For the first time in history, the Faroe Islands will participate in the IHF Men’s Youth (U19) World Championship. And they will be eager to finish at least in the top 10. 

At the last Men’s 18 EHF EURO 2022 in Montenegro, they finished ninth and the U21 squad just ranked seventh at the IHF Men’s Junior (U21) World Championship 2023 in Germany/Greece, which will inspire the team of head coaches Hjalti Mohr Jacobsen and Djóni Gaard Joensen.

They have already announced the 16 players who will play in the first World Championship for this younger age category. Among the squad is of course one of the brightest talents, Óli Mittún. The 18-year-old left back plays for the Swedish club IK Sävehof, where he made his first international experience in the European League this season. 

Mittún was the outstanding player of the Men’s 18 EHF EURO 2022. Although he and his team did not make it to the semi-finals, his performance could not be overlooked as he shone in the seven matches the Faroe Islands were playing. He not only became the MVP of the tournament, but also the top scorer. With an overall score of 80 goals, he set a new record, as no player had ever before scored so many goals at an M18 EHF EURO. 

The Faroe Islands have good chances to proceed to the main round although they are new to the competition. At Croatia 2023, they will face Sweden once more, as they did at the Men’s 18 EHF EURO 2022. Group H is completed by the 2022 Asian Men’s Youth Handball Championship runners-up Islamic Republic of Iran and Burundi. The latter one is new to the competition as well, entering the tournament as the fourth-strongest team of the 2022 African Men’s Youth Handball Championship.

Key players: Óli Mittún (left back), Niklas Gaard (right wing)

Qualification for Croatia 2023: Men’s 18 EHF EURO 2022 – 9th

History in tournament: Debutants

Group at Croatia 2023: Group H (Sweden, Islamic Republic of Iran, Faroe Islands, Burundi)