Latvia Dominates Cyprus 12-1 to Secure Spot in World Cup Qualification Main Tournament

Latvia’s national futsal team has stormed into the next stage of the 2028 World Cup qualification process after a commanding 12-1 victory over Cyprus on Friday, April 10, 2026. The match, held in Tirana, Albania, marks a significant milestone for the squad as they officially secure their place in the qualification main tournament.

The Latvians maintained an aggressive pace from the opening whistle, mirroring the dominance they showed in their opening qualifier on Thursday, April 9, where they defeated San Marino 8-0. With two wins from two matches in the preliminary round, Latvia has established themselves as a powerhouse in Group E.

First Half Fireworks

Latvia wasted no time asserting their authority in Tirana. Andžejs Mickēvičs opened the scoring just four and a half minutes into the match, converting the team’s early territorial dominance into a lead. The pressure continued to mount as Renards Ūdris doubled the lead shortly after, following a shot from Miks Babrs that was deflected by the goalkeeper.

A clinical surge in the second half of the opening period saw Latvia extend their lead rapidly. Edgars Tarakanovs, Andrejs Baklanovs, and Sergejs Motiļs each found the net within a seven-minute window, leaving Cyprus struggling to maintain pace. Cyprus managed a solitary consolation goal before the break, scored by Charis Kouloupas, leaving the score at 5-1 at halftime.

Second Half Surge

The second half was a continuation of the Latvian onslaught. The team struck twice in the opening minute of the period and added another goal just two minutes later. Andrejs Baklanovs and Edgars Tarakanovs both contributed to the tally, while Viktors Kuļepovs scored following a successful high-press maneuver.

The scoring spree continued with Artjoms Kozlovskis netting after a corner kick. Kozlovskis, who had not appeared for the national team since 2024, proved vital to the squad’s efforts. Vlads Rimkuss similarly joined the scoresheet, converting a pass from Ūdris to bring the final tally to 12-1.

While this victory stands as one of Latvia’s most impressive results in qualification history, it fell just short of their all-time record 13-0 win over Estonia in 2008.

Road to the Main Tournament

The qualification format sees 24 teams divided into six groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing. By dismantling Cyprus, Latvia has guaranteed their progression. The team’s current standing in Group E sees them atop the table with 6 goals scored and only 1 conceded across two matches.

Latvia will seem to cap off the preliminary stage with a final group match against the hosts, Albania, scheduled for Sunday, April 12, 2026, at 9:30 PM.