San Marino vs Cyprus Prediction and Betting Tips for the World Cup 2026 qualifiers this Sunday at Stadio Olimpico di Serravalle. Both teams are already out of the running, but pride and momentum are still up for grabs. For fans tracking global football outcomes, explore our World Cup Predictions for more expert insights and analysis.

• San Marino seek their first point of the qualifiers after a crushing 10-0 loss to Austria.
• Cyprus arrive unbeaten in eight meetings with the hosts, winning all of them.
• Ioannis Pittas remains Cyprus’s biggest attacking threat, with three goals in recent games.
• Both sides are already eliminated from contention but chasing pride in their final fixtures.

San Marino’s 10-0 defeat to Austria on Thursday left their supporters stunned, even if the result wasn’t entirely unexpected. The tiny nation, ranked 210th in the world, continues to struggle defensively, having shipped 28 goals in six games, more than any other European side in qualifying. Coach Roberto Cevoli has tried to inject structure and spirit, but it’s a mountain too steep. Still, there’s a touch of stubborn pride here. The team’s last home win came against Liechtenstein in the Nations League, and even a draw would feel like gold dust. Can they resist Cyprus for 90 minutes? It’s a big ask.

Cyprus, on the other hand, are fighting their own frustration. A 2-2 draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina showed flashes of fight, Ioannis Pittas’s stoppage-time penalty proving his class once again. Apostolos Mantzios’s men have conceded in six straight matches and haven’t won away in their last six, but against San Marino, history is firmly on their side. They’ve beaten the hosts eight times out of eight, including a 2-0 win earlier this year. That’s dominance, plain and simple.

That said, Mantzios won’t underestimate the challenge. He’s likely to rotate, with Charalampos Kyriakou possibly coming into midfield and Konstantinos Laifis commanding the back line. The team needs rhythm, and this game offers the perfect tune-up before wrapping up qualifying. Pittas, in red-hot form, will look to make it four goals in five outings. His direct running and finishing might just be too much for San Marino’s fragile defense.

While the odds clearly favor Cyprus, there’s always that romantic hope that San Marino might pull off something memorable, a scrappy goal, a hard-fought point, something to spark joy for their loyal fans. Still, logic and form suggest another win for the visitors. With both teams out of contention, expect a more open game than usual, maybe even a few goals. Football may be cruel, but it’s also unpredictable and that’s what keeps us watching.

For punters, this one feels straightforward: Cyprus should win comfortably, but whether they cover the handicap is the real question. Even so World Cup Predictions from XpertStats tipsters lean toward a solid Cypriot victory, one that could finally end their winless run on the road.