Finland Faces Andorra in International Friendly After World Cup Disappointment

HELSINKI, Finland — Finland will clash with Andorra in an international friendly on November 17, after both teams were recently eliminated from contention for the 2026 World Cup.

The match will take place at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium, marking a chance for both nations to regroup after disappointing qualifying campaigns. Finland had hoped to secure a playoff spot, but their aspirations were dashed when they fell 1-0 to Malta, securing a third-place finish in Group G.

Finland’s manager, who took over in early 2025, has faced challenges since replacing the previous coach. Under his leadership, Finland has experienced mixed results, with three wins and five losses in nine games. The team, nicknamed the Eagle-owls, is still searching for their second appearance at a major tournament.

Historically, Finland holds a favorable record against Andorra, having not lost to them in previous meetings—though the last encounters took place over two decades ago.

On the other hand, Andorra has had a challenging qualifying campaign, finishing at the bottom of Group K without a victory. Despite these struggles, they have shown resilience, managing to keep the scorelines tight against stronger opponents like England and Albania.

Finland will be missing key players, including a prominent forward who recently announced his retirement from international football, leaving a significant gap in the squad. Additionally, coach Friis is concerned about an injury impacting another player’s availability.

Andorra enters the match with a full roster, providing coach Koldo Alvarez with options to rotate players. The visitors aim to end their qualifying run on a strong note despite their standings.

As both teams prepare for this friendly, they look to regain confidence and deliver a performance that can set a positive tone for future competitions.