The tiny football team makes Europe take their hats off

Faroe Islands (white shirt) created a big shock in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

If someone said that a football team with the population of a small ward in Hanoi could beat the Czech Republic and dream of the World Cup, many people would laugh. But that is the truth that is happening in the Faroe Islands - a small land in the North Atlantic, where football is becoming a symbol of resilience and extraordinary ambition.

In the early morning of October 13, the Faroese made one of the greatest victories in their history: defeating the Czech Republic 2-1 in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The opponent ranked 97 places higher than them in the FIFA rankings, with a squad of players playing in England, Germany and Italy, while the Faroese only had part-timers - electricians, fishermen or teachers - on the team. But it was they, with their fearless spirit, that made the whole of Europe take their hats off.

The win also marked Faroe’s fourth victory of the qualifying campaign, including three consecutive victories, including a 4-0 thrashing of Montenegro. Once considered a “bottom team”, they are now just one point behind the Czech Republic and still have a chance, albeit a slim one, to reach the World Cup play-offs – something that has never happened in the history of this country’s football.

It was a remarkable development for a team that had to play on artificial turf and train in the roaring sea breeze. From 2009 to 2014, the Faroe Islands won just two of their 35 international matches, even losing to Thailand U21.

But over the past 10 years, they have completely changed their appearance: investing heavily in grounds, youth training systems and coach development programs. The Faroese Football Federation (FSF) has also encouraged domestic clubs to maintain a semi-professional model, creating conditions for players to have a stable career and to train in a gradually professional environment.

Faroe Islands team created a shock when defeating Czech Republic.

That investment is paying off. Not only the national team, but the Faroese U21 team also won three of their four Euro U21 qualifying matches, an unprecedented achievement. They are becoming a living example of how a small country can build sporting pride through a disciplined system, rather than hoping for miracles.

The Faroese have a population of 55,000. But on the pitch, they are making headlines across Europe. The international media has called this “the most historic week in Faroese sport”, with football – not handball or rowing – being the sport that brought this tiny country to the world .

Of course, Faroe's chances of qualifying for the World Cup are only about 0.1%. In the final round, they have to play away to Croatia, the group leader, while the Czech Republic only needs to beat Gibraltar - the weakest team in the group, with no points. But whatever the outcome, Faroe's journey has been a great moral victory.

Once considered a “learning team”, the Faroese have now made their opponents wary. They not only defend tenaciously, but also attack coherently, press hard and dare to dream big. In these days when modern football is dominated by money and fame, the story of the Faroese – a team of simple workers – reminds us that heart and belief are still the greatest forces on the pitch.

The Faroe Islands may not have made it to the World Cup, but they have touched the hearts of fans around the world. And even though it was only a 0.1% chance, they took it with all the pride of a small but great nation in the spirit of sport.

Source: https://znews.vn/doi-bong-ty-hon-khien-chau-au-nga-mu-post1593256.html