Iceland will host Ukraine on Friday night in a crucial match for their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign. Currently, Iceland sits second in Group D with three points, while Ukraine lags behind in third, having earned just one point from two matches.
Match Preview
Iceland opened their qualification round strongly, defeating Azerbaijan 5-0 on September 5. In their second match, they gave a spirited performance against France, taking a temporary lead before ultimately losing 2-1. This encounter is pivotal for Iceland, as they aim to secure a top-two spot that would allow them to advance.
Historically, Iceland has faced Ukraine five times, with one victory—a 2-0 win in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. Ukraine has two wins in this matchup, including a recent 2-1 victory in a Euro 2024 playoff in March 2024. Despite struggling to qualify for recent World Cups, Ukraine has been a regular presence in European Championships.
Group D Standing
- 1. France: 6 points
- 2. Iceland: 3 points
- 3. Ukraine: 1 point
Ukraine opened their qualification campaign with a disappointing 2-0 loss to France and then managed a 1-1 draw against Azerbaijan. Coach Sergiy Rebrov faces challenges as the team struggles to find form, needing a win to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Team News
Iceland will likely field a strong team, featuring forwards Daniel Gudjohnsen and Andri Gudjohnsen. Andri scored in the match against France, while Isak Bergmann Johannesson adds strength to the attack after netting twice in this qualification campaign. Lille’s Hakon Arnar Haraldsson will provide support in midfield.
For Ukraine, coach Rebrov might maintain a similar lineup from their previous match. However, the absence of Oleksandr Zinchenko due to injury poses a challenge. Midfielders Heorhiy Sudakov and Oleksandr Zubkov, who performed well last time, are expected to help drive the attack in this critical fixture.
Predicted Lineups
| Iceland | Ukraine |
|---|---|
| Olafsson | Trubin |
| Palsson | Konoplya |
| Ingason | Zabarnyi |
| Gretarsson | Matviienko |
| Tomasson | Mykolenko |
| Thorsteinsson | Ocheretko |
| Johannesson | Kaliuzhnyi |
| Haraldsson | Bondarenko |
| Anderson | Malinovskyi |
| A Gudjohnsen | Vanat |
| D Gudjohnsen | Sudakov |
Prediction
The match is set to be fiercely contested, with Iceland riding the momentum from their recent performance against France. Based on form, we predict Iceland will edge out Ukraine, with a final scoreline of 2-1. This win could be pivotal, setting the stage for a crucial home match against France on October 13.
