Luxembourg has participated in everyFIFA World Cup qualifiers since those for the 1934 World Cup, and inUEFA European Championship qualifiers since those for Euro 1964. As of 2026, they have never qualified for any of these major tournaments. Luxembourg is the nation with the most qualifying campaigns in both of these competitions without ever making it to the finals. However, they did compete in sixOlympic football events between 1920 and 1952.[3]
The Luxembourg national football team in 1920 (above), and in 2015
Luxembourg played their first ever international match on 29 October 1911, in a friendly match againstFrance; it resulted in a 1–4 defeat.[3] Their first victory came on 8 February 1914, also in a match against France, which they won 5–4.[3]
The national side of Luxembourg competed in sixOlympic football events between 1920 and 1952, and survived the preliminary round twice (in 1948 and 1952).[3] In between, Luxembourg participated in qualifiers for theFIFA World Cup, but has never qualified.
Starting in 1921, the Luxembourg national A-selection would play 239 unofficial international matches until 1981, mostly against other countries' B-teams like those ofBelgium,France, Switzerland andWest Germany, as well as a team representing South-Netherlands.[4]
The Luxembourg team in 1969, before a World Cup qualifier
After their last Olympic tournament in 1952, the national team also started playing in qualifying groups forUEFA European Championships, but could not reach the major European tournament end stages. The only time that the team was close to qualify was for a European or World Championship was for theEuro 1964. In the first qualification round, they defeated theNetherlands with a score of 3–2 on aggregate after two matches. A Dutch newspaper commented this stunt after the second match with "David Luxembourg won with 2–1 [againstGoliath Netherlands]".[5] In the round of eight, Luxembourg andDenmark fought for a spot in the final tournament. The winner was decided after three matches; Denmark was the winner with a total aggregate score of 6–5.
When the national team does win a competitive match, they are often celebrated by national media and fans, as was the case after a 2–1 win againstSwitzerland in 2008.[6][7]
On 3 September 2017, Luxembourg faced France in a goalless draw atStadium Municipal inToulouse, France.[8] It was the first time France had failed to win against Luxembourg since 1914, when Luxembourg won, 5–4.[9][10] On 10 November 2017, Luxembourg defeatedHungary 2–1 in a friendly victory.[11]
On 28 March 2021, Luxembourg beat theRepublic of Ireland in a2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match with a goal fromGerson Rodrigues in the 85th minute.[12][13] In 2023, Luxembourg achieved some of their best results in European Championship qualifying, finishingthird in their group (of six teams) and qualifying for a play-off for a finals berth,[14][15][16][17][18][19] but they lost 2–0 againstGeorgia.[20] Rodrigues also became the top goalscorer in the history of the national team, surpassing the 16-goal tally byLéon Mart, by scoring five goals during the qualifying process, a record for a Luxembourgian footballer.[21][22]
On 22 March 2025, Luxembourg showed improvement with a convincing victory againstSweden in a friendly match.[23][better source needed]
As of 1 September 2021, the Luxembourg national team adopted Luxembourg City'sStade de Luxembourg, the country'snational stadium, as its home venue. Formerly, the team played at theStade Josy Barthel, where, at counting in August 2015, it had played 235 games, including unofficial matches.[24]
^Laurent Jans also played in Luxembourg's match against Belgium in 2014, but Belgium used seven substitutions, rendering the match unofficial according to FIFA regulations.
^Mario Mutsch also played in Luxembourg's match against Belgium in 2014, but Belgium used seven substitutions, rendering the match unofficial according to FIFA regulations.
^Daniel da Mota also played in Luxembourg's match against Belgium in 2014, but Belgium used seven substitutions, rendering the match unofficial according to FIFA regulations.
^Lars Gerson also played in Luxembourg's match against Belgium in 2014, but Belgium used 7 substitutions, rendering the match unofficial according to FIFA regulations.
^René Peters also played and scored against Faroe Islands in 2004, but this was not recognised as a full A-international by FIFA.
^Eric Hoffmann also played and scored against Faroe Islands in 2004, but this was not recognised as a full senior international match by FIFA.
^Carlo Weis also played in three matches against France Amateur, West Germany B and France B, but these are not recognised as full senior international matches by FIFA.
^abAurélien Joachim also played and scored in Luxembourg's match against Belgium in 2014, but Belgium used seven substitutions, rendering the match unofficial according to FIFA regulations.
^Gustave Kemp also played a match at the1936 Summer Olympics, but this was not recognised as a full senior international match by FIFA.
^Nicolas Kettel also played and scored at the1948 Summer Olympics, however these matches are not recognised as full A-internationals by FIFA.
^François Müller also played at the1952 Summer Olympics, however these matches are not recognised as full A-internationals by FIFA.
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