Football in Cyprus

Football is Cyprus's most popular sport.

Short of some sporadic surprise wins versus higher-ranked countries, mostly on home soil, the national team has not enjoyed any success of note. On the other hand, Cypriot clubs have reached the Champions League Group Stage three times in recent years; that has made Cyprus the smallest sovereign state (in both terms of area and population) to have been represented in the main phase of Europe's most prestigious club tournament, since the introduction of the group stage in 1992. APOEL FC made history by being the first Cypriot team to reach the quarter finals of UEFA Champions League in 2012, and by reaching the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League in 2017.

Moreover, the national association has organised various FIFA and UEFA events (tournaments, courses, meetings).

Football was introduced to Cyprus early in the 20th century by the British (Canon Frank Darvall Newham, founder of The English School, Nicosia). Initially played in the island's schools, it proved hugely popular and a number of clubs were duly formed. Football clubs played friendly games only and the first unofficial island-wide league was organised on 1932.

The rivalry between teams that support different political parties has grown intense over the decades and the matches result in bloody conflicts between the fans. The fans take extreme pride in their team not only because the history of their team but because the connection their political party has with their team. The more hardcore right wing fans wave fascist symbols during matches whereas the hardcore left wing fans wave symbols associated with communism. AC Omonia's hardcore fans in the season 2011-2012 made an enormous choreography of the hammer and sickle, whereas APOEL FC and other right wing football clubs waved fascist symbols. The two teams mentioned above have an often violent rivalry, resulting in injuries to fans.