San Marino national football team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
San Marino

Nickname(s)	La Serenissima
Association	Federazione Sammarinese Giuoco Calcio (FSGC)
Confederation	UEFA (Europe)
Head coach	Roberto Cevoli
Captain	Matteo Vitaioli
Most caps	Matteo Vitaioli (97)
Top scorer	Andy Selva (8)
Home stadium	San Marino Stadium
FIFA code	SMR
First colours Second colours Alternate home colours
FIFA ranking
Current	211 (7 February 2019)
Highest	118 (September 1993)
Lowest	211 (November 2018 – July 2019, March 2022 – July 2023)
Elo ranking
Current	204 1 (3 March 2019)
Highest	1 (16 September 1987)
Lowest	1 (November 2019)
First international
San Marino 0–0 Lebanon  (Aleppo, Syria; 16 September 1987) FIFA recognized  San Marino 0–4 Switzerland  (Serravalle, San Marino; 14 November 1990)
Biggest win
Liechtenstein 1–3 San Marino  (Vaduz, Liechtenstein; 18 November 2024)
Biggest defeat
San Marino 0–13 Germany  (Serravalle, San Marino; 6 September 2006)
Mediterranean Games
Appearances	4 (first in 1987)
Best result	Seventh place (1987)

The San Marino national football team represents San Marino in international association football games. The team is managed by the San Marino Football Federation. San Marino is the smallest country by population in UEFA, which is the European football organization. They are currently the lowest-ranked national football team by FIFA. They have won three matches since they started playing.

San Marino's first official game was a 4–0 loss to Switzerland in 1990. This was a qualifier for the European Championship. An unofficial San Marino team played against the Canada U-23 team in 1986, losing 1–0. Since their first official game, San Marino has played in qualifiers for every European Championship and FIFA World Cup.

Their first competitive win was a 1–0 victory over Liechtenstein on 5 September 2024. This happened in the UEFA Nations League. Their second competitive win was a 3–1 victory against Liechtenstein on 18 November 2024. This was the first time they scored more than one goal in a competitive game. This win also helped them get promoted to League C, which is the third level of the Nations League.

Team History

The San Marino Football Federation was created in 1931. However, the national team didn't start until 1986. That year, a team played against the Canada U-23 team in an unofficial game, losing 1–0. San Marino joined FIFA and UEFA in 1988. This allowed them to play in big tournaments. Before this, players from San Marino were considered Italian in international football.

San Marino's first game in a FIFA-approved competition was against Switzerland on 14 November 1990. This was a qualifier for the 1992 European Championships. San Marino lost 4–0 and lost all their other eight qualifying games. They struggled in away matches, losing them all by at least four goals. San Marino scored only one goal in this campaign. It was a penalty in a 3–1 home loss to Romania. They let in 33 goals in total.

For their first FIFA World Cup qualifying games, San Marino was in a group with England, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and Turkey. Their first game was a 10–0 loss to Norway. A 4–1 loss in Turkey saw San Marino score their first goal in a World Cup qualifier. A 0–0 draw against Turkey on 10 March 1993 gave them their first-ever point. In their last qualifier against England, Davide Gualtieri scored a goal after just 8.3 seconds. This was the fastest goal in World Cup qualifying history at that time. However, San Marino lost the game 7–1. They finished the campaign with one point and let in 46 goals in 10 matches.

The team's qualifying games for UEFA Euro 1996 were similar to their past European championships. They lost every match. A game away to Finland saw San Marino score their first away goal in European Championship qualifiers. But they still lost 4–1. Their only other goal came in a 3–1 home loss to the Faroe Islands. The Faroe Islands only got points in this group from their two wins against San Marino.

The 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifiers were tough for San Marino. They lost every match by three goals or more and didn't score any goals. This is the only World Cup qualifying tournament where they haven't scored. Qualifiers for Euro 2000 also resulted in losses in every match. Their closest game was a 1–0 loss to Cyprus on 18 November 1998.

In April 2001, San Marino earned their first away point. They drew 1–1 with Latvia in Riga. The team finished the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifying group with a new best of three goals. However, one of these goals came in a 10–1 loss to Belgium. In the UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying, San Marino lost all eight matches and didn't score any goals. Their closest result was a 1–0 home loss to Latvia, with the winning goal scored in the last minute. Latvia went on to play in the main tournament. A 2–2 draw against Liechtenstein in a friendly game in August 2003 set a new national record for most goals scored in a match. Only twice since then have they scored multiple goals in a game.

