Famously, the lowest-ranked nation in the world, according to the FIFA world rankings. San Marino has long been adrift in last place, almost to the amusement of people around the world. But why are they cemented to the bottom? Are they showing signs of improvement? What of the domestic football league?

Domestic Football

Let us start with that domestic football league. The micronation only has one division in football, the Campionato Sammarinese di Calcio (Sammarinese Football Championship). No relegations or promotions and a league consisting of 16 teams. This is somewhat surprising, given that the nation is so small. Being able to field 16 teams is impressive. For example, fellow micronations have different approaches to league football. Monaco is a club side and instead plays in the French football league, to great success. Liechtenstein clubs all play in the Swiss football system, as there is no football league system in place in the nation.

Unsurprisingly, Sammarinese clubs have not fared well on the European stages. Tre Fiori are the most successful club domestically with eight league titles, but have only ever reached the 2nd qualifying round, once in the Europa League, where they lost to Riga FC from Latvia and then again in the Conference League, where they fell to a 1-0 defeat over two legs to Faroese side B36 Tórshavn. They may be the most successful domestically, but they have been beaten by AC Virtus on the European stage.

AC Virtus have only won the domestic league on two occasions, but in the qualification for the 2025/26 UEFA Conference League, they made history. Receiving a bye in the 2nd qualifying round to set up a 3rd round tie with Milsami Orhei from Moldova. A 5-3 victory over two legs saw them become the first side from San Marino to reach the play-off round. Unfortunately, this is where the story ends. A 5-2 defeat to Icelandic side Breidablik left them out of Europe. Winners of the league qualify for the Champions League preliminary round, with runners-up being placed in the Conference League preliminary round. The domestic cup winners also join the runners-up in this round.

International Football

Turning attention to the national team, San Marino played their first ever game in 1986. The game was unofficial but is regarded as their first match. A 1-0 defeat to the Canadian Olympic team. The first competitive game came in 1990, again falling to defeat, which would become common, against Switzerland 4-0. A difficult start to life in international football, but there are bright spots amongst the darkness.

For 27 years, San Marino held a record in FIFA. The fastest goal scored in the World Cup. Of course, this was in qualifying, as they have never made it to the mainstage. Davide Gualtieri scored after just 8.3 seconds against England in 1993, a goal that shocked the footballing world. Albeit they did succumb to a 7-1 defeat in that game. This record has since been broken by Christian Benteke of Belgium after scoring in just 8.1 seconds against Gibraltar in 2016.

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In the same qualifying cycle, the micronation made further history. Achieving their first point in group stage history, a very respectable 0-0 draw with Turkey. It wasn’t until 2002, in a game against Latvia, that they would replicate another draw. A further draw away to Liechtenstein, another positive result, even if this was a friendly. What happened next, though, was the moment they had waited for. In 2004, a home friendly against Liechtenstein again. A historic 1-0 win, a moment for all Sammarinese people to celebrate. A win that was 18 years in the making, a win that would never be forgotten and perhaps the start of a friendly rivalry between the two nations.

A few draws in the following years, with the highlight being the draw against Estonia. It wasn’t until 2024, 20 years later, that San Marino would taste victory again. This occurred in the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League group stages. Grouped with rivals Liechtenstein and Gibraltar. The Italian enclave was victorious in its opening game; once again, the old foe Liechtenstein was the victim. A 1-0 victory followed by a defeat and a draw to Gibraltar. Four points after three games, unheard of for all Sammarinese people. This put San Marino in an unfamiliar position, on the edge of promotion from their group. Dreams do come true in this story as well, a 3-1 win over the old foe, leaving the perennial underdogs top of the group and claiming the most unlikely of group titles.

*San Marino Celebrate A Goal Against Liechtenstein*

Every neutral willed this to be the catalyst for the micronation to push on and become that plucky underdog, but unfortunately, it hasn’t become the tale we all wanted it to be. Succumbing to defeat in every game since, including a 10-0 hammering from Austria.

Is the future looking bright for the Sammarinese? Difficult to say, the national team are hugely unlikely to win any of their games in the Nations League after their promotion. However, with domestic clubs reaching the furthest point ever in European club competition qualifying, there are signs of domestic progress.

A tale of misfortune, perhaps, but every football fan romanticises about the idea of San Marino winning games, the world’s ‘worst’ national football team. Maybe a bit harsh, with progressions in the domestic game, don’t be surprised if San Marino lift themselves off the bottom of the FIFA rankings in the not-so-distant future.

Written and Researched by BSc Cavan Campbell

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