The UEFA European Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup reach a November stage Finland vs Malta on Friday, November 14, 2025, at Helsinki Olympic Stadium in a crucial FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying encounter that could significantly impact their playoff prospects. This FIFA World Cup European qualification match willner qualified for the final round of 48 teams.
The Eagle Owls enter this Group G fixture in third place with 10 points and a -5 goal difference, desperately needing a victory against lowly-ranked Malta to maintain their push for automatic qualification or secure a playoff spot.
Malta arrives as massive underdogs in fifth place with just 2 points, having suffered consecutive heavy defeats to the Netherlands (4-0) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (4-1).
As of November Window, out of 48 teams, 22 have qualified, while most of the teams have been eliminated after the October window for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Finland vs Malta Match Information, Prediction, H2H and Where to Watch
Table of Contents
- Match: FIFA World Cup UEFA Qualification 2026, Group G
- Date and Time: Friday, November 14, 2025, at :00 PM local time / 12:00 PM EST / 9:00 AM PST)
- Venue: Helsinki Olympic Stadium
- TV and Streaming (USA): Not televised; stream on Paramount+ or YouTube (select regions)
- Global Options: FIFA+ (free in select regions), or local broadcasters
- Live Scores and Updates: FIFA.com, ESPN, or FWCN for real-time stats and highlights
Finland’s Campaign:
The Eagle Owls have experienced a challenging qualifying campaign, posting 3 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses across 7 matches, accumulating 10 points and a concerning negative goal difference of -5.
Finland showed early promise with victories over Poland (2-1 at home in June) and Lithuania (2-1 away in October), but suffered devastating defeats to the Netherlands (0-2) and Poland (1-3 away in September).
Their most recent outing saw a humiliating 4-0 away loss to the Netherlands in early October, highlighting defensive fragility against top opponents. Despite this inconsistency, Finland remain in playoff contention and must capitalize at home against struggling Malta.
Malta’s Struggles:
The Maltese side has endured a difficult World Cup qualifying campaign, accumulating just 2 points from 6 matches with zero wins and a shocking -15 goal difference.
Malta’s sole points came from 0-0 draws against Lithuania and a 1-1 stalemate, while they suffered heavy defeats to Poland (2-0), Netherlands (8-0), and Bosnia and Herzegovina (4-1).
The team’s defensive organization has completely collapsed, conceding 16 goals while scoring just 1—highlighting systemic problems both in defense and attack.
This match represents another opportunity for Malta to avoid complete humiliation, though their outlook remains bleak.
Finland Last 5 Matches
| Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands (A) | 0-4 | L | WC Qualifier | Oct 12, 2025 |
| Lithuania (H) | 2-1 | W | WC Qualifier | Oct 9, 2025 |
| Poland (A) | 3-1 | L | WC Qualifier | Sep 7, 2025 |
| Norway (A) | 1-0 | L | Friendly | Sep 4, 2025 |
| Poland (H) | 2-1 | W | WC Qualifier | Jun 10, 2025 |
Malta Last 5 Matches
| Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bosnia and Herzegovina (H) | 4-1 | L | Friendly | Oct 12, 2025 |
| Netherlands (H) | 4-0 | L | WC Qualifier | Oct 9, 2025 |
| San Marino (H) | 3-1 | W | Friendly | Sep 9, 2025 |
| Lithuania (A) | 1-1 | D | WC Qualifier | Sep 4, 2025 |
| Poland (H) | 2-0 | L | WC Qualifier | Mar 24, 2025 |
Finland vs Malta Head to Head
Finland holds a perfect head-to-head record against Malta, having won both previous encounters at the international level.
In their most recent meeting during this qualifying campaign on March 21, 2025, Finland secured a narrow 1-0 victory at Ta’Qali National Stadium, with Oliver Antman scoring the decisive goal in the 38th minute.
Finland’s previous victory came from a 5-0 thrashing in a friendly in March 2018, demonstrating Finland’s clear superiority in this fixture.
| Played | Finland Wins | Draws | Malta Wins | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Matches | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Goals For | 1 | 0 | ||
| Goals Against | 0 | 1 |
Finland will be expected to dominate and deliver a decisive victory at home, while Malta will hope for a marginally better performance than their recent showings.
