The Faroe Islands, an archipelago of 18 islands in the North Atlantic with just 55,000 people, have produced one of football's great ongoing underdog stories — shocking Austria 1-0 in their first-ever competitive match in 1990 (played on a grass pitch because their artificial turf was deemed illegal) and becoming a beloved fixture in European qualifying ever since.
| Appearances | 0 |
| Best Finish | Never qualified for World Cup |
| Last Appearance | Never qualified |
| 2022 Result | Did not qualify |
Faroe Islands players compete in Scandinavian leagues (Danish Superliga, Norwegian Eliteserien) and the Faroese Premier League, with a handful reaching Danish and other Scandinavian top-flight levels.
The Faroe Islands' non-qualification for FIFA 2026 is entirely expected — 55,000 people on a remote North Atlantic archipelago cannot realistically challenge for a World Cup place. But the Faroese football story is one of European football's most beloved — their 1990 shock win over Austria, their passionate home support at Tórsvøllur stadium, and their occasional giant-killing performances make them a permanent fixture of European qualifying folklore.
Faroe Islands fans can watch the tournament following their closest football cultural neighbours — Norway (Group I, featuring Erling Haaland) and Denmark (who didn't qualify) are the natural Scandinavian connections. Norway's return to the World Cup after 28 years echoes what the Faroe Islands dreams of achieving someday.
Follow FIFA 2026 on T Sports and Sony Sports in Bangladesh. Group I's Norway (Haaland's first World Cup) provides the closest Scandinavian connection for Faroese football fans.