Sky Sports Italy wrote that in the 2026 World Cup European qualifiers, an incredible situation occurred: If San Marino, the European powerhouse, wants to advance to the World Cup play-offs, the best strategy is to lose to its opponent Romania with a...
Sky Sports Italy wrote that in the 2026 World Cup European qualifiers, an incredible situation occurred: If San Marino, the European powerhouse, wants to advance to the World Cup play-offs, the best strategy is to lose to its opponent Romania with as wide a margin as possible in the last game.
This is due to the complicated World Cup play-off rules in Europe. The play-off places are filled by the second-placed teams of the 12 qualifiers and the 4 group champions who failed to advance through the qualifiers and have the best results in the UEFA Nations League in the 2024-25 season. San Marino qualified for the supplementary ranking by winning the historic first place in the group in the UEFA Nations League D.
According to the current replacement order, San Marino is ranked right behind Romania and is the first team that cannot qualify for replacement. Therefore, San Marino's only hope is that Romania can qualify through the usual route of World Cup qualifying (finishing first or second in the group), thereby freeing up their UEFA Nations League replacement spot.
Coincidentally, San Marino’s last qualifier opponent was Romania. Currently, Romania is competing with Austria and Bosnia and Herzegovina for the top two in the group, and goal difference is the key ranking basis.
Therefore, if San Marino loses badly in the game, it will greatly help Romania improve its goal difference and increase its chances of getting the top two in the group. Once Romania successfully "comes ashore", San Marino will be the next team in line and historically qualify for the World Cup play-offs.
