Iceland national football team facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This page is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Iceland women's national football team.

Quick facts for kids
Iceland

Nickname(s)

Strákarnir okkar (Our Boys)

Association

Knattspyrnusamband Íslands (KSÍ)

Confederation

UEFA (Europe)

Head coach

Arnar Gunnlaugsson

Captain

Orri Óskarsson

Most caps

Birkir Bjarnason (113)

Top scorer

Gylfi Sigurðsson (27)

Home stadium

Laugardalsvöllur

FIFA code

ISL

First colours

Second colours

FIFA ranking

Current

1 (7 February 2019)

Highest

18 (February–March 2018)

Lowest

131 (April–June 2012)

Elo ranking

Current

26 (3 March 2019)

Highest

19 (October 2017)

Lowest

128 (August 1973)

First international

Unofficial

Faroe Islands 0–1 Iceland

(Tórshavn, Faroe Islands; 29 July 1930)
Official

Iceland 0–3 Denmark

(Reykjavík, Iceland; 17 July 1946)

Biggest win

Unofficial

Iceland 9–0 Faroe Islands

(Keflavík, Iceland; 10 July 1985)
Official

Liechtenstein 0–7 Iceland

(Vaduz, Liechtenstein; 26 March 2023)

Biggest defeat

Denmark 14–2 Iceland

(Copenhagen, Denmark; 23 August 1967)

World Cup

Appearances

1 (first in 2018)

Best result

Group stage (2018)

European Championship

Appearances

1 (first in 2016)

Best result

Quarter-finals (2016)

Greenland Cup

Appearances

2 (first in 1980)

Best result

Champions (1980, 1984)

Baltic Cup

Appearances

1 (first in 2022)

Best result

Champions (2022)

The Iceland men's national football team represents Iceland in international football games. The team is known as Strákarnir okkar, which means Our Boys in Icelandic. The Football Association of Iceland controls the team. Iceland has been a member of FIFA since 1947 and UEFA since 1957.

The team had great success in the late 2010s. They almost made it to the 2014 FIFA World Cup playoffs. Iceland then reached their first big tournament, UEFA Euro 2016, after beating the Netherlands twice. At Euro 2016, they surprised everyone by beating England to reach the quarter-finals. They were then knocked out by host nation France. Iceland also became the smallest country to ever qualify for the FIFA World Cup in 2017, playing in the 2018 tournament. They even drew with Argentina in their first match there.

Team History

Early Days of Icelandic Football

The first official international match for Iceland was on July 17, 1946, in Reykjavík. They lost 0–3 to Denmark. Their first international win was against Finland in 1947. For many years, the team did not often try to qualify for the FIFA World Cup or the UEFA European Championship. In 1958, Iceland played in World Cup qualifiers for the first time but lost all their games.

In 1980, Iceland won the first Greenland Cup, which was a friendly tournament. Since 1974, the team has taken part in qualifiers for every World Cup and European Championship. In 1994, they reached their highest FIFA World Rankings spot at the time, 37th. This was beaten in 2016 when they reached 21st. A special moment happened in 1996 when Eiður Guðjohnsen played in the same international match as his father, Arnór Guðjohnsen.

Football in the 21st Century

Iceland national football team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Rostov-on-Don, Russia

In the qualifiers for Euro 2004, Iceland finished third in their group, just missing out on a playoff spot. After this, the team had some tough years. They often finished near the bottom of their groups in qualifiers. For example, in the Euro 2008 qualifiers, they had some big losses.

For a long time, Icelandic football faced challenges. There weren't many professional players, and the cold, long winters made it hard to train outdoors. However, in the 2000s, things changed a lot. Money was invested to build indoor football fields with artificial turf. This meant young players could train all year round, no matter the weather. These new facilities helped more young people get into sports.

In 2014, Iceland nearly qualified for their first World Cup. They finished second in their group and played Croatia in a playoff. After a 0–0 draw at home, they lost 2–0 away.

Euro 2016 Success

Iceland made history in 2015 by qualifying for a major tournament for the first time. They finished second in their group for Euro 2016, losing only two games. They even beat the Netherlands (who had finished third in the 2014 World Cup) twice during qualification. This helped them reach their highest FIFA ranking at the time, 23rd.

At the Euro 2016 tournament, Iceland drew their first two group matches against Portugal and Hungary. They then won 2–1 against Austria to move on from their group. In the Round of 16, Iceland caused a big upset by beating England 2–1. This win was a huge moment for the team. They were eventually knocked out by host nation France in the quarter-finals, losing 5–2.

