Tórshavn, Faroe Islands – In a stunning turn of events, the Faroe Islands have breathed new life into their World Cup qualifying campaign with a remarkable 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic. The match, held on Sunday, October 12, 2025, at the Tórsvøllur stadium in Tórshavn, saw the Faroes, ranked 136th in the world, defy expectations against a Czech side sitting 97 places above them at 39th in FIFA's rankings.
The victory is a historic one for the Faroe Islands, marking the first time they have achieved three successive wins in a single World Cup qualifying cycle. This impressive run has propelled them to third place in Group L, just one point behind the Czech Republic, intensifying the battle for a playoff spot.
The match began with a confident start from the home side, as Arni Frederiksberg's early effort was blocked. The Czech Republic struggled to break down the resolute Faroese defense in the first half. Matej Vydra missed a good opportunity to put his team ahead, firing wide after meeting Václav Jemelka's cross. Jemelka himself later blazed a shot over the bar, leaving both teams without a shot on target at halftime.
The second half saw the game burst into life. In the 57th minute, Frederiksberg tested Czech goalkeeper Matej Kovar with a left-footed strike. Ten minutes later, Hanus Sorensen sent the home crowd into raptures with a superb first-time finish from Jakup Andreasen's cross, putting the Faroe Islands ahead.
The Czech Republic responded in the 78th minute when Adam Karabec capitalized on a loose ball to restore parity. However, the Faroes were not to be denied. Just three minutes later, substitute Martin Agnarsson, only a minute after coming on, pounced on a defensive mistake and slotted the ball into an empty net, sending the stadium into a frenzy.
The Faroes' victory delivers a significant blow to the Czech Republic's chances of automatically qualifying as group winner and intensifies the fight for the runner-up position, with only one game remaining for both teams. With four wins in their last five qualifying matches, the Faroe Islands have significantly improved their chances of reaching the playoffs for the 2026 World Cup, to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Group leaders Croatia, who defeated Gibraltar 3-0, are in a strong position to win the group, holding a three-point lead and a game in hand over both the Czech Republic and the Faroe Islands. The Faroe Islands will face a tough challenge against Croatia in their final match on November 14.
