Developing football in the Faroe Islands
Article summary
Football remains far and away the most popular sport in the Faroe Islands.
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Overview
With a population of just over 50,000 and a challenging climate, the Faroe Islands does not necessarily offer an easy environment for football, but a small army of volunteers continues to help keep the grassroots healthy.
The islands have a relatively small number of players, but the Faroe Islands Football Association (FSF) has big plans, aiming to make the Faroes the world's leading football nation in terms of participation proportion, a challenge which demands a 20% increase in the number of players, coaches and administrators currently involved. The rise in overall participation levels between 2019 and 2021 was 13%.
Women's football is an important area for growth. In its 2021 action plan, Get In The Game, the FSF set a target of doubling the number of registered female players by 2025, and has already employed a full-time national team coach and a women's football lead within the association to advance those aims. Between 2021 and 2025, key objectives have been identified in the following areas for women's football:
- Elite and national teams
- Participation
- Clubs and tournaments
- Leadership and workforce
- Visibility and perception
Women's football participation progress
The women's football strategy devised by the FSF with help from UEFA has already seen encouraging progress made in participation:
• Number of registered female players increased from 1,600 to 2,000 between January 2021 and November 2022
• Number of female coaches with a UEFA B licence increased from 9 to 16 between 2020 and 2022
Participation is the key focus of the overall FSF strategy. The association sees the clear benefits of football to public health as well its role fostering good sportsmanship, a sporting spirit that helps to not only encourage well-being but also strengthens the islands' communities.
"There is room for everyone in Faroese football; for dedicated fans, generous sponsors and local authorities, and for the volunteers who help to keep local clubs going. Faroese football must dare to be ambitious and set high goals for itself, on the pitch, in the club offices, and inside the FSF."
UEFA assistance
The Faroese national stadium Tórsvollur has benefited from several cycles of UEFA HatTrick funding, UEFA helping to improve seating and floodlighting as well as develop the FSF's office facilities.
One of the most recent HatTrick funded initiatives is the 60+ football fitness project. A collaboration with the University of the Faroe Islands and Klaksvík Municipality, it tracks the benefits of regular football sessions on the physical and mental health of men and women over the age of 60.
Timeline
Association history
National team history
President
Christian Andreasen
Nationality: Faroese
Date of birth: 10 December 1959
Association president since: 2010
General secretary
Kristin Dam Ziska
Nationality: Faroese
Date of birth: 7 April 1985
Association general secretary since: 2023