The Matchday 1 qualifier for the 2026 FIFA World Cup between Cyprus and San Marino will take place on March 21 at the Georgios Karapatakis Stadium in Larnaca. Cyprus vs. San Marino: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Cyprus National Team
The team performed poorly in the previous World Cup qualifier, finishing fifth in their group, ahead of Malta only on goal difference. Over ten matches, Cyprus managed to score just four goals—only Liechtenstein and San Marino had fewer in the entire European qualification. It's also noteworthy that Cyprus lost 6 of their last 7 matches in the World Cup qualifiers.
- The team has not won 5 of their last 6 home matches in World Cup qualifiers.
- At least one opponent failed to score in 4 of Cyprus's last 5 home matches in this qualifier.
- Cyprus has not scored more than one goal in 10 of their last 13 home qualification matches for the World Cup.
Predicted lineup for Cyprus (4-4-2)
Dimitris Dimitriou – Andreas Karo, Stelios Andreou, Christos Shelis, Anderson Correia – Loizos Loizou, Charalambos Charalambous, Kostakis Artymatas, Andronikos Kakoullis – Marinos Tzionis, Ruel Sotiriou.
Defender Konstantinos Laifis will not play due to suspension. Notably, the team will play their first match under new coach Apostolos Mantzios.
San Marino National Team
In the last World Cup qualifier, the team once again finished without any points, losing all ten matches with an overall goal difference of 1:46. San Marino last earned points in a World Cup qualifier back in 2001, and throughout history, they have only avoided defeat in two matches. Additionally, in their last six qualification matches, San Marino lost by at least three goals.
- The team has lost their last 26 away matches in World Cup qualifiers.
- San Marino conceded at least four goals in 9 of their last 10 away matches in this qualifier.
- San Marino conceded in both halves in 9 of their last 10 away World Cup qualification matches.
Predicted lineup for San Marino (4-5-1)
Edoardo Colombo – Giacomo Benvenuti, Michele Cevoli, Dante Carlos Rossi, Filippo Fabbri – Andrea Contadini, Matteo Vitaioli, Marcello Mularoni, Matteo Censoli, Nico Sensoli – Nicola Nanni.
Referee
Andris Treimanis (Lithuania)
Matches – 8 (International matches, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 53;
Average yellow cards per match – 6.6;
Red cards shown – 3;
Average fouls per match – 29;
Penalties – 25%.
Cyprus vs. San Marino: Match Prediction
Even at home, Cyprus rarely delights fans with attacking results. In their last 15 home World Cup qualifiers, the team has only scored more than one goal three times, and in two of those cases, the opponents were weaker teams—Gibraltar and Malta. Meanwhile, the team can play reliably in defense; in the last World Cup qualifying cycle, Cyprus managed not to concede at home against Slovakia and Slovenia.
San Marino scores only on rare occasions—the low level of their players prevents frequent scoring. Over the last 26 away World Cup qualifiers, the team has only managed to score twice, and in the last qualifier, they couldn't break through even Andorra's defense on their home turf.
I do not expect many goals in this match. My prediction: Total under 2.5 goals
Nikolas Panagiotou
Giannis Satsias
Grigoris Kastanos
Neofytos Michail
