They’re the punching bags of Europe. The perennial underdogs. The guys who show up to every tournament qualifying round knowing, with almost 100% certainty, that they are going to lose. San Marino is often the butt of the joke in football circles, sitting stubbornly at the bottom of the FIFA rankings—210th out of 210.
But 2024 changed everything.
If you haven't been paying attention to the San Marino national football team lately, you’ve missed one of the most absurdly wholesome arcs in sports history. This isn't just about a tiny microstate getting thrashed by Germany or England anymore. It’s about a group of PE teachers, accountants, and students who finally, after twenty years of heartbreak, tasted blood.
The Night the Losing Stopped
September 5, 2024. Write it down. It’s basically a national holiday in San Marino now.
Before that night, the team hadn't won a game since 2004. Think about that for a second. An entire generation of fans had grown up without ever seeing their country win a match. Their only previous victory was a 1-0 friendly win over Liechtenstein.
Then came the UEFA Nations League opener against—who else?—Liechtenstein.
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Nineteen-year-old Nicko Sensoli became an instant legend in the 53rd minute. He pounced on a defensive lapse, poked the ball home, and sparked a level of chaos in the San Marino Stadium that you usually only see at a World Cup final. They won 1-0. It was their first-ever competitive win in 34 years of trying.
Honestly, the scenes were surreal. Players crying. Fans storming the pitch. The "worst" team in the world had just done the impossible.
The Stats Nobody Talks About
People love to bring up the 13-0 loss to Germany in 2006. It’s a classic "LOL San Marino" moment. But if you look closer at the San Marino national football team, the gap is actually closing. They aren't getting hit for double digits nearly as often as they used to.
Under coach Roberto Cevoli, they’ve found a weird kind of defensive grit.
Take a look at their recent form:
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- The Second Win: Just two months after the first victory, they beat Liechtenstein again on November 18, 2024. This time it was a 3-1 comeback away from home.
- Promotion: Those wins actually earned them promotion to Nations League Group C.
- Goal Scoring: They went from barely scoring once a year to netting goals in three consecutive competitive games late in 2023 against Denmark, Kazakhstan, and Finland.
The legendary Andy Selva still holds the record for most goals with eight. That might sound tiny to a Brazil or France fan, but for the Titani, those eight goals represent decades of defiance.
Why They Keep Playing
You’ve gotta wonder what keeps these guys going. Most of them aren't "pros" in the way we think of millionaire athletes.
Captain Matteo Vitaioli has over 100 caps. He’s spent most of his life getting beat on grass. He once told the BBC that the sacrifice is worth it just for the honor of representing your home country on the international stage.
It’s about the shirt.
In a world where football is increasingly dominated by oil money and super-leagues, San Marino is the last bastion of "for the love of the game." There is no ego when you're 210th in the world. There’s just the hope that maybe, just maybe, you’ll catch a giant napping.
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Myths vs. Reality
One big misconception is that the team is made up of "randoms" found at a local pub. That's a bit of an exaggeration. While many have day jobs, the coaching has become significantly more professional.
They play in the San Marino Stadium in Serravalle. It only holds about 6,600 people.
When big teams like England or Italy visit, the stadium is basically full of tourists and away fans. But the local "Brigata Mai 1 Una Gioia" (The "Never a Joy" Brigade) are the real ones. They’ve stuck by a team that, until recently, had a losing streak that would make most fans quit the sport entirely.
What’s Next for the Titani?
The San Marino national football team is no longer just a "gimme" game for the rest of Europe. Sure, they’re still going to lose to the big dogs. They recently took a 10-0 hit from Austria in late 2025 during European Qualifiers. That’s just the reality of a country with 33,000 people.
But in the Nations League? They’re competitive.
If you want to follow their journey, here is what you should do:
- Watch the Nations League Group C matches: This is where they’ll face teams closer to their level.
- Follow the social media hype: The San Marino fan accounts are some of the funniest, most self-deprecating corners of the internet.
- Appreciate the small wins: A 0-0 draw against a team like Gibraltar is a massive result for this squad.
The story of San Marino isn't about trophies. It’s about the refusal to go away. Every time they score a goal, no matter the scoreline, it feels like a victory for every underdog everywhere. That’s why the world keeps watching.