KI Klaksvik

The first-ever team from the Faroe Islands to compete in the group stage of a European competition

- Colin Millar

The small Faroe Islands fishing town of Klaksvik was far from an obvious destination to be generating football headlines across Europe this summer.

With a population of just 5,000 and from one of European football’s genuine outposts, it is easy to see why opponents underestimated them. When Ferencvaros – Hungary’s most successful club – were paired with KI Klaksvik in the Champions League first qualifying round with the winners to face Hacken of Sweden, their social media pages wrote: “The Swedish champions await us in the next round...because it is certain we are going through!”

After a scoreless draw on the Bordoy island – in the northeast of the Faroes – it was widely expected that Ferencvaros would complete the job in Budapest, but they crashed to a shock 3-0 defeat in the eye-catching result of the round. After Hacken played out a similarly goalless draw away from home, surely they would have learned from the Hungarians’ premature joy? Not quite. The Swedish champions posted online: “Now we will secure the victory at home next week.” A pulsating 3-3 thriller preceded KI progressing on penalties.