Our prediction for this World Cup 2026 match:
Cyprus
Match Time & Date:
21/03/2025
18:00
Prediction: 3-0
San Marino
Cyprus will look to kickstart their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign in style when they face San Marino on Friday evening. Cyprus suffered a heavy 4-1 loss to Romania in their last competitive match, but they are seen as hot favourites to beat the minnows on home soil. Bear in mind, though, that both Konstantinos Laifis and Andreas Karo are available for selection as suspensions in the Nations League do not carry over to the World Cup qualifiers.
The Sammarinese, on the other hand, have always been serving as a cannon fodder for their rivals in qualifiers for major competitions. Even though San Marino shocked Liechtenstein (3-1) in their last UEFA Nations League game, we are tempted to place our bets on Cyprus, who are a real force to be reckoned with at home. Speaking of the away team, there are no fresh injury worries ahead of the trip to Larnaca.
Highlighted Team (Cyprus):
Cyprus’ first match took place back in July, 1949, only one year after they became a member of FIFA. The Cypriotes played out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Maccabi Tel Aviv and seven days later they played their first international game. Cyprus suffered a 3-1 loss to Israel in Tel Aviv back then and in November, 1960 they had their first official match as an independent country.
The Cyprus national football team shared the spoils with Israel in the 1962 World Cup qualifier and three years later they recorded their first international win (3-1 over Greece). Cyprus suffered their biggest loss on May 21, 1969, with the team losing to West Germany 12-0 and in 2000 they hammered Andorra 5-0 which is considered the team’s biggest win.
The Cypriotes have yet to qualify for the finals of the FIFA World Cup or the European Championship, but their victory over Bosnia in Zenica in the Euro 2016 qualifiers will be remembered. GSP Stadium in Nicosia is considered the national team’s home ground.
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Dunkerque 
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