World Cup team 2018

2018 World Cup Debut

Iceland qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup on October 9, 2017, after a 2–0 win against Kosovo. This was their first time ever in the World Cup. They also became the country with the smallest population to reach the finals. Iceland was placed in a tough group with Croatia, Argentina, and Nigeria.

Their first World Cup match was against 2014 runners-up Argentina, and Iceland managed a fantastic 1–1 draw. However, they lost 2–0 to Nigeria and then 2–1 to Croatia in their final group game. Iceland finished last in their group with one point and was eliminated.

Recent Challenges

After their big successes, Iceland faced some difficult times. In the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League, they lost all four of their games. They also had a tough time in the Euro 2020 qualifiers. They finished third in their group but made it to the playoffs. In a very close playoff game against Hungary, Iceland was leading 1–0 until the last few minutes but lost 2–1 after Hungary scored two quick goals.

The team also struggled in the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League, losing all their matches and being moved down to a lower league. The coach, Erik Hamrén, resigned after this.

The 2022 World Cup qualifiers also started poorly for Iceland. The team faced some challenges outside of football that affected player availability and led to changes in the Football Association. Iceland ended up in second-to-last place in their group and did not qualify. These results were due to a mix of factors, including new players needing time to play together and other issues.

The Euro 2024 qualifiers also had a difficult start. Iceland lost to Bosnia 0–3 but then had their biggest official win ever, beating Liechtenstein 7–0. The coach, Arnar Viðarsson, was replaced by Åge Hareide. Under the new coach, Iceland lost to Slovakia and Portugal. Despite a good effort against Portugal, they lost 0–1 to a late goal by Cristiano Ronaldo. Iceland finished 4th in their group but still had a chance in the playoffs. In the playoff semi-final, they beat Israel 4–1. However, in the final match against Ukraine, Iceland lost 2–1 after leading at half-time.

In the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League, Iceland was moved down to League C for the next season. They finished 3rd in their group, beating Montenegro twice but losing heavily to Wales and Turkey. They then played in promotion/relegation playoffs against Kosovo. Iceland lost both games, 1–2 away and 1–3 at home (played in Spain due to stadium renovations), meaning they will play in League C next season.

Team Look and Supporters

Laugardalsvöllur, Iceland's national football stadium

The Iceland national team wears blue for their home games and white for their away games. Their team badge, adopted in 2020, shows special guardian spirits from Icelandic stories: a giant, a dragon, a bull, and an eagle. Before this, their badge had the letters KSI (for the Football Association of Iceland) and stripes like the Flag of Iceland.

Icelandic fans became famous for their "Viking Thunder Clap" chant in the mid-2010s. This involves fans clapping their hands above their heads and shouting "huh!" to the beat of a drum. This tradition became well-known during Euro 2016.

Kit Providers

The team's official uniforms are made by the German company Puma since 2020. Before that, other companies like Umbro, Adidas, ABM, Reusch, and Erreà made their kits.

Kit provider	Period
Umbro	1975
Adidas	1976–1991
ABM	1992–1996
Reusch	1996–2001
Erreà	2002–2020
Puma	2020–

Team Staff

Position	Name
Head coach	Arnar Gunnlaugsson
Assistant coach	Davíð Snorri Jónasson
Technical advisor	Bjarni Jakobsson
Training coach	Birkir Eyjólfsson
Fitness coach	Ari Þór Örlygsson
First-Team Doctor	Jóhannes Rúnarsson
Goalkeeper coach	Halldór Björnsson
Athletic coach	Arnór Snær Guðmundsson
Physiotherapist	Sverrir Sigþórsson

Players

Current Squad

Here are the players who were chosen for the friendly matches in June 2025 against Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Caps (games played) and goals are correct as of June 10, 2025, after the match against Northern Ireland.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Elías Rafn Ólafsson	(2000-03-11) 11 March 2000 (age 25)	7	0	Midtjylland
12	1GK	Hákon Valdimarsson	(2001-10-13) 13 October 2001 (age 23)	20	0	Brentford
13	1GK	Anton Ari Einarsson	(1994-08-25) 25 August 1994 (age 30)	2	0	Breiðablik

