment that defines supporter ambition and national pride.