LARNACA, Cyprus — On March 21, 2025, Cyprus began their quest for the 2026 World Cup with a confident 1-0 victory over San Marino at the AEK Arena.
This match opened Group H qualifying, where Cyprus is joined by teams like Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Romania. Historically, Cyprus has dominated San Marino, winning all previous encounters, making this match a significant start for both sides.
Under new head coach Akis Mantzios, the Cypriots aimed to bounce back after a disappointing 4-1 loss to Romania in the UEFA Nations League. San Marino, however, came into the match with fresh hopes after two wins against Liechtenstein in 2024.
The kick-off at 12:50 PM ET saw significant excitement from the crowd in Larnaca. As expected, Cyprus quickly took control of the game, dominating possession and keeping San Marino’s defense under constant pressure.
In the first half, Cyprus had multiple attempts to score, including a disallowed goal when Pieros Sotiriou’s header was ruled offside. Despite being more aggressive, they couldn’t find the back of the net before half-time.
The second half began with Cyprus staying on the offensive. The breakthrough came when Ioannis Pittas capitalized on a defensive mistake, slotting in Cyprus’s first goal of the World Cup qualifying campaign.
“San Marino has a tough mountain to climb for a first win against us,” remained a common sentiment echoed throughout the match as San Marino sought desperately to find an equalizer.
Exciting plays continued, with San Marino’s Edoardo Colombo making several vital saves. Cyprus’s Andronikos Kakoulli and Giorgos Malekkidis both came close to extending the scoreline before Kakoulli’s header struck the woodwork.
Cyprus maintained a clear statistical dominance, attempting 26 shots compared to just five from San Marino, and having eleven of those on target versus San Marino’s two.
Despite San Marino’s effort, they couldn’t match Cyprus’s performance. The match ended with Cyprus securing a 1-0 win, a promising start to their qualifying campaign.
Coach Akis Mantzios expressed satisfaction, stating, “It’s crucial for us to start with strong wins to build our confidence moving forward.” For San Marino, this match highlighted areas needing improvement as they prepare for their upcoming challenges.
The focus now shifts to the next fixtures in Group H, where Cyprus aims to carry their momentum forward while San Marino looks to rebound and prove that their UEFA Nations League success was not a fluke.