In April 2004, San Marino got their first win after more than 70 attempts. It was a 1–0 victory over Liechtenstein in a friendly game on 28 April 2004. The goal was scored by Andy Selva in the fifth minute.

San Marino's first UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying match was a record 13–0 loss at home to Germany on 6 September 2006. They scored only twice and let in 57 goals in losing all 12 matches. However, their home games against Ireland, Cyprus, and Wales were each lost by only one goal.

In the qualifying campaign for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, they lost all 10 matches. They let in 47 goals, including 10 in a loss to Poland. This became Poland's biggest win ever. San Marino scored only once, in a 3–1 loss to Slovakia. The UEFA Euro 2012 qualifiers started similarly. The first nine matches were all losses, with 49 goals conceded and none scored. Their best result was a one-goal loss to Finland at home. The worst was a huge 11–0 loss to the Netherlands, which was the Netherlands' biggest win ever and San Marino's worst away loss.

On 10 September 2013, Alessandro Della Valle scored San Marino's first competitive goal in five years. Poland was leading 1–0 in the Stadio Olimpico. Della Valle headed in a free-kick in the 22nd minute. Poland then scored again a minute later and won 5–1. This was the first international goal scored by San Marino since they lost 3–2 at home to Malta in 2012.

On 15 November 2014, San Marino drew 0–0 at home against Estonia. This was the first time in 10 years that the team had not lost a match. It ended a streak of 61 losses and gave the country its first-ever point in a European Championship qualifier.

In October 2016, Mattia Stefanelli scored for San Marino in their 4–1 loss to Norway.

On 16 November 2019, Filippo Berardi scored a goal in a 3–1 loss to Kazakhstan. This was in a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying match. It was San Marino's first goal in two years and their first home goal in six years.

On 13 October 2020, San Marino had their fourth competitive draw and their first since 2014. Their UEFA Nations League match with Liechtenstein ended 0–0. A month later, they made history by drawing 0–0 with Gibraltar. They played with 10 men after Davide Simoncini was sent off. This was the first time they got more than one point in a major tournament. It was also the first time they got more than one point in a calendar year. And it was the first time they went unbeaten without letting in a goal in two competitive matches in a row.

On 28 March 2022, San Marino played their first official match against a non-European team. It was a friendly game against Cape Verde in Spain, which they lost 2–0. San Marino then played Seychelles at Stadio Olimpico on 21 September 2022. San Marino ended an 18-game losing streak with a 0–0 draw. However, they were disappointed not to win at home against an opponent they felt they could beat. In the 2022–2023 UEFA Nations League, they lost all four games without scoring a goal.

On 17 October 2023, San Marino scored their first competitive goal in two years against Denmark in a 2–1 loss during UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying. They scored again against Kazakhstan on 17 November 2023, losing 3–1. Just three days later, they scored again in a 2–1 loss to Finland. This was the first time San Marino scored in three games in a row.

Team picture of the San Marino national football team before their match against Slovakia (2024)

On 20 March 2024, San Marino scored in four straight games for the first time ever. They took a 1–0 lead against Saint Kitts and Nevis, but eventually lost 3–1. On 24 March 2024, San Marino ended a 12-game losing streak with a 0–0 draw against Saint Kitts.

UEFA Nations League Success

San Marino played Liechtenstein at home in the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League on 5 September 2024. Nicko Sensoli scored in the 53rd minute to make it 1–0. San Marino held on to win 1–0. This was their first competitive win since joining FIFA and UEFA. After a loss to Gibraltar and a 1–1 draw against the same team, San Marino was second in their group. They could move up to League C if they beat Liechtenstein away.

On 18 November 2024, San Marino played Liechtenstein in Vaduz. They were losing 1–0 at halftime. But after the break, Lorenzo Lazzari quickly scored to make it 1–1. In the 66th minute, San Marino got a penalty, and Nicola Nanni scored to give them a 2–1 lead. Ten minutes later, Alessandro Golinucci scored to make it 3–1. This result meant San Marino was promoted to League C! It was the first time San Marino scored more than one goal in a competitive game. It was also their first away win and their first promotion in a major international competition.

Team Information

Kits

Period	Supplier
1990–1994	Admiral
1994–2010	Virma
2011–2017	Adidas
2018–2022	Macron
2022–Present	Erreà

Stadium

San Marino plays home matches at the San Marino Stadium. This stadium is in Serravalle. It can hold 7,000 people. Sometimes, fans from other countries outnumber the local San Marino supporters. For example, in a game against the Republic of Ireland in February 2007, 2,500 of the 3,294 people there were Irish fans.

