GENEVA — The team currently at the bottom of the FIFA rankings for men’s soccer is inching closer to securing a spot in the qualifying playoffs for the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in North America.

San Marino, holding the 210th position in the rankings, achieved a remarkable feat this year, culminating in a 3-1 victory over Liechtenstein on Monday, which ensured they topped their UEFA Nations League group.

This was San Marino’s second victory against Liechtenstein, with the first win coming in September and marking an end to a daunting two-decade streak without a win in any match for a team that has recorded no victories, two draws, and 76 losses in World Cup qualifiers over the past 30 years.

Following the game’s conclusion, Marco Tura, president of the San Marino soccer federation, expressed his emotions, saying, “I even cried among the boys, I hugged the captain and it was an incredible thing.” The win marked several milestones for the small landlocked country, which has a population of less than 35,000.

The changes in the UEFA qualifying format have potentially opened the door for San Marino to participate in the next World Cup. The adjustments provide an incentive for teams winning a Nations League group, even those in the lowest tier.

If San Marino’s results align favorably during the World Cup’s European qualifying groups next year, the possibility of them advancing to the 16-team playoffs in March 2026 becomes real.

While reaching the tournament hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico remains a dream, the achievement of winning their Nations League group was celebrated, with congratulations also flowing in from FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

The victory against Liechtenstein concluded their participation in a three-team round-robin group that included Gibraltar, which was at the top of the table before the match in Vaduz.

Trailing 1-0 at halftime was a concerning sign for San Marino, as this was a team that had never come from behind to secure a win in their 34-year history of international soccer.

However, the tide changed in the second half as goals from Lorenzo Lazzari, who scored in the 46th minute, a penalty from Nicola Nanni in the 66th, and a composed strike from substitute Alessandro Golinucci in the 76th minute turned the match around.

“They have shown incredible values, going behind, coming back,” Tura stated. “It’s the first time we win a match by coming from behind, it is the first time we score more than one goal in a competitive match, it’s the first time we get to the next stage, I think there’s little left to say.”

There remains potential for an even bigger story to unfold.

By winning the group, San Marino has been promoted to the third tier of the Nations League, which will commence in September 2026 after the next World Cup. Europe will send 16 teams to the inaugural 48-team tournament.

On December 13 in Zurich, FIFA will conduct a complicated draw for the 12 European qualifying groups, with San Marino in the lowest-ranked team category, as expected.

The 12 winners from these groups will qualify for the World Cup, while the six runners-up and four Nations League group winners will move to the playoffs. The playoffs format will involve knockout brackets, each featuring four teams engaged in single-leg matches, with victors earning a World Cup spot.

This week, 16 Nations League groups completed their seasons, and many of their winners, such as Spain, Germany, France, and Portugal, are anticipated to perform well in their World Cup qualifying groups.

If 12 of the 16 groups, which include teams like Norway, Turkey, Sweden, and Romania, secure top placements in qualifying, then there’s a pathway for San Marino.

The creation of the Nations League a decade ago aimed to enhance competitiveness among UEFA member countries by providing them with valuable matches against similarly ranked teams.

Recent examples include North Macedonia, which used a Nations League playoff spot to qualify for the 2020 European Championship, and Georgia, which had a memorable debut at Euro 2024.

Although the chances for San Marino to reach the World Cup are still slim, the prospect is closer than it has ever been.