In the world of handball, where giants often dominate the headlines, there are moments that remind us why this sport is so captivating: anything can happen. The 2025 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship delivered one of those unforgettable surprises—a story that will inspire generations to come.
From the remote North Atlantic, the Faroe Islands, with a population of just 54,000, stunned the handball community by clinching a coveted medal on the world stage. Their achievement is more than just a sporting milestone; it’s a testament to the unpredictable magic of handball, where belief, teamwork, and passion can topple the odds.
At the heart of this extraordinary journey stands Óli Mittún, a player whose determination and spirit embody the very essence of possibility. And what better player to embody the spirit of the sport during the International Handball Week rather than Mittún, who became the MVP of the competition by scoring the largest number of goals and delivering the largest number of assists at Poland 2025.
“This is the biggest thing I’ve ever experienced. It’s all I’ve ever dreamt about, to win a medal with the Faroe Islands. The dream has come true,” said Mittún after the Faroe Islands took a 27:26 win against Sweden, in the bronze medal match at Poland 2025.
Mittún had already announced himself at the 2023 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship, where he was the top scorer of the competition and the All-Star centre back. He was also the MVP of the M18 EHF EURO 2022 and the top goal scorer at the M20 EHF EURO 2024, providing highlight reels with his fantastic goals and huge handball IQ.
But to provide the core of the challenge for such an amazing performance for a team which had not won a medal before and has little to no means available in order to provide depth is a huge achievement in itself.
“It’s incredible.It’s the first time we have won a medal in a European or World Championship. It’s crazy to think that we are 54,000 people. We beat nations like Sweden and France and almost beat Portugal,” added the MVP of the 2025 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship.
“We proved in this tournament that we are one of the best junior teams in the world. I think what’s the most important is that this team can inspire many children to play handball.”
This run has captured the imagination of fans worldwide, sparking renewed interest in handball across small nations and communities. The handball darlings of the Faroe Islands will definitely inspire new young players, as Mittún already mentioned, and create plenty of motivation for future generations.
The geography of the country means in wintertime, the natural light is scarce. It also means that children get to spend their time trying more sports. According to Mark Lausen-Marcher, a coach in the Faroe Islands, who presented a webinar titles “The World’s Best Talent Development Environment” during the IHF Youth Coaches Handball Education Week at he 2023 IHF Education Weeks, the few arenas in the Faroe Islands are open at all times for children to go in and dabble in handball, making their first steps towards a professional career.
“All of us are friends on this team. We all played handball when we grew up in the arenas. To the children who watch us at home and see that we win this, I think that gives them even more motivation to play even more handball and to believe that they also can be part of this one day,” added Mittún.
But probably the most important thing for Faroe’s handball uptick in performances over the past years is the true connection they have created with their fans. At Poland 2025, hundreds came in Katowice and Sosnowiec to support their side and, eventually, celebrate a medal which would have been hard to predict a decade ago, when the senior team won the IHF Men’s Emerging Nations Championship.
“Every time we play championships we have, as I said before, the best supporters and the most after the hosts of course. It’s amazing. Even though it’s just a junior tournament, they are always with us and have our back. The whole nation is watching at home,” says Mittún.
With the Nordic side already qualified for the EHF EURO 2026, the second edition of the premium European competition where the Faroe Islands are playing in, Mittún and his teammates will be surely eyeing a berth for the 2027 IHF Men’s World Championship, where they would make their debut in a World Championship at senior level.
But until then, Mittún, who will join Danish side GOG this summer, in a huge step in his career, is still staying grounded and living the moment. Asked about his MVP title, he replied swiftly.
“It’s nice, but I don’t really care. At the moment I will trade everything, every individual award I have won for this bronze medal for the Faroe Islands,” underlined the centre back.