HELSINKI, Finland, September 29, 2026: Finland scored seven times in their UEFA Nations League opener. Three days later, Belarus found the answer nobody in San Marino had managed to provide.
Finland were held 0-0 by Belarus in the first completed League C game of Tuesday’s Matchday 2 schedule, ending the attacking momentum created by their 7-0 opening victory over San Marino. In the other early fixture, the Faroe Islands remained unbeaten after a 1-1 draw away to Moldova, where Sergiu Perciun canceled out Viljormur Davidsen’s first-half goal.
The two draws did not settle either group. They made the next round more important.
Finland move provisionally to four points in Group C1, but Albania can pass them later Tuesday against San Marino. In Group C3, the Faroe Islands now have two points from two draws, while Moldova finally have a point after opening with a 2-0 defeat in Slovakia.
Story at a glance
Why Does Finland’s 0-0 Draw Feel So Different After Scoring Seven?
Context changes the meaning of a scoreline.
Did Joel Pohjanpalo Score Against Belarus?
No.
What Does Finland vs Belarus Mean for Group C1?
Finland temporarily lead Group C1 with four points from two matches. Belarus move onto one point.
How Did the Faroe Islands Stay Unbeaten in Moldova?
The Faroe Islands have not won yet, but they have also not lost.
Why Does Another 1-1 Draw Matter for the Faroe Islands?
Two points from two matches will not make the Faroe Islands favorites to win Group C3.
The results continued a League C storyline that began when The Sports Encounter previewed Finland’s attempt to return immediately toward League B and the Faroe Islands’ growing ability to trouble stronger opponents.
UEFA’s official Nations League fixture list confirms the remaining Group C1 and C3 matches were still to be played later Tuesday, meaning the standings below remain provisional.
What Were the Early UEFA Nations League Results on September 29?
| League | Group | Match | Result | Immediate Consequence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | C1 | Finland vs Belarus | 0-0 | Finland move to four points; Belarus earn their first point |
| C | C3 | Moldova vs Faroe Islands | 1-1 | Faroes remain unbeaten; Moldova earn their first point |
Why Does Finland’s 0-0 Draw Feel So Different After Scoring Seven?
Context changes the meaning of a scoreline.
A point against Belarus would not normally be treated as a crisis for Finland. The contrast with what happened three days earlier makes this result much more revealing.
Finland demolished San Marino 7-0 on Matchday 1. Joel Pohjanpalo scored three times and Leo Walta added two, while UEFA confirmed Pohjanpalo produced the first hat trick of the 2026-27 Nations League.
That performance immediately established Finland as one of Group C1’s obvious promotion contenders.
Belarus arrived in Helsinki carrying the opposite momentum. Their campaign had begun with a 2-0 defeat away to Albania and no goals scored.
The 0-0 therefore represents a sharp correction for both teams.
Finland remain unbeaten and have still not conceded after 180 minutes. That defensive record is valuable. The concern is that a team capable of scoring seven against the weakest opponent in the group could not find one goal against the side that had just lost in Albania.
For Belarus, the point is much more encouraging. They leave Helsinki with their first point, first clean sheet and first evidence that Group C1 may not simply become a Finland-Albania race.
Did Joel Pohjanpalo Score Against Belarus?
No.
Pohjanpalo entered the game joint-top of the Nations League scoring chart with three goals after his hat trick against San Marino. UEFA had specifically identified him as one of the players to watch on Matchday 2.
Belarus kept him and the rest of Finland’s attack off the scoresheet.
That does not erase what Finland produced in San Marino, but it creates a more useful question for the campaign ahead: how consistently can Finland break down League C opponents when the match does not open up early?
UEFA’s Matchday 2 preview highlighted Pohjanpalo after his opening treble. Belarus turned that individual threat into a collective defensive problem they managed to solve.
What Does Finland vs Belarus Mean for Group C1?
Finland temporarily lead Group C1 with four points from two matches. Belarus move onto one point.
| Position | Team | Played | Points | Goal Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finland | 2 | 4 | +7 |
| 2 | Albania | 1 | 3 | +2 |
| 3 | Belarus | 2 | 1 | -2 |
| 4 | San Marino | 1 | 0 | -7 |
Provisional standings before San Marino vs Albania later on September 29.
The most important fixture is already visible on the horizon.
Finland host Albania on October 3.
Albania started the campaign by beating Belarus 2-0, so Friday’s meeting could become the first direct test of which relegated League B side is better equipped to control this group.
TSE’s broader soccer coverage will follow how the extended Nations League window develops through the October fixtures.
How Did the Faroe Islands Stay Unbeaten in Moldova?
The Faroe Islands have not won yet, but they have also not lost.
Viljormur Davidsen put the visitors ahead in the 26th minute in Chisinau before Sergiu Perciun equalized for Moldova in the 66th.
The 1-1 draw gives the Faroese two points from two matches after they opened with the same scoreline against Kazakhstan.
For Moldova, the equalizer mattered because the campaign had started badly. Slovakia beat them 2-0 on Matchday 1, leaving Lilian Popescu’s side at the bottom of Group C3 before Tuesday.
Perciun’s goal therefore delivered Moldova’s first Nations League point of the campaign.
