Romania Crushes San Marino 7-1 in Final World Cup Qualifier, But Misses Automatic Spot

It was a night of redemption and reckoning at the National Arena in Bucharest. Romania, trailing just 78 seconds after kickoff, stormed back to demolish San Marino 7-1 on the final matchday of the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers, Bucharest — a result that meant nothing for World Cup qualification but everything for pride. The rain came down hard, the pitch turned slick, and yet Romania’s attack flowed like a river breaking its banks. Even after San Marino’s Nicolas Giacopetti — a 23-year-old forward with a job at a local insurance firm — poked home a deflected pass from Matteo Valli Casadei in the second minute, the hosts didn’t flinch. They didn’t panic. They just got to work.

From Shock to Surge: How Romania Responded

The goal was San Marino’s second in 10 qualifying matches — their first since a 2-1 loss to Romania back in September. It was historic. It was miraculous. And it lasted barely two minutes. Romania’s response was clinical. By the 17th minute, Dante Carlos Rossi had equalized with a low drive from the edge of the box. Then came Stefan Baiaram with a curler, followed by Dennis Man’s thunderous strike just before halftime. The scoreboard read 3-1, but the game felt over. San Marino, ranked 210th in the world, looked exhausted before the second half even began.

Seven Goals, Seven Names — And One Own Goal

The second half was a showcase of depth. Substitute Ianis Hagi, son of the legendary Gheorghe Hagi, came on and scored his first international goal in the 58th minute. Andrei Rațiu added the sixth with a header from a Nicușor Bancu cross. The seventh? An own goal by Giacomo Valentini, who tried to clear a cross and instead sent it past his own keeper. Louis Munteanu, the 19-year-old winger from FC Hermannstadt, capped the rout with a solo run in the 87th minute. Every goal was reviewed by VAR — no controversy, no doubt. Just pure, unrelenting football.

San Marino’s Grim Record Extends

For San Marino, this was more than another loss. It was another chapter in the longest losing streak in international football history: 61 consecutive World Cup qualifiers without a win, dating back to their 1-0 victory over Liechtenstein on April 28, 2001. They’ve played 61 matches. Lost 61. Scored 13 goals. Conceded 287. In this campaign alone, they conceded 39 goals — the worst in UEFA. Their average shot on target per match? One. That’s not bad luck. That’s structural. The Federazione Sammarinese Giuoco Calcio operates with a budget smaller than some European club academies. Most players are amateurs — teachers, plumbers, mechanics. Giacopetti, their goal-scorer, works at a local office. They play in front of 2,000 fans. They dream in black and white.

Romania’s Bittersweet Finish

Romania, meanwhile, finished third in Group H with 13 points (W4, D1, L5), behind Austria (19 points) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (17 points). They were eliminated from direct World Cup qualification before kickoff. Their six lineup changes — a mix of youth and rest — were a sign of surrender. But their performance? A statement. Head coach Mircea Lucescu, 79, has managed giants — Shakhtar Donetsk, Zenit, Dynamo Kyiv. He knows what it means to lose. He also knows what it means to bounce back. "We didn’t qualify," he said after the match, "but we didn’t quit. That’s what matters now."

Romania’s nine wins across 13 competitive matches this year — including four in World Cup qualifying and five in the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League — earned them a spot in the March 2026 UEFA Nations League play-offs. It’s their last shot. One win in those play-offs means a ticket to the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. They’ll face either Scotland, Finland, or North Macedonia — all teams they’ve beaten before. The door’s still open. Narrow, yes. But open.

What’s Next for Both Teams?

San Marino? They’ll return to their training pitches in Serravalle, regroup, and begin again. Their next match is in September 2026 — the start of the 2028 Euro qualifiers. No one expects them to qualify. But they keep showing up. That’s worth something.

Romania’s path is clearer, if no easier. They’ll need to win two knockout games in March. The squad has talent — Hagi, Man, Munteanu, Bancu — but lacks experience in high-stakes matches. Lucescu’s job now is to bridge that gap. He’s got the time. He’s got the history. And he’s got one last chance to give Romania something they haven’t had since 2008: a World Cup appearance.