2	2DF	Logi Tómasson	(2000-09-13) 13 September 2000 (age 24)	10	1	Samsunspor
3	2DF	Daníel Leó Grétarsson	(1995-10-02) 2 October 1995 (age 29)	24	0	Sønderjyske
4	2DF	Victor Pálsson	(1991-04-30) 30 April 1991 (age 34)	50	3	Plymouth Argyle
5	2DF	Sverrir Ingi Ingason	(1993-08-05) 5 August 1993 (age 31)	59	3	Panathinaikos
17	2DF	Aron Gunnarsson	(1989-04-22) 22 April 1989 (age 36)	107	5	Al-Gharafa
19	2DF	Dagur Dan Þórhallsson	(2000-05-02) 2 May 2000 (age 25)	7	0	Orlando City
23	2DF	Hörður Björgvin Magnússon	(1993-02-11) 11 February 1993 (age 32)	50	2	Unattached

6	3MF	Ísak Bergmann Jóhannesson	(2003-03-23) 23 March 2003 (age 22)	35	4	1. FC Köln
7	3MF	Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson	(1990-10-27) 27 October 1990 (age 34)	99	8	Al Dhafra
8	3MF	Hákon Arnar Haraldsson (vice-captain)	(2003-04-10) 10 April 2003 (age 22)	22	3	Lille
11	3MF	Jón Dagur Þorsteinsson	(1998-11-26) 26 November 1998 (age 26)	46	6	Hertha Berlin
14	3MF	Þórir Jóhann Helgason	(2000-09-28) 28 September 2000 (age 24)	19	2	Lecce
15	3MF	Willum Þór Willumsson	(1998-10-23) 23 October 1998 (age 26)	18	0	Birmingham City
16	3MF	Stefán Teitur Þórðarson	(1998-10-16) 16 October 1998 (age 26)	30	1	Preston North End
18	3MF	Mikael Anderson	(1998-07-01) 1 July 1998 (age 27)	33	2	Djurgården
20	3MF	Kristian Hlynsson	(2004-01-23) 23 January 2004 (age 21)	4	0	Twente
21	3MF	Arnór Ingvi Traustason	(1993-04-30) 30 April 1993 (age 32)	67	6	IFK Norrköping
24	3MF	Mikael Egill Ellertsson	(2002-03-11) 11 March 2002 (age 23)	21	1	Genoa

9	4FW	Sævar Atli Magnússon	(2000-06-16) 16 June 2000 (age 25)	6	0	Brann
10	4FW	Albert Guðmundsson	(1997-06-15) 15 June 1997 (age 28)	41	10	Fiorentina
22	4FW	Andri Guðjohnsen	(2002-01-29) 29 January 2002 (age 23)	34	9	Gent

Recent Call-ups

These players have also been called up to the Iceland squad in the last year.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Lúkas Petersson	(2004-01-09) 9 January 2004 (age 21)	0	0	TSG Hoffenheim	v. Kosovo, 23 March 2025
GK	Patrik Gunnarsson	(2000-11-15) 15 November 2000 (age 24)	4	0	Kortrijk	v. Turkey, 14 October 2024

DF	Bjarki Steinn Bjarkason	(2000-05-11) 11 May 2000 (age 25)	5	0	Venezia	v. Scotland, 6 June 2025 ^INJ
DF	Valgeir Lunddal Friðriksson	(2001-09-24) 24 September 2001 (age 23)	16	0	Fortuna Düsseldorf	v. Kosovo, 23 March 2025
DF	Alfons Sampsted	(1998-04-06) 6 April 1998 (age 27)	23	0	Birmingham City	v. Wales, 19 November 2024
DF	Rúnar Þór Sigurgeirsson	(1999-12-28) 28 December 1999 (age 25)	2	0	Willem II	v. Wales, 19 November 2024
DF	Hlynur Freyr Karlsson	(2004-04-06) 6 April 2004 (age 21)	1	0	Brommapojkarna	v. Montenegro, 16 November 2024 ^INJ
DF	Kolbeinn Finnsson	(1999-08-25) 25 August 1999 (age 25)	14	0	Utrecht	v. Montenegro, 16 November 2024 ^INJ
DF	Hjörtur Hermannsson	(1995-02-08) 8 February 1995 (age 30)	29	1	Volos	v. Turkey, 14 October 2024
DF	Brynjar Ingi Bjarnason	(1999-12-06) 6 December 1999 (age 25)	17	2	HamKam	v. Montenegro, 6 September 2024 ^INJ

MF	Arnór Sigurðsson	(1999-05-15) 15 May 1999 (age 26)	34	2	Malmö FF	v. Scotland, 6 June 2025 ^INJ
MF	Júlíus Magnússon	(1998-06-28) 28 June 1998 (age 27)	5	0	Elfsborg	v. Kosovo, 23 March 2025
MF	Andri Baldursson	(2002-01-10) 10 January 2002 (age 23)	10	0	Unattached	v. Wales, 19 November 2024
MF	Gylfi Sigurðsson	(1989-09-08) 8 September 1989 (age 35)	83	27	Víkingur Reykjavík	v. Turkey, 14 October 2024

FW	Orri Óskarsson (captain)	(2004-08-29) 29 August 2004 (age 20)	16	7	Real Sociedad	v. Kosovo, 23 March 2025
FW	Brynjólfur Willumsson	(2000-08-12) 12 August 2000 (age 24)	2	1	Groningen	v. Wales, 19 November 2024
^INJ Withdrew due to injury. ^RET Retired from the national team. ^SUS Serving suspension. ^WD Withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue.