San Marino has played four "home" matches outside their country. They used the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara in Bologna for World Cup qualifiers in 1993. They also played a UEFA Nations League match in 2020 at the Stadio Romeo Neri in Rimini. A fourth match was played in the Nations League against Kazakhstan in June 2023. This was at Stadio Ennio Tardini because their usual stadium was getting a new field.

Team Reputation

San Marino has the smallest population of any country in UEFA. Their 1–0 friendly win against Liechtenstein in 2004 and two UEFA Nations League wins in 2024 (also against Liechtenstein) are their only victories so far.

Most of the national team players are amateurs. This means they don't play football as their main job. Many of them have other jobs outside of sports. Their 13–0 loss at home against Germany was a European Championship record for a long time. They have also lost by 10 goals or more on seven other occasions.

In the FIFA World Rankings, San Marino is usually the lowest-ranked country in UEFA. Since FIFA rankings started in 1992, San Marino's average position has been 176th.

San Marino held the record for the fastest goal in FIFA World Cup qualifying history for 22 years. This happened when they scored against England after only 8.3 seconds in 1993. England still won that match 7–1.

Because San Marino often struggles, many people see them as football's biggest underdogs. This has led to them gaining many fans online from all over the world. There's even a Twitter account just for covering their games!

Results and Upcoming Matches

Here is a summary of recent and upcoming matches.       Win       Draw       Loss       Fixture

2024 Matches

• 5 September 2024: San Marino 1–0 Liechtenstein (UEFA Nations League) - Win
• 10 September 2024: Moldova 1–0 San Marino (Friendly) - Loss
• 10 October 2024: Gibraltar 1–0 San Marino (UEFA Nations League) - Loss
• 13 October 2024: Andorra 2–0 San Marino (Friendly) - Loss
• 15 November 2024: San Marino 1–1 Gibraltar (UEFA Nations League) - Draw
• 18 November 2024: Liechtenstein 1–3 San Marino (UEFA Nations League) - Win

2025 Matches

• 21 March 2025: Cyprus 2–0 San Marino (FIFA World Cup qualification) - Loss
• 24 March 2025: San Marino 1–5 Romania (FIFA World Cup qualification) - Loss
• 7 June 2025: Bosnia and Herzegovina 1–0 San Marino (FIFA World Cup qualification) - Loss
• 10 June 2025: San Marino 0–4 Austria (FIFA World Cup qualification) - Loss
• 2 August 2025: Modena FC vs. San Marino (Hybrid match) - Fixture
• 6 September 2025: San Marino vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina (FIFA World Cup qualification) - Fixture
• 9 September 2025: San Marino vs. TBD (Friendly) - Fixture
• 9 October 2025: Austria vs. San Marino (FIFA World Cup qualification) - Fixture
• 12 October 2025: San Marino vs. Cyprus (FIFA World Cup qualification) - Fixture
• 15 November 2025: San Marino vs. TBD (Friendly) - Fixture
• 18 November 2025: Romania vs. San Marino (FIFA World Cup qualification) - Fixture

Coaching Staff

Current technical staff:

Manager History

Manager	Nat.	Start	End	Matches	Won	Draw	Lost
Casali, GiulioGiulio Casali		28 March 1986	20 September 1987	6	0	2	4
Leoni, GiorgioGiorgio Leoni		14 November 1990	15 November 1995	29	0	1	28
Bonini, MassimoMassimo Bonini		2 June 1996	10 September 1997	8	0	0	8
Mazza, GiampaoloGiampaolo Mazza		10 October 1998	15 October 2013	85	1	2	82
Manzaroli, PierangeloPierangelo Manzaroli		8 June 2014	8 October 2017	28	0	1	27
Varrella, FrancoFranco Varrella		8 September 2018	28 November 2021	34	0	2	32
Costantini, FabrizioFabrizio Costantini		28 November 2021	12 December 2023	20	0	2	18
Cevoli, RobertoRoberto Cevoli		15 December 2023	present	14	2	2	10

Players

Current Squad

The following players have been called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Austria on 7 and 10 June 2025.

