Cyprus secures historic Nations League playoff spot

The Cyprus national football team secured a historic second-place finish in their UEFA Nations League group following a 1-1 draw against Armenia in Yerevan on November 12, 2026. Iasonas Pikis scored for Cyprus in the 9th minute, while Garibyan equalized for the hosts in the 59th minute. In the group's other fixture, Montenegro defeated Latvia 2-1, officially clinching the top spot with 13 points, while Cyprus holds 8 points, followed by Armenia with 5 and Latvia with 1.

This result marks the first time in the country's history that the team has reached the promotion playoffs for League B. The squad, coached by Akis Mantzios, has maintained an undefeated streak of four matches, a feat not achieved by the national side since 2007. The team returned to Cyprus on November 13 and is preparing for their final, non-decisive match against Montenegro, scheduled for November 15 at the Alphamega Stadium in Limassol.

The official draw for the promotion playoffs will take place on November 20 in Switzerland. Cyprus will face one of the four teams finishing last in their respective League B groups. The playoff matches are scheduled for March 2027, with the potential for Cyprus to ascend to the second tier of the competition.