Hopes for the World Cup. Romania, ideal start in the WC preliminaries! Victory with Moldova in the first group stage

• In the preliminaries for WC 2027, Romania is part of group C5from League C, alongside Republic of Moldova and CYPRUS.

Chronicle from the “Arc de Triumf”: Bălăceanu brought victory to Romania with Moldova

From the start of the match at the “Arc”, the children and supporters in the stands displayed a banner that read “Let the women play what they want”, showing support for women's football in Romania.

Although the first half did not offer many opportunities, the Romanian national team came back more determined in the second part of the game. Immediately after the break, in the 54th minute, Ioana Bălăceanu, the Lighthouse player, opened the scoring.

The attacker received a pass over the defense of Moldova and was left alone with the opposing goalkeeper. He scored without problems with a shot on the grass.

Less than 10 minutes after the goal, another player from Farul, Ioana Stancu, Footballer of the Year 2025 in the GSP Survey, had a huge opportunity to increase the advantage, but the goalkeeper of the Republic of Moldova intervened to save.

Romania controlled the final, had no emotions and started the qualification campaign right. The goal scored by Bălăceanu brought 3 points that give hope on the way to the World Cup.

Pleasant atmosphere on the “Arc de Triomphe”

The atmosphere was pleasant. Even if there were not many spectators at the stadium, those present did not stop cheering the national team.

The children, together with their parents, applauded and shouted “Romania!” throughout the match played at the “Arcul de Triumf” stadium.

Coach Massimo Pedrazzini experienced tense moments on the sidelines. He provided constant direction from the bench, gesticulating and directing his players throughout the 90 minutes.

How can Romania qualify for the World Cup?

The C League group is only the first step on the way to the World Cup. Romania must finish in first place to advance to the next stage, which involves a play-off with a team in 2nd or 3rd place in an A League group.

Then, if it goes further, it would follow the final of the pool, with the World Cup tickets on the table. Romania would face another winner from the first phase of the play-off. The opponent would be determined by drawing lots.

Final » Romania – Republic of Moldova 1-0

END of match.
Min 88: The selector Massimo Pedrazzini also took Olga Iordăchiuși off the field, at that moment, all the fans in the stands started to shout the name of the experienced player from Farul. In her place came Oana Negrea, a midfielder at Gloria Bistrita.
Min 83: The third change for Romania. Claudia Bistrian, player from Unirea Alba Iulia entered the field in place of Ioana Stancu.

Min 82: Due to the lack of opportunities of the Republic of Moldova, the goalkeeper of Romania, Andrea Părăluță, stayed near the middle of the field for more than 5 minutes.

Andrea Părăluță spent more than 5 minutes in the middle of the field/ photo: GSP

Min 77: Change to Romania. Farului midfielder Cristina Botojel is introduced to the field in place of the player from Olimpia Cluj, Carmen Marcu.
Min. 61: Huge opportunity for Romania, through Ioana Stancu. The forward from Farul was left 1 on 1 with the opposing goalkeeper, after several wrong rejections by the Moldovan defenders. “Tricolora” shot on the ground, but goalkeeper Munteanu defended.
Min. 54: GOAL Romania! Ioana Bălăceanu slipped behind the defense, received a pass over the Moldovan defense and was alone with the opposing goalkeeper. He sent a shot into the opposing goal, and the “tricolors” opened the scoring.
Min 46: The coach made only one change at half-time. Teodora Nicoară was replaced by Ana Maria Vladulescu, the player from Csikszereda.
Min. 46: The second half has started.
Min. 45 : Break on the Arc de Triomphe.
Min. 36: Selector Pedrazzini lives at maximum intensity on the bench, recalling the behavior of Gică Hagi or Dorinel Munteanu during matches.

Min. 32: Excellent intervention by Stefania Vătafu. Chiper escaped alone with Andreea Părăluță, but the Romanian midfielder sprinted and recovered the ball with a perfect slide.

Min. 22: Romania controls the match against Moldova, but does not materialize in attack. Pedrazzini's students are blocked by the Moldovans. From the stands, the small gallery of Romania encourages its team.

