The Moldova national football team () represents Moldova in men's international football and is administered by the Moldovan Football Federation, the governing body for football in Moldova. Moldova's home ground is Zimbru Stadium in ChiÃÂinÃÂu. Shortly before the break-up of the Soviet Union, they played their first match against Georgia on 2 July 1991.
Two of their three best results in the 2020s came during the qualifiers for UEFA Euro 2024, with a win over Poland (3âÂÂ2) in ChiÃÂinÃÂu, coming back from a 0âÂÂ2 deficit, and a draw against Czech Republic (0âÂÂ0) in ChiÃÂinÃÂu. In 2007, Moldova upset Hungary 3âÂÂ0 in ChiÃÂinÃÂu in Euro 2008 qualifying. Another notable result was a 5âÂÂ2 win over Montenegro during 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying. The team has never qualified for the final stages of the UEFA European Championship nor the FIFA World Cup since first entering qualifying in 1994.
Following Moldova's 4âÂÂ0 defeat to England in September 1997, British writer and comedian Tony Hawks travelled to Moldova to challenge and beat all 11 Moldovan international footballers at tennis. The feature film version of the book of the same name, Playing the Moldovans at Tennis, was filmed in and around ChiÃÂinÃÂu in May and June 2010 and was released in the spring of 2012.
The Moldovan Football Federation was founded in 1990. However, the national football team of Moldova did not play an official international match until 1991, when Moldova lost 4âÂÂ2 to Georgia. Alexandru Spiridon was the first player to score a goal in the team's history.
Moldova entered the 1992 Jordan International Tournament, a tournament consisting of friendly matches. Moldova obtained its biggest win to date, a 5âÂÂ0 victory against Pakistan, in which Serghei Alexandrov scored four goals, this being Moldova's first hat-trick. Moldova's second hat-trick was scored by Iurie Miterev in a 3âÂÂ1 win against Congo in the same tournament.
Moldova became a UEFA member in 1993 and a FIFA member in 1994. Moldova's first match recognised by FIFA was a 1âÂÂ1 draw against the United States. Moldova's first attempt to qualify for an international tournament was in UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying, its first competitive match being a 1âÂÂ0 win over Georgia. The Moldovans beat Georgia twice and Wales once, placing 4th out of 6 and failing to qualify. Moldova's following qualifying campaign, their first attempt to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, was the 1998 qualifiers, but they lost all matches, placing last in the group. Moldova also placed last in UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying. The Moldovans obtained 4 draws, two with Northern Ireland, one each with Turkey and Finland.
In 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification Moldova lost 6âÂÂ0 against Sweden, which stood as its biggest defeat for almost 20 years. Moldova was the second-last team in the group above Azerbaijan, which it beat 2âÂÂ0. In UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying the Moldovans beat Austria and Belarus, placing above the latter in the group. Moldova finished last in 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification, however it drew with Norway and Scotland.
In a 2006 friendly against Lithuania, Serghei CleÃÂcenco scored his 11th and last goal, remaining Moldova's top goalscorer until 2023. In UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Moldova finished fifth in the seven-team Group C with 12 points, beating Bosnia and Herzegovina 1âÂÂ0 and Hungary 3âÂÂ0. Following these qualifiers Moldova placed 37th in April 2008 FIFA Ranking, the highest position it ever reached. In 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification the Moldovans placed last in the group. They drew with Greece once and Luxembourg twice. Between the games for these qualifiers Moldova beat Armenia 4âÂÂ1 in Yerevan in a friendly match.
Moldova beat Finland 2âÂÂ0 in Euro 2012 qualifying, placing only above San Marino. The Moldovans finished only above San Marino again in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying, but they beat Montenegro 5âÂÂ2 and drew with Ukraine and Poland. During UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying Moldova achieved a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Russia at Moscow during UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying. The equalising goal was Alexandru Epureanu's last international goal, who went on to become the first Moldovan with 100 appearances for the national team. In the same competition, Moldova suffered a humiliating 0âÂÂ1 defeat against the Liechtenstein on home ground, placing last in the group. In 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification the Moldovans placed last in the group again, only obtaining two draws with Georgia.
