Getty Image / Giuseppe Maffia/DeFodi Images
With the UEFA Nations League matches taking place across the pond, the tiny landlocked nation of San Marino, the fifth smallest nation on Earth, just won its first competitive soccer match in the country’s history.
Going into San Marino’s match against Liechtenstein on Thursday they were ranked 210 out of 210 in FIFA’s country rankings. Only ‘unranked’ Eritrea was behind them. But when the dust had settled on the match, San Marino won 1-0 and made history.
They had gone winless in all matches since April of 2004 and they had NEVER won a competitive match, meaning a match with actual implications/non-friendly.
🇸🇲 SAN MARINO WIN A GAME FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 20+ YEARS & A COMPETITIVE MATCH FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!!!
History is made as the worst team in the FIFA rankings (210th) finally end the longest winless run in international football history (140 games dating back to April 2004)!!! pic.twitter.com/xbB3M2WQUE
— The Sweeper (@SweeperPod) September 5, 2024
With the win, San Marino’s all-time record improved to 2-10-199. And it is worth mentioning that Liechtenstein wasn’t ranked much better by FIFA and sits 199th in the rankings, sandwiched between Gibraltar and Tonga.
🚨 THIS IS NOT A DRILL. SAN MARINO WIN A COMPETITIVE MATCH FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER! 🚨
It's victory and SCENES at the full-time whistle! 🇸🇲#NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/eZ0bBJuyz2
— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) September 5, 2024
It is hard to fathom having *never* won a competitive match in your continent’s most popular sport but when the country in question is so tiny that the city of Barcelona is 1.67x larger, I guess it makes sense. Either way, big ups to San Marino for finally getting it done. I hope they went wild with celebrations overnight.