Iceland at the FIFA World Cup

After 12 failed qualification campaigns, Iceland qualified for the FIFA World Cup, for the first time, in 2018. The 2018 FIFA World Cup was Iceland's second major international tournament, having also qualified for UEFA Euro 2016.

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

Iceland is the smallest nation to reach the World Cup finals, breaking the record set by Trinidad and Tobago.[1][2]

Record at the FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup record
Year Round Position Pld W D * L GF GA
1930Did not enter
1934
1938
1950
1954Entry not accepted by FIFA
1958 Did not qualify
1962Did not enter
1966
1970
1974 Did not qualify
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2018Group stage28th301225
2022To be determined
2026
Total TBD 1/21 3 0 1 2 2 5
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Russia 2018
Main article: 2018 FIFA World Cup

Following a 2–0 home win over Kosovo in the final round of the qualifiers, Iceland secured their spot in Russia 2018, finishing top of Group I by two points over Croatia, who had defeated Iceland in the World Cup play-offs four years earlier.[3] Despite finishing bottom of the group, Iceland drew against Argentina 1–1 in the opening match of the group.

Group stage
Main article: 2018 FIFA World Cup Group D
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Croatia 3 3 0 0 7 1 +6 9 Advance to knockout stage
2  Argentina 3 1 1 1 3 5 −2 4
3  Nigeria 3 1 0 2 3 4 −1 3
4  Iceland 3 0 1 2 2 5 −3 1
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Argentina 1–1 Iceland
 Report
Attendance: 44,190[4]
Nigeria 2–0 Iceland
 Report
Attendance: 40,904[5]
Iceland 1–2 Croatia
 Report
Attendance: 43,472[6]

Players with most appearances

These nine players have been fielded in all three of Iceland's FIFA World Cup matches in 2018.