In the inaugural season of the UEFA Nations League, the Moldovans played in League D, the competition's lowest division. They placed third in their group, above San Marino. Moldova's victory over them was its first competitive win since 2014. In UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying Moldova suffered another disappointing result, a 0âÂÂ1 loss to Andorra, finishing last in the group.
Moldova was the best third-placed team of 2018âÂÂ19 UEFA Nations League D and obtained promotion to 2020âÂÂ21 UEFA Nations League C due to a revamp of the competition's format. Moldova obtained only one point, a draw with the Kosovo, placing last in its group. Thus, Moldova had to play the relegation play-outs. Between the matches for the 2020âÂÂ21 UEFA Nations League, Moldova suffered a 6âÂÂ0 defeat to Italy in a friendly match, which equalled Moldova's worst defeat at the time.
In 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Moldova obtained only one point, a draw with the Faroe Islands. Moldova also suffered what was at the time its worst defeat ever during these qualifiers, an 8âÂÂ0 loss against Denmark. During these qualifiers Moldova placed 181st in October 2021 FIFA Ranking, the lowest position it ever reached. After losing to Kazakhstan on penalties in 2020âÂÂ21 UEFA Nations League relegation play-outs, the Moldovans were relegated to 2022âÂÂ23 UEFA Nations League D. Moldova was tied on points with Latvia, but because of a lower goal difference placed second, failing to achieve promotion.
The UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying was a watershed moment for Moldova. The Moldovans came agonisingly close to a historic Euro debut, acquiring ten points in a group of five; the Moldovans also gained an impressive feat by being undefeated at home throughout the qualification, including a historic shock 3âÂÂ2 comeback win over Poland and were one win away from qualifying for UEFA Euro 2024. However, a denting away loss to the Czech Republic in the final matchday killed off Moldova's qualification hopes, as they finished fourth and were eliminated due to an inferior record. Ion Nicolaescu scored his 11th and 12th international goals in the 3âÂÂ2 win against Poland, becoming Moldova's top goal scorer. With 4 goals in the competition, he became the first Moldovan to be the top goal scorer of a qualifying group.
On 9 September 2025, Moldova suffered their biggest defeat ever in a 11âÂÂ1 loss against Norway at the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, Norway, where Erling Haaland scored 5 goals in this match. Two days after the match, Serghei CleÃÂcenco resigned as Moldova's head coach.
Official sponsors: maib, Mastercard, Orange, Kaufland, Jako, Cricova, OM, Invitro Diagnostics, Estate Invest Company.
The Moldova national football team plays its official games at Zimbru Stadium in ChiÃÂinÃÂu. The stadium is a privately held structure, but is under administration of FMF until 2026. The senior team, along with youth teams use Stadionul CPSM for training purposes. It is located in Vadul lui VodÃÂ, a town along the Dniester River, approximately 25 kilometres from ChiÃÂinÃÂu.
From 1991 to 2006, Moldova played its matches at the Republican Stadium in ChiÃÂinÃÂu. The team also played its home matches in UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying and some friendlies, the latest in 2013, at Sheriff Arena in Tiraspol.
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
Former Moldova international Lilian Popescu is the current head coach of Moldova since September 2025.
The following players were selected for the friendly matches against Lithuania and Cyprus on 26 and 30 March 2026, respectively.
Caps and goals are correct as of 30 March 2026, after the match against Cyprus.
The following players have also been called up to the Moldova squad within the last 12 months.
<sup>INJ</sup> Withdrew due to injury<br /> <sup>PRE</sup> Preliminary squad / standby<br /> <sup>RET</sup> Retired from the national team<br /> <sup>SUS</sup> Serving suspension<br /> <sup>WD</sup> Player withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue.