Newborns in San Marino Gifted National Team Kits Under New Program

The football federation of the tiny nation of San Marino are hoping to hook new fans for the national team early with a new program.

The Federazione Sammarinese Giuoco Calcio (FSGC) announced last week that it would gift a baby-sized national team kit to every baby born in the country between now and the end of 2023.

‘The delivery is a small gesture that we want to do to all future San Marino newborns,” said FSGC secretary general Luigi Zafferani in a release on the federation’s website (translated to English by Google). “Our shirt is a symbol of the Republic and of the nation. In a special moment such as that of birth, the Federation does not want to be invasive but simply to give newborns a small souvenir. With the hope maybe one day, when they are older, of being able to push and support the national team even at the stadium.”

Along with the kit, the FSGC is also giving each newborn a small parchment “with a symbolic message dedicated to the newborn and the family.” The first kit was given to a baby girl on December 21.

San Marino is the fifth-smallest country in the world with a total area of 61 square kilometers and is completely surrounded by Italy. According to the CIA World Factbook, its estimated population in 2022 was 34,682, and its birth rate in 2022 was 8.85 births per 1,000 population, which equates to around 300 births per year.

San Marino is one of eight European nations whose national football teams are outfitted by manufacturer Erreà as part of UEFA’s Kit Assistance Scheme. The light blue home kit contains a large tonal depiction of the Three Towers of San Marino from the national team crest.