Caps and goals are correct as of 10 June 2025, after the match against Austria.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Edoardo Colombo	(2001-01-24) 24 January 2001 (age 24)	13	0	Forlì
13	1GK	Matteo Zavoli	(1996-07-06) 6 July 1996 (age 29)	1	0	La Fiorita
16	1GK	Pietro Amici	(2004-01-27) 27 January 2004 (age 21)	1	0	Fossombrone
2	2DF	Giacomo Benvenuti	(2006-02-03) 3 February 2006 (age 19)	9	0	Sassuolo U19
3	2DF	Tommaso Benvenuti	(2006-02-03) 3 February 2006 (age 19)	9	0	Sassuolo U19
4	2DF	Filippo Fabbri	(2002-01-07) 7 January 2002 (age 23)	32	1	Victor San Marino
5	2DF	Michele Cevoli	(1998-07-22) 22 July 1998 (age 27)	31	0	Juvenes/Dogana
6	2DF	Dante Rossi	(1987-07-12) 12 July 1987 (age 38)	36	0	Tropical Coriano
9	2DF	Giacomo Matteoni	(2002-04-11) 11 April 2002 (age 23)	0	0	Pietracuta
12	2DF	Alberto Riccardi	(2006-10-01) 1 October 2006 (age 18)	3	0	La Fiorita
14	2DF	Giacomo Valentini	(2001-06-26) 26 June 2001 (age 24)	6	0	Juvenes/Dogana
15	2DF	Marco Pasolini	(2003-04-26) 26 April 2003 (age 22)	3	0	Pietracuta
8	3MF	Lorenzo Capicchioni	(2002-01-19) 19 January 2002 (age 23)	18	0	Pietracuta
11	3MF	Andrea Contadini	(2002-08-18) 18 August 2002 (age 23)	14	0	Pietracuta
17	3MF	Alessandro Golinucci	(1994-10-10) 10 October 1994 (age 30)	61	2	Virtus
18	3MF	Samuele Zannoni	(2002-04-29) 29 April 2002 (age 23)	10	1	Pietracuta
21	3MF	Lorenzo Lazzari	(2003-06-06) 6 June 2003 (age 22)	18	2	Victor San Marino
22	3MF	Marcello Mularoni	(1998-09-08) 8 September 1998 (age 26)	48	0	Cosmos
23	3MF	Matteo Valli Casadei	(2005-06-01) 1 June 2005 (age 20)	10	0	Vanchiglia
7	4FW	Gabriel Capicchioni	(2006-05-12) 12 May 2006 (age 19)	1	0	Rimini U19
10	4FW	Nicola Nanni	(2000-05-02) 2 May 2000 (age 25)	46	3	Torres
19	4FW	Nicolas Giacopetti	(2006-06-05) 5 June 2006 (age 19)	9	0	San Marino Academy
20	4FW	Nicko Sensoli	(2005-06-14) 14 June 2005 (age 20)	13	1	Tre Fiori

Recent Call-ups

The following players have been called up within the last 12 months and can still play for the team.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Fabio Borasco	(2005-09-18) 18 September 2005 (age 19)	0	0	San Marino Academy	Training Stage, February 2025
GK	Davide Colonna	(2000-11-10) 10 November 2000 (age 24)	0	0	Domagnano	Training Stage, February 2025
GK	Mirco De Angelis	(2000-03-03) 3 March 2000 (age 25)	0	0	Virtus	v.  Gibraltar, 15 November 2024
DF	Alessandro Tosi	(2001-04-08) 8 April 2001 (age 24)	24	0	Victor San Marino	v.  Romania, 24 March 2025
DF	Matteo Guidi	(2006-08-04) 4 August 2006 (age 19)	0	0	Santarcangelo U19	Training Stage, February 2025
DF	Matteo Sammaritani	(2009-07-07) 7 July 2009 (age 16)	0	0	Rimini U19	Training Stage, February 2025
DF	Filippo Terni	(2009-03-01) 1 March 2009 (age 16)	0	0	Cesena U19	Training Stage, February 2025
DF	Riccardo Zafferani	(2006-05-22) 22 May 2006 (age 19)	0	0	San Marino Academy	Training Stage, February 2025
DF	Simone Franciosi	(2001-09-03) 3 September 2001 (age 23)	10	1	Arcella	v.  Liechtenstein, 18 November 2024
DF	Alessandro D'Addario	(1997-09-09) 9 September 1997 (age 27)	34	0	Tre Penne	v.  Moldova, 10 September 2024
DF	Mirko Palazzi	(1987-03-21) 21 March 1987 (age 38)	75	1	Tre Penne	Training Stage, August 2024
DF	Andrea Magi	(2001-02-03) 3 February 2001 (age 24)	3	0	Diegaro	Training Stage, August 2024
DF	Alberto Guerra	(2004-01-13) 13 January 2004 (age 21)	0	0	Tre Fiori	Training Stage, August 2024
MF	Simone Giocondi	(2002-04-28) 28 April 2002 (age 23)	3	1	Tivoli	v.  Romania, 24 March 2025
MF	Simone Tamagnini	(2008-01-17) 17 January 2008 (age 17)	0	0	San Marino Academy	v.  Romania, 24 March 2025
MF	Tommy Cervellini	(2006-08-04) 4 August 2006 (age 19)	0	0	San Marino Academy	Training Stage, February 2025
MF	Nicolò Chiaruzzi	(2005-10-28) 28 October 2005 (age 19)	0	0	Fiorentino	Training Stage, February 2025
MF	Luca Pennacchini	(2008-05-12) 12 May 2008 (age 17)	0	0	San Marino Academy	Training Stage, February 2025
MF	Enrico Golinucci	(1991-07-16) 16 July 1991 (age 34)	43	0	Folgore	v.  Liechtenstein, 18 November 2024
MF	Michael Battistini	(1996-10-08) 8 October 1996 (age 28)	31	0	Tre Penne	v.  Liechtenstein, 18 November 2024
MF	Giacomo Molinari	(2005-03-20) 20 March 2005 (age 20)	0	0	San Marino Academy	v.  Andorra, 13 October 2024
FW	Fausto Salicioni	(2006-01-20) 20 January 2006 (age 19)	0	0	Virtus Entella	v.  Bosnia and Herzegovina, 7 June 2025
FW	Matteo Vitaioli (captain)	(1989-10-27) 27 October 1989 (age 35)	97	1	La Fiorita	v.  Romania, 24 March 2025
FW	Filippo Berardi	(1997-05-18) 18 May 1997 (age 28)	35	3	Vibonese	v.  Romania, 24 March 2025
FW	Simone Santi	(2004-05-03) 3 May 2004 (age 21)	1	0	San Marino Academy	v.  Romania, 24 March 2025
FW	Giacomo Grandoni	(2008-01-22) 22 January 2008 (age 17)	0	0	San Marino Academy	Training Stage, February 2025
INJ Withdrew due to injury PRE Preliminary squad / standby RET Retired from the national team SUS Serving suspension WD Player withdrew from the squad due to a non-injury issue.