The Moldovan Football Federation’s official match coverage had framed the fixture as an immediate opportunity to recover from the Slovakia defeat, with the compressed schedule allowing little time for teams to absorb early mistakes.
Why Does Another 1-1 Draw Matter for the Faroe Islands?
Two points from two matches will not make the Faroe Islands favorites to win Group C3.
The nature of those points matters.
The Faroese drew Kazakhstan at home and then avoided defeat in Moldova. They have therefore entered the group without the kind of early collapse that can quickly end a six-match Nations League campaign.
The next challenge is considerably harder.
Slovakia visit the Faroe Islands on October 2 after beginning their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Moldova.
A third competitive performance would turn the Faroese start from something respectable into something potentially significant.
This follows a wider trend identified in TSE’s opening League C analysis: recent Faroese results have increasingly made them a side opponents cannot treat as an automatic three points.
What Does the Moldova Draw Mean for Group C3?
Before Slovakia and Kazakhstan complete their second fixtures, Slovakia remain first on three points, the Faroe Islands move to two, and Kazakhstan and Moldova sit on one each.
| Position | Team | Played | Points | Goal Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Slovakia | 1 | 3 | +2 |
| 2 | Faroe Islands | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | Kazakhstan | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | Moldova | 2 | 1 | -2 |
Provisional standings before Slovakia vs Kazakhstan later on September 29.
That makes Moldova’s October 2 trip to Kazakhstan important immediately. Another defeat would leave them chasing the group after only three matches.
The Faroe Islands face Slovakia on the same date.
Why Finland and Moldova Now Face Very Different Pressure
Both home teams drew on Tuesday, but the consequences are different.
Finland’s frustration comes from opportunity lost.
They started with seven goals, had the chance to move to six points and instead opened the door for Albania to seize control of Group C1.
Moldova’s point feels more like damage limitation.
They had lost their opener, fell behind again and at least found a response through Perciun.
The Faroe Islands occupy the middle ground. Two draws keep them competitive, but the schedule now demands something more substantial if they want to challenge Slovakia and Kazakhstan.
That is why consolidated Nations League coverage matters more than isolated scorelines. The same result can mean completely different things depending on the group, previous match and next opponent.
Continue the Soccer Story
The pattern has already appeared elsewhere in the competition. TSE’s Matchday 2 report on Portugal, Norway, Greece and the Netherlands showed how quickly one result can change a group’s hierarchy during this compressed international window.
What Are Finland, Belarus, Moldova and the Faroe Islands’ Next Matches?
| Team | Next Opponent | Date | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finland | Albania | October 3 | Potential direct battle for control of Group C1 |
| Belarus | San Marino | October 3 | Chance to turn first point into first victory |
| Moldova | Kazakhstan | October 2 | Opportunity to avoid falling further behind in Group C3 |
| Faroe Islands | Slovakia | October 2 | First major test against the opening group leader |
The schedule is unusually demanding. UEFA has compressed four Nations League matchdays into the September 24 to October 6 international window, leaving very little recovery time between tactical problems and the next competitive test.
That broader tournament context can be followed through The Sports Encounter’s soccer archive, which tracks the developing international window alongside other major competitions.
What Should Fans Watch Next in the Nations League?
The two early League C draws are only the first part of September 29.
San Marino vs Albania and Slovakia vs Kazakhstan will directly affect the groups discussed here, while the later European schedule also includes Spain, England, Croatia, Scotland and Switzerland.
Spain’s campaign carries particular interest after the federation committed to Luis de la Fuente through 2032. TSE recently examined why the world champions extended De la Fuente’s contract.
The Netherlands are another national team beginning a new cycle after appointing Xavi Hernández, whose international coaching challenge was explored in TSE’s analysis of Xavi’s Netherlands appointment.
For Finland, Belarus, Moldova and the Faroe Islands, however, the questions are more immediate.
Finland must rediscover the attack that produced seven goals. Belarus must prove Helsinki was not an isolated defensive result. Moldova need their first win. And the Faroe Islands must decide whether two respectable draws are the foundation of a promotion challenge or simply two opportunities not fully converted.
UEFA Nations League September 29 FAQs
What Was the Finland vs Belarus Score?
Finland and Belarus drew 0-0 in League C Group 1 on September 29, 2026.
How Many Points Do Finland Have?
Finland have four points from two matches after beating San Marino 7-0 and drawing 0-0 with Belarus.
Did Joel Pohjanpalo Score Against Belarus?
No. Pohjanpalo remained on three Nations League goals after scoring a hat trick against San Marino in Finland’s opening match.
What Was the Moldova vs Faroe Islands Score?
Moldova and the Faroe Islands drew 1-1 in League C Group 3.
Who Scored in Moldova vs Faroe Islands?
Viljormur Davidsen scored for the Faroe Islands before Sergiu Perciun equalized for Moldova.
Are the Faroe Islands Unbeaten in the Nations League?
Yes. They have drawn their first two matches 1-1, against Kazakhstan and Moldova.
When Do Finland Play Albania?
Finland host Albania on October 3, 2026, in a match that could have major implications for the Group C1 promotion race.
When Do the Faroe Islands Play Slovakia?
The Faroe Islands host Slovakia on October 2, 2026.
For continuing international football coverage, results and analysis, visit The Sports Encounter.
