Finland vs Malta prediction, H2H and probable lineups - 14 November 2025
One of the matches of the 9th round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers will take place on Friday at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, where the Finland national team will host Malta. Let's break down a bet on the outcome of this encounter with promising odds for success.
Match preview
Finland enter their final game of the qualifying stage with virtually no chance of advancing from their group. In the previous round, the Finns suffered a crushing 0-4 defeat against the Netherlands, effectively ending their hopes of fighting for second place. Nevertheless, the team will look to finish the campaign on a high note and aim for a convincing home victory against the group's weakest opponent.
Motivation will be key — to produce a result, please the fans, and improve their goal difference, which could still influence the final standings. The absence of defender Peltola due to suspension is unlikely to cause much trouble in a fixture like this.
Malta, as usual, are finishing their qualifying campaign at the bottom of the table, and this cycle has been no exception. The team has gone 12 World Cup qualifiers without a win, picking up points only twice — in matches against Lithuania. All other games ended in defeat, and in six of their last seven outings, the Maltese failed to score even once.
Particularly telling were their matches against the Netherlands, where Malta suffered two heavy defeats with a combined score of 0-12. These results highlight their fragile defense and an almost total lack of attacking threat. Problems are compounded by the suspension of two key players — Azzopardi and Camenzuli — making the squad even more vulnerable.
Probable lineups
- Finland: Joronen, Koski, Alho, Ivanov, Lähteenmäki, Tenho, Kairinen, Valta, Markhiev, Pohjanpalo, Källman
- Malta: Bonello, Birman, Borg, Pepe, Shaw, Mbong, Satariano, Peibert, Guillama, Suaref, Cardona
Match facts and head-to-head
- Finland have never lost to Malta in their head-to-head history.
- Malta have lost 11 of their last 14 away World Cup qualifiers.
- Malta have failed to score in 6 of their last 7 matches.
Prediction
Finland are motivated, even if their chances of progressing are only theoretical. The opponent is perfect for a high-scoring affair: weak defense, missing key players, and almost no motivation. Considering Malta's consistent struggles on the road and lack of goals, a bet on "Both teams to score – No" at odds of 1.55 looks like a solid pick.