Team Records

Players in bold are still active with Iceland.

Most Games Played

Birkir Bjarnason is Iceland's all-time most capped player with 113 caps.

Rank	Player	Caps	Goals	Career
1	Birkir Bjarnason	113	15	2010–2022
2	Aron Gunnarsson	107	5	2008–present
3	Rúnar Kristinsson	104	3	1987–2004
4	Birkir Már Sævarsson	103	3	2007–2021
5	Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson	99	8	2008–present
6	Ragnar Sigurðsson	97	5	2007–2020
7	Kári Árnason	90	6	2005–2021
8	Hermann Hreiðarsson	89	5	1996–2011
9	Eiður Guðjohnsen	88	26	1996–2016
10	Gylfi Sigurðsson	83	27	2010–present
10	Ari Freyr Skúlason	83	0	2009–2021

Top Goal Scorers

Gylfi Sigurðsson is Iceland's all-time top scorer with 27 goals.

Rank	Player	Goals	Caps	Ratio	Career
1	Gylfi Sigurðsson	27	83	0.33	2010–present
2	Kolbeinn Sigþórsson	26	64	0.41	2010–2021
2	Eiður Guðjohnsen	26	88	0.3	1996–2016
4	Alfreð Finnbogason	18	73	0.25	2010–2023
5	Ríkharður Jónsson	17	33	0.52	1947–1965
6	Birkir Bjarnason	15	113	0.13	2010–2022
7	Ríkharður Daðason	14	44	0.32	1991–2004
7	Arnór Guðjohnsen	14	73	0.19	1979–1997
9	Þórður Guðjónsson	13	58	0.22	1993–2004
10	Tryggvi Guðmundsson	12	42	0.29	1997–2008
10	Heiðar Helguson	12	55	0.22	1999–2011

Tournament History

FIFA World Cup Appearances

Iceland has played in one FIFA World Cup tournament.

FIFA World Cup record										Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Squad	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930 to 1950	Not a FIFA member									Not a FIFA member
1954	Did not enter									Did not enter
1958	Did not qualify									4	0	0	4	6	26
1962	Did not enter									Did not enter
1966
1970
1974	Did not qualify									6	0	0	6	2	29
1978										6	1	0	5	2	12
1982										8	2	2	4	10	21
1986										6	1	0	5	4	10
1990										8	1	4	3	6	11
1994										8	3	2	3	7	6
1998										10	2	3	5	11	16
2002										10	4	1	5	14	20
2006										10	1	1	8	14	27
2010										8	1	2	5	7	13
2014										12	5	3	4	17	17
2018	Group stage	28th	3	0	1	2	2	5	Squad	10	7	1	2	16	7
2022	Did not qualify									10	2	3	5	12	18
2026	To be determined									To be determined
2030
2034
Total	Group stage	1/18	3	0	1	2	2	5	—	116	30	22	64	128	233

UEFA European Championship Appearances

Iceland has played in one UEFA European Championship tournament.

UEFA European Championship record										Qualifying record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Squad	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1960	Did not enter									Did not enter
1964	Did not qualify									2	0	1	1	3	5
1968	Did not enter									Did not enter
1972	Did not enter									Did not enter
1976	Did not qualify									6	1	2	3	3	8
1980										8	0	0	8	2	21
1984										8	1	1	6	3	13
1988										8	2	2	4	4	14
1992										8	2	0	6	7	10
1996										8	1	2	5	3	12
2000										10	4	3	3	12	7
2004										8	4	1	3	11	9
2008										12	2	2	8	10	27
2012										8	1	1	6	6	14
2016	Quarter-finals	8th	5	2	2	1	8	9	Squad	10	6	2	2	17	6
2020	Did not qualify									12	7	1	4	17	14
2024	Did not qualify									12	4	1	7	22	19
2028	To be determined									To be determined
2032	To be determined									To be determined
Total	Quarter-finals	1/14	5	2	2	1	8	9	–	110	35	19	66	120	179