Min. 10: In the stands, the Danes came a message on the canvas for “tricolor”. “Let women play what they want,” supporters wrote.

Banner displayed by fans during the match/ photo: GSP

Min. 4: The first opportunity for Romania, who started the match in attack. Stancu sent it past the goal, with his left foot, from inside the box.
Min. 1: The match on the “Arc de Triumf” has started

The “Tricolors” will play a total of four matches: two with the Republic of Moldova and two with Cyprus.

The starting teams in Romania – Republic of Moldova

Romania's starting team: A. Părăluță – T. Nicoară, AM Stanciu, M. Ficzay, E. Gered – Ș. Vătafu, O. Iordăchiusi, M. Ciolacu – I. Bălăceanu, C. Marcu, I. Stancu
Reserves: C. Roșu, S. Câmpean – C. Bistrian, O. Negrea, C. Botojel, A. Bratu, S. Bumbar, A. Borodi, A. Antal, A. Kis, A. Vlădulescu
Selector: Massimo Pedrazzini

Moldova: N. Munteanu – M. Bădiceanu, D. Prisăcari, N. Colesnicenco, D. Mardari – C. Cerescu, E. Coceanovschi – C. Chiper, C. Țabur, C. Doiban – I. Colnic
Reserves: M. Panova, D. Bojenco – L. Vlas, M. Gamarț, N. Tutunaru, V. Rubanovici, A. Costin, A. Cernitu, A. Sivoloba, V. Cojuhari
Selector: Gennadie Pusca

UPDATE at 17:30. The national team players came out for warm-up

The “tricolors” came out to warm up, to the applause of the several hundred fans present at the stadium. The selector watches his students from the sidelines, waiting for the debut in the qualification campaign.

The turf on the “Arc de Triomphe” is in good condition.

UPDATE at 17:00. Good luck before the debut in the preliminaries

Before the first match of the preliminaries, there is a good mood in Romania's camp, Massimo Pedrazzini's players are smiling and waiting to start the qualification campaign for the World Cup.

The team called by the selector Massimo Pedrazzini

GOALKEEPERS: Andreea PĂRĂLUĂ (Fortuna Hjorring | Denmark), Sara CâMPEAN (CSM Unirea Alba Iulia), Cosmina ROȘU (Politehnica Timișoara);

defense: Maria FICZAY (Apollon Ladies Limassol | Cyprus), Teodora NICOARĂ (Beşiktaş JK | Turkey), Claudia BISTRIAN (CSM Unirea Alba Iulia), Ana Maria STANCIU (Farul Constanța), Antonia BRATU (Farul Constanța), Simona SIGHEARTĂU (“U” Olimpia Cluj), Anita KIS (FK Csikszereda), Erika GERED (FK Csikszereda);

midfielders: Olga IORDĂCHIUȘI (Omonoia Nicosia | Cyprus), Ștefania VĂTAFU (RSC Anderlecht | Belgium), Mihaela CIOLACU (CS Gloria Bistrița), Cristina BOTOJEL (Farul Constanța), Sonia BUMBAR(“U” Olimpia Cluj), Anita ANTAL (FK Csikszereda), Ioana STANCU (Farul Constanța), Oana NEGREA (Rapid Bucharest);

ATTACKERS: Ioana BĂLĂCEANU (Farul Constanța), Carmen MARCU (“U” Olimpia Cluj), Adina BORODI (“U” Olimpia Cluj), Ana VLĂDULESCU (FK Csikszereda).

Who qualifies for the World Championship?

The four group winners from League A will qualify directly for the World Cup. Afterwards, play-off matches will be played, on two routes, as follows:

• The 2nd and 3rd placed teams from the A League groups will play a first round against the 6 group winners from the C League and the top 2 best teams from the 2nd placed teams from the C League;

• The 4th placed teams in League A groups and the group winners in League B will play against the 2nd and 3rd placed teams in League B.

Afterwards, the winners of the first play-off round from both routes will be paired in a draw, and 7 of the second round play-off winners will qualify for the World Championship.