Liechtenstein's first match—a 1–1 draw against Malta—took place on 14 June 1981. They played only nine official matches between 1981 and 1993, with four taking place in 1981 and the other five were each played in a different year. Their first victory came in their third match, 3–2 against Indonesia. They entered their first major international competition in 1994: the qualifying rounds for 1996 UEFA European Football Championship. Liechtenstein made its first appearance in the qualifying rounds of the FIFA World Cup during the 1998 edition.