Faroe Islands' Historic World Cup Qualifying Journey
It is one of the more unlikely World Cup qualifying stories.
The Faroe Islands, an 18-island volcanic archipelago situated between Iceland and Scotland, still harbors dreams of qualifying for next summer's finals, with just one group match remaining.
Historically, the Faroes had never won more than two games in any qualification campaign. However, they have achieved a remarkable turnaround, winning four of their last five matches, including a significant 2-1 victory at home against the Czech Republic, who currently sit in second place.
This success has positioned the Faroese, ranked 127th out of FIFA's 211 nations, in a surprising situation filled with possibilities.
If they can manage to defeat Group L leaders Croatia on Friday, and if Gibraltar, the bottom team, can avoid defeat against the Czech Republic on Monday, the Faroese will finish second in the group and qualify for the playoffs in March.
While this scenario may seem improbable—given Gibraltar's history of failing to secure a qualification point and Croatia's impressive record of five wins from six group games—it is a thrilling prospect for the Faroese team.
Odmar Faero, the 36-year-old central defender, acknowledges that this moment surpasses anything his nation has previously experienced. "The idea is just to keep riding the wave, hold on, and see how far it carries us," he expressed. "We're soaking this in at the moment, and with our recent results, we believe we can go to Croatia and earn three points."
Faero, who has played professionally in Scotland with Keith and Forfar Athletic, is the only Faroese player to have made 50 appearances in European club competitions. His family legacy continues, as both his father and grandfather, also named Odmar, represented the national team in a country with a population of just under 55,000.
Despite the excitement surrounding their World Cup qualification aspirations, Faero remains realistic about their chances. "I just don’t feel like Gibraltar is going to get any points, so it seems a bit of a lost cause, but we won’t let that affect our performance against Croatia. We would be absolutely devastated if Gibraltar manages a draw and we don’t fulfill our end of the bargain— that would be the worst outcome for us."
The Faroese have accumulated 12 points in this qualifying campaign, their best-ever performance. This achievement has brought them within a point of the Czech Republic after their recent victory, which featured goals from Hanus Sorensen and Martin Agnarsson, both of whom are under 25 and symbolize a new generation for the national team.
Faero describes these young players as "power players" with agility and fearlessness. "They don’t care who they’re up against; it’s just water off a duck’s back. That’s sometimes what you need—someone who shows no remorse when we’re attacking. We’ve had a solid defense, but now we have players who can respond aggressively when we attack, which is why we were able to defeat Montenegro 4-0."
Unlike Sorensen and Agnarsson, who play professionally abroad, Faero balances his football career with a job at a furniture store in the Faroe Islands, where he has recently won the league title with KI. The team's head coach, Eyoun Klakstein, previously worked as a crime writer, illustrating the unique blend of professions among the Faroese players as they prepare to face Croatia's stars, including Luka Modric and Josko Gvardiol.
Faero notes the everyday reality of many players in the national team: "It’s not so different from what you would imagine if it were a semi-professional team in England. We have electricians, joiners, teachers, and many young players work in kindergartens due to the flexible hours that accommodate football training. Then there’s [Arni] Frederiksberg, who scored the penalty against Montenegro; he’s actually the CEO of a wholesale company that sells various food products, including pizzas, which earned him the nickname ‘pizza seller’—though he is indeed a CEO."
Faero attributes the team’s recent success to having a Faroese coach, a significant change as Klakstein replaced the Swede Hakan Ericson in February. This transition marked a shift in expectations for the team. Ericson was the national team's most successful coach during his five-year tenure, but disappointing results led to his dismissal.
"Psychologically, when we start having team meetings, pep talks, and analyses in our own language, it creates a sense of ownership. This is our national team, and we’re committed to it. It’s a matter of patriotism, and everything we do is the Faroese way," Faero remarked.
But what does it mean to embrace "the Faroese way"? Faero elaborated, "We are resilient as a people, historically speaking. It’s a cornerstone upon which we build. We’re 55,000 people living on 18 islands in the Atlantic Ocean, so we have to find a way to make it work because there is no other option. If we manage to qualify for the World Cup, it would truly be a miracle for the Faroe Islands."