Cyprus has yet to make an appearance in the finals of a major international football tournament, but the national team has had moments of near qualification that continue to inspire hope among local fans. Their closest brush with success came during the Euro 2000 qualifiers, where Cyprus finished just one point shy of a play-off spot. A historic 3-2 home victory against Spain remains a highlight of that campaign, along with strong performances against Israel and Austria.

Another significant opportunity arose during the Euro 2016 qualifiers, where Cyprus was in contention for a play-off position until a dramatic last-match loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina dashed those hopes. They also had a notable Euro 2008 qualifying campaign with Cyprus achieving impressive victories including a 5-2 win over the Republic of Ireland.

World Cup qualification, however, has been a tougher challenge, with the team never realistically close to reaching the finals. Their strongest World Cup qualifying effort came in 2010, finishing fourth in their group but still nine points away from a play-off. The expansion of international tournaments may offer Cyprus new opportunities in the future.