Finland vs Malta Current Team News
Finland Team News:
Finland faces a significant injury concern with goalkeeper Lukáš Hrádecký unavailable due to injury, necessitating a selection from alternatives Jesse Joronen or Viljami Sinisalo. The squad includes experienced midfielder Glen Kamara (Rennes, 56 Finland caps), who provides leadership and distribution from deep positions.
Forward Joel Pohjanpalo has been a crucial goal contributor with 2 goals in the qualifying campaign and will be vital to Finland’s attacking play. Midfielder Kaan Kairinen (Sparta Prague) has also registered 1 goal and provides creative support.
Coach Jacob Friis will be looking for a confident home performance to boost morale following the devastating 4-0 defeat to the Netherlands.
Malta Team News:
Malta will likely deploy goalkeeper Henry Bonello between the sticks despite the team’s defensive troubles. The squad’s main goalscorer is midfielder Alexander Satariano with 1 goal across 6 appearances.
Forward Basil Tuma (Reading, EFL League One) represents Malta’s attacking thrust despite limited goal-scoring returns. Midfielder Teddy Teuma and defender Matthew Guillaumier are key squad members providing stability, though their recent form has been inadequate.
The Maltese defense has been particularly vulnerable, making them susceptible to Finland’s home advantage and attacking intent.
Finland vs Malta Current Possible Starting Lineups
Finland Predicted XI (4-3-3):
- GK: Jesse Joronen
- DF: Adam Stahl, Miro Tenho, Ville Koski, Nikolai Alho
- MF: Robin Lod, Matti Peltola, Kaan Kairinen, Santeri Väänänen
- FW: Joel Pohjanpalo, Oliver Antman
Malta Predicted XI (4-3-3):
- GK: Henry Bonello
- DF: Joseph Mbong, Steve Borg, Enrico Pepe, Zach Muscat, Ryan Camenzuli
- MF: Teddy Teuma, Matthew Guillaumier, Bjorn Kristensen
- FW: Jodi Jones, Paul Mbong
Key Players
Finland Key Players:
- Joel Pohjanpalo: The Venezia forward has scored 2 goals in World Cup qualifying and provides a focal point for Finland’s attacking play
- Glen Kamara: The experienced Rennes midfielder (56 caps) offers leadership, passing range, and midfield control from deep positions
- Kaan Kairinen: The Sparta Prague midfielder has contributed 1 goal and provides crucial creativity in the final third
- Oliver Antman: The forward scored Finland’s winner against Malta in March and will be looking to replicate that performance
Malta Key Players:
- Alexander Satariano: Malta’s sole goal scorer in qualifying with 1 goal across 6 matches
- Basil Tuma: The Reading winger represents Malta’s youthful attacking threat despite minimal goal-scoring returns
- Matthew Guillaumier: The midfielder provides defensive support and experience in a struggling lineup
- Teddy Teuma: The veteran midfielder and captain offers leadership despite the team’s collective struggles
Finland vs Malta Match Prediction
This fixture represents a complete mismatch in quality and form, with Finland overwhelming favorites to secure a convincing victory. Finland enters with home advantage, superior recent form against weaker opposition, and the psychological edge of their 1-0 previous victory in this same competition.
Malta, conversely, arrives with a horrific defensive record (16 goals conceded), zero wins, and minimal attacking threat.
Finland’s Path to Victory will involve dominating possession, creating numerous scoring opportunities, and converting chances efficiently—something they must do to improve their playoff prospects.
Malta’s defensive instability has been catastrophic, having conceded 4+ goals in their last two matches alone. The Maltese attack remains nonexistent with just 1 goal scored across 6 matches.
The key tactical consideration is whether Finland can maintain attacking momentum throughout the match and avoid complacency. Historical precedent suggests Finland will win comfortably, having prevailed 5-0 in a friendly and 1-0 in their recent qualifier.
- Predicted Score: Finland 3-0 Malta
This match offers Finland an excellent opportunity to boost their goal difference and playoff positioning before the final qualifier, while Malta simply aims to minimize further embarrassment.
Where to Watch Finland vs Malta in the USA, Canada, Australia, Europe and More
- USA: The match is listed for US streaming via services like fuboTV and ViX.
- Canada: Available on platforms such as DAZN Canada
- Australia: Check if rights are held by local sports streaming services (not explicitly listed).
- Europe (including Finland & Malta): Domestic broadcasters in each country will carry the game — e.g., for Malta and Finland, rights may be via national sports channels.
