CYPRUS LEARNS DRAW FOR 2026 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

UEFA, in conjunction with FIFA have conducted the draw for the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, to be co-hosted by the three North American countries of Canada, Mexico and the United States of America. Cyprus have been drawn into Group H with Austria, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and San Marino.

The campaign will begin in March, the first match is on the 21st at home to San Marino, the venue yet to be determined, but since October 2021, the Cypriot national team have usually called the Giorgos Karapatakis AEK Arena in Larnaca home. The group winner qualifies, and the second place team will be placed into a playoff.

Let’s have a look at each team, and how Cyprus have fared against them in the past.

Austria are the Pot 1 team, and as far as Pot 1 teams, one of the more favorable draws Cyprus could have gotten. Nonetheless, they are currently ranked #22 in the FIFA rankings. Though they’ve been at the last three Euros, they are still seeking to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1998, and therefore, they will be on a mission. Cyprus have never officially beaten Austria before. In seven previous meetings, the only time Cyprus didn’t lose was in their most recent meeting in 2005, a 1-1 draw at the old Tsirion Stadio in Limassol. Cyprus actually won that match on penalties as part of the now defunct Cyprus Invitational Tournament, but FIFA records matches decided by extra time or penalties as draws.

The Pot 2 team in this group are Romania. Unlike Austria, it has not been long since Cyprus have last seen them. Their most recent match was a 4-1 loss in Romania in Bucharest last month. Romania are ranked #38 in the FIFA rankings. They were also at UEFA Euro 2024 and acquitted themselves decently, but also are looking to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since the 1998 edition in France. In 15 all-time meetings, Cyprus have beaten Romania once, drew them three times, Romania won the other 11, including both in the most recent UEFA Nations League group stage.

From Pot 3 in this group is Bosnia-Herzegovina. Cyprus have actually fared well against the Bosnians, two wins and two losses in four previous meetings, which is impressive as Bosnia-Herzegovina are consistently higher than Cyprus in the FIFA rankings. Cyprus defeated them in 2014, a 2-1 away win in Zenica in UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying, and a 3-2 come from behind win in Nicosia in 2017 in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup. The losses came in 2015 and 2016, each as part of the aforementioned campaigns. Bosnia-Herzegovina have fallen down the FIFA rankings in recent years, but at #74 are still ranked well above Cyprus.

Rounding out the group from Pot 5 is San Marino. San Marino are ranked last in the FIFA rankings at #210, and Cyprus are a perfect 7-0 against them all-time. Despite all that, even against San Marino, these might not be automatic wins as they have been in the past. San Marino have showed signs of improvement, earning a pair of wins against Liechtenstein in the UEFA Nations League, and earning promotion to League C. Cyprus last played them in June of this year, and won 4-1 in a friendly in San Marino.

So, while this group could have been a lot worse, it goes without saying that Cyprus will have their work cut out for them to qualify for their first ever major tournament. Sofronis Avgousti is renowned for his ability to motivate, and he will do his best to inspire Cyprus to compete as best they can. It seems unlikely that Cyprus will be making their way to North America in the summer of 2026, but that’s why they play the games.

Andrew Mantzas

Twitter: @MantzasNC