Player Records

Players in bold are still active with San Marino.

Most Games Played

Matteo Vitaioli has played the most games for San Marino with 97 caps.

Top Goal Scorers

Andy Selva is San Marino's all-time top scorer with 8 goals.

Tournament Records

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup Record		Qualification Record
Year		Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930 to 1986		Not a FIFA member								Not a FIFA member
1990		Did not enter								Did not enter
1994		Did not qualify								10	0	1	9	2	46
1998										8	0	0	8	0	42
2002										8	0	1	7	3	30
2006										10	0	0	10	2	40
2010										10	0	0	10	1	47
2014										10	0	0	10	1	54
2018										10	0	0	10	2	51
2022										10	0	0	10	1	46
2026		To be determined								4	0	0	4	1	12
2030										To be determined
2034
Total		—	0/9	–	–	–	–	–	–	80	0	2	78	13	368

UEFA European Championship

UEFA European Championship Record										Qualification Record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1960	Declined participation									Declined participation
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992	Did not qualify									8	0	0	8	1	33
1996										10	0	0	10	2	36
2000										8	0	0	8	1	44
2004										8	0	0	8	0	30
2008										12	0	0	12	2	57
2012										10	0	0	10	0	53
2016										10	0	1	9	1	36
2020										10	0	0	10	1	51
2024										10	0	0	10	3	31
2028	To be determined									To be determined
2032
Total	0/17	—	–	–	–	–	–	–		86	0	1	85	11	371

UEFA Nations League

UEFA Nations League Record
League phase													Finals
Season	LG	Grp	Pos.	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	P/R	RK		Year	Pos.	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Squad
2018–19	D	2	4th	6	0	0	6	0	16		55th		2019	Did not qualify
2020–21	D	2	3rd	4	0	2	2	0	3		54th		2021
2022–23	D	2	3rd	4	0	0	4	0	9		54th		2023
2024–25	D	1	1st	4	2	1	1	5	3		50th		2025
2026–27	C	To be determined											2027
Total				18	2	3	13	5	31	50th		Total		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Mediterranean Games

Mediterranean Games Record
Year	Round	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1951–1983	did not enter
1987	Group stage	3	0	1	2	0	7
1991–present	See San Marino national under-23 team
Total	1/1	3	0	1	2	0	7

All-Time Record

As of 10 June 2025 San Marino national football team results

See also

In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de San Marino para niños

• Sport in San Marino
  • Football in San Marino
• San Marino Football Federation
• San Marino national football B team
• San Marino national under-21 football team
• San Marino national under-19 football team
• San Marino national under-17 football team
• San Marino women's national football team