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Goals were celebrated in the Vatican as far back as the 16th century. On 7 January 1521, and with Pope Leo X looking on, the then Papal States organised a Florentine football match – an early form of the game that is still played in Italy and from which modern-day football.

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Goals were celebrated in the Vatican as far back as the 16th century. On 7 January 1521, and with Pope Leo X looking on, the then Papal States organised a Florentine football match – an early form of the game that is still played in Italy and from which modern-day football.

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Goals were celebrated in the Vatican as far back as the 16th century. On 7 January 1521, and with Pope Leo X looking on, the then Papal States organised a Florentine football match – an early form of the game that is still played in Italy and from which modern-day football.

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Goals were celebrated in the Vatican as far back as the 16th century. On 7 January 1521, and with Pope Leo X looking on, the then Papal States organised a Florentine football match – an earSubparagraph Title H3ly form of the game that is still played in Italy and from which modern-day football.

Very small heading h5

Goals were celebrated in the Vatican as far back as the 16th century. On 7 January 1521, and with Pope Leo X looking on, the then Papal States organised a Florentine football match – an early form of the game that is still played in Italy and from which modern-day football.

Second Section Title H2

Subparagraph Title H3

Goals were celebrated in the Vatican as far back as the 16th century. On 7 January 1521, and with Pope Leo X looking on, the then Papal States organised a Florentine football match – an early form of the game that is still played in Italy and from which modern-day football.

Subparagraph Title H3

Goals were celebrated in the Vatican as far back as the 16th century. On 7 January 1521, and with Pope Leo X looking on, the then Papal States organised a Florentine football match – an early form of the game that is still played in Italy and from which modern-day football.

The Vatican City Football Association was founded in 1972 and now runs a men’s national team, which played its first official match in 1994, and a women’s national team, which came into being last year thanks to the support of Pope Francis. Both sides are coached by Gianfranco Guadagnoli and wear the same distinctive Vatican colours of white and yellow.

None of the national team players have Vatican nationality, so to speak. The squads are made up of Vatican employees and their relatives. The men’s team, which was once coached by none other than Giovanni Trapattoni, has a fascinating rivalry with Monaco’s national team. The two sides have faced off on several occasions over the years, with Vatican City yet to win a game. The women’s national team made their official debut against Italian first division side Roma on 26 May 2019, a match they lost 10-0.

Covering an area of less than half a square kilometre, and with a population of barely 900, Vatican City, the seat of the Roman Catholic Church, is the world’s smallest sovereign state. It is hard to find anywhere else in the world with a greater concentration of artistic masterpieces per square metre.

There is more to Vatican City, however, than religion and art. Its sovereign is the football-loving Pope Francis and, though one of the few sovereign states in the world that is not a FIFA member, it boasts a thriving football scene. It might surprise you to learn that it is home to no fewer than eight amateur clubs, and men’s and women’s national teams, while also running three annual club competitions as well as a the Clericus Cup, its own mini World Cup, that takes place every year.

The Vatican City Football Association was founded in 1972 and now runs a men’s national team, which played its first official match in 1994, and a women’s national team, which came into being last year thanks to the support of Pope Francis. Both sides are coached by Gianfranco Guadagnoli and wear the same distinctive Vatican colours of white and yellow.