Moldova's national football team represents a country in Eastern Europe that declared independence from the Soviet Union on 27 August 1991. The team operates under the Football Federation of Moldova and competes within UEFA, having participated in European club competitions since 1993. As a relatively young footballing nation, Moldova has spent most of its history in the lower tiers of UEFA's country coefficient rankings, though the national side has produced competitive moments in qualification campaigns for major tournaments.
Moldova is situated in a historically complex region bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south. The country's identity has been shaped by centuries of shifting sovereignties — from the Moldavian Principality through Ottoman suzerainty, incorporation into the Russian Empire, periods under Romanian rule, and decades as the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic. This layered history informs a national football culture that is still establishing its own tradition and identity on the European stage.
In UEFA's 2025 country coefficient rankings, used to allocate places in the 2026–27 European competitions, Moldova holds 14.500 points and is ranked 32nd among 55 UEFA associations, placing it between Ireland and Iceland. While Moldovan clubs have yet to make deep runs in continental competition, the federation continues to develop its domestic structure. The national team's matches are keenly followed by a passionate supporter base for whom international football represents both pride and a connection to the broader European football community.