Faroe Islands Keep World Cup Hopes Alive with Victory over Czech Republic
The Faroe Islands delivered a stunning performance against the Czech Republic, keeping their slim yet remarkable hopes of World Cup qualification alive.
Ranked 136th in the world, the Nordic islanders currently sit in third place, just one point behind the second-placed Czechs, with one match remaining in their quest for a playoff spot for the 2026 finals in North America.
This victory marks the Faroes' third consecutive win, and they have yet to lose by more than a goal in Group L.
However, they will require a minor miracle next month, as they are set to face leaders Croatia on November 14, while the Czechs will play against winless Gibraltar three days later.
The Faroes took the lead in Torshavn with a superb strike from Hanus Sorensen. Adam Karabec equalized for the Czechs, but Martin Agnarsson capitalized on defensive errors to score the decisive goal in the 81st minute.
As an autonomous territory of Denmark, the Faroes had never previously won more than two games in any qualification campaign; however, they have achieved four victories this time around.
With a population of just under 55,000, they would become the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup.
Croatia is poised to secure their World Cup spot with a win over Gibraltar later on Sunday, which would place them three points ahead of the Czechs, along with a superior goal difference of at least 13.