UEFA Nations League fixtures released: first game against Faroe Islands in Torshavn

Malta will be facing the Faroe Islands in Torshavn on September 3 in the first match from Grouo D1 of the UEFA Nations League.

Three days later, Malta hosts Latvia at Ta’ Qali. In October, Malta plays two games away from home, first against Andorra on October 9 and then against Latvia on October 12. The final two matches will be played at home, against Andorra on November 17 and against the Faroe Islands on November 17.

The Faroe Islands are currently ranked 110th, Andorra 135th and Latvia 137th while Malta is 184th.

MATCHDAY 1

Thursday 3 September

D1 Faroe Islands vs Malta (20:45)
D1 Latvia vs Andorra (20:45)

MATCHDAY 2

Sunday 6 September

D1 Andorra vs Faroe Islands (15:00)
D1 Malta vs Latvia (20:45)

MATCHDAY 3

Friday 9 October

D1 Andorra vs Malta (20:45)
D1 Faroe Islands vs Latvia (20:45)

MATCHDAY 4

Monday 12 October

D1 Faroe Islands vs Andorra (20:45)
D1 Latvia vs Malta (20:45)

MATCHDAY 5

Saturday 14 November

D1 Malta vs Andorra (15:00)
D1 Latvia vs Faroe Islands (18:00) 

MATCHDAY 6

Tuesday 17 November

D1 Andorra vs Latvia (20:45)
D1 Malta vs Faroe Islands (20:45

This will be the third consecutive competition where Malta will meet the Faroe Islands. In eight matches, the Faroe Islands won five, Malta won twice, the other game ending in a draw. The Faroe Islands won two friendly World Cup qualifiers in 1997 – first at Ta’ Qali and then at home with an identical 2-1 score. In August 2004, the Faroe Islands won a friendly match at home and then Malta won a friendly match in November 2013 at Ta’ Qali.

In the UEFA Nations League in 2018, Malta lost 1-3 in Torshavn and the clash at Ta’ Qali ended in 1-1 draw. On the other hand, in the EURO qualifiers last year, Malta won 2-1 at Ta’ Qali but lost 0-1 in Torshavn.

Malta and Latvia met five times – Malta defeated Latvia 1-0 in a friendly match in May 1992 and 2-1 in the Malta International Tournament in February 1998 at home, losing 0-2 at Ta’ Qali in September 2010 in a EURO qualifier. At home, Latvia won a friendly match at home in June 1994 and 2-0 in a EURO qualifier in October 2011.

Malta and Andorra met twice in friendly matches, both ending in 1-1 draws – a draw in the Rothmans Tournament in February 2000 and another draw in a friendly match in March 2002.

The UEFA Nations League will be the first competitive tests for new Malta national coach Devis Mangia after a number of friendly matches in the coming weeks.

Malta hosts Gibraltar and Azerbaijan on March 26 and March 30 respectively before playing two friendly matches in Austria against Slovenia and another team yet to be confirmed. Another friendly match is scheduled against Portugal on June 9 in Lisbon.