San Marino national football team facts for kids
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| Nickname(s) | La Serenissima | |||
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| Association | Federazione Sammarinese Giuoco Calcio (FSGC) | |||
| Confederation | UEFA (Europe) | |||
| Head coach | Roberto Cevoli | |||
| Captain | Matteo Vitaioli | |||
| Most caps | Matteo Vitaioli (98) | |||
| Top scorer | Andy Selva (8) | |||
| Home stadium | San Marino Stadium | |||
| FIFA code | SMR | |||
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| FIFA ranking | ||||
| Current | 211  (7 February 2019) |
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| Highest | 118 (September 1993) | |||
| Lowest | 211 (November 2018 – July 2019, March 2022 – July 2023) | |||
| Elo ranking | ||||
| Current | 204  1 (3 March 2019) |
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| 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) |
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| Biggest win | ||||
 Liechtenstein 1–3 San Marino  (Vaduz, Liechtenstein; 18 November 2024) |
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| Biggest defeat | ||||
San Marino 0–13 Germany  (Serravalle, San Marino; 6 September 2006) |
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| Mediterranean Games | ||||
| Appearances | 4 (first in 1987) | |||
| Best result | Seventh place (1987) | |||
The San Marino national football team represents San Marino in international football. This team is managed by the San Marino Football Federation. San Marino is the smallest country by population in UEFA, the European football organization. They are known for being one of the lowest-ranked teams in the world.
Since they started playing, San Marino has won three official matches. Their first official game was a 4–0 loss to Switzerland in 1990. Their first competitive win happened on September 5, 2024, when they beat Liechtenstein 1–0 in the UEFA Nations League. They won again against Liechtenstein on November 18, 2024, with a score of 3–1. This win was special because it was the first time they scored more than one goal in a competitive match. It also helped them move up to League C in the Nations League.
Contents
History of San Marino Football
How the Team Started
The San Marino Football Federation was created in 1931. However, the national team did not play its first unofficial game until 1986. They lost 1–0 to the Canada U-23 team. In 1988, San Marino joined FIFA and UEFA. This allowed them to play in big international tournaments. Before this, players from San Marino were considered Italian in international football.
Early Matches and First Points
San Marino's first official match was against Switzerland on November 14, 1990. It was a qualifier for the 1992 European Championships, and San Marino lost 4–0. They lost all their other games in that tournament. They scored only one goal, which was a penalty kick.
In their first FIFA World Cup qualifying games, San Marino played against strong teams like England and the Netherlands. On March 10, 1993, they earned their first-ever point by drawing 0–0 against Turkey. In a game against England, Davide Gualtieri scored a goal in just 8.3 seconds. This was the fastest goal in World Cup qualifying history at the time.
First Away Point and First Win
In April 2001, San Marino achieved their first away point. They drew 1–1 with Latvia in Riga. This was a big moment for the team.
On April 28, 2004, San Marino won their first match ever. After more than 70 attempts, they beat Liechtenstein 1–0 in a friendly game. Andy Selva scored the winning goal.
Tough Times and New Records
On September 6, 2006, San Marino had their biggest loss. They were defeated 13–0 at home by Germany. This was a record for the European Championship qualifiers until 2023.
On September 10, 2013, Alessandro Della Valle scored San Marino's first competitive goal in five years. It was against Poland in a World Cup qualifier.
On November 15, 2014, San Marino drew 0–0 at home against Estonia. This ended a 61-match losing streak and gave them their first point in a European Championship qualifier.
Recent Successes and Underdog Status
On October 13, 2020, San Marino had their fourth competitive draw. They tied 0–0 with Liechtenstein in the UEFA Nations League. A month later, they drew 0–0 with Gibraltar. This was the first time they earned more than one point in a major tournament. It was also the first time they went two competitive games without losing or letting in a goal.
On October 17, 2023, San Marino scored against Denmark in a 1–2 loss. They scored again against Kazakhstan and Finland shortly after. This was the first time San Marino scored in three games in a row.
On March 20, 2024, they scored in four straight games for the first time. They took a 1–0 lead against Saint Kitts and Nevis, but eventually lost 3–1. Four days later, they drew 0–0 with Saint Kitts, ending a 12-game losing streak.
On September 5, 2024, San Marino made history. They beat Liechtenstein 1–0 in the UEFA Nations League. This was their first competitive win since joining FIFA and UEFA. Nicko Sensoli scored the only goal.
On November 18, 2024, San Marino beat Liechtenstein again, this time 3–1 away from home. This win promoted them to League C of the Nations League. It was their first away win and the first time they scored more than two goals in any match.
San Marino is often seen as football's biggest underdog. Because of this, they have gained many fans online from all over the world.
Team Kits and Home Stadium
Team Kits
The San Marino national team has had several kit suppliers over the years.
| Period | Supplier |
|---|---|
| 1990–1994 |  Admiral |
| 1994–2010 |  Virma |
| 2011–2017 | Adidas |
| 2018–2022 | Macron |
| 2022–Present | Erreà |
Home Stadium
San Marino plays its home games at the San Marino Stadium. This stadium is in Serravalle and can hold 7,000 people. Even though the crowds are usually small, there is a fan group called "Brigata Mai 1 Gioia." This group is mostly made up of Italians who support San Marino. Sometimes, fans from the visiting team outnumber the local supporters.
Players and Records
Current Coaching Staff
Here are the people who help coach the San Marino national football team:
| Head coach | Roberto Cevoli |
| Technical assistant | Leandro Vessella |
| Fitness coach | Ivan Celli |
| Goalkeeping coach | Carlo Magnani |
| Team doctor | Roberto Venturini |
| Physiotherapist | Marco Pelaccia |
| Physiotherapist | Federico Proli |
| Masseur | Tiziano Giacobbi |
| Official accompanying | Michele Raschi |
| Match analyst | Mattia Rizzo |
| Warehouseman | Benito Ballato
Marco Crescentini Mauro Montanari |
Most Capped Players
These players have played the most games for San Marino.
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| Rank | Player | Caps | Goals | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matteo Vitaioli | 98 | 1 | 2007–present |
| 2 | Mirko Palazzi | 75 | 1 | 2005–present |
| 3 | Andy Selva | 73 | 8 | 1998–2016 |
| 4 | Davide Simoncini | 69 | 0 | 2006–2021 |
| Damiano Vannucci | 69 | 0 | 1996–2012 | |
| 6 | Alessandro Della Valle | 65 | 1 | 2002–2017 |
| Aldo Junior Simoncini | 65 | 0 | 2006–2023 | |
| 8 | Simone Bacciocchi | 60 | 0 | 1998–2013 |
| Adolfo Hirsch | 60 | 0 | 2011–2023 | |
| 10 | Alessandro Golinucci | 57 | 2 | 2015–present |
Top Goalscorers
These players have scored the most goals for San Marino.
| Rank | Player | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andy Selva | 8 | 73 | 0.11 | 1998–2016 |
| 2 | Filippo Berardi | 3 | 33 | 0.09 | 2016–present |
| Nicola Nanni | 3 | 42 | 0.07 | 2018–present | |
| 4 | Lorenzo Lazzari | 2 | 16 | 0.13 | 2022–present |
| Manuel Marani | 2 | 32 | 0.06 | 2003–2012 | |
| Alessandro Golinucci | 2 | 57 | 0.04 | 2015–present |
Images for kids
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Team picture of the San Marino national football team before their match against Slovakia (2024)
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See also
In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de San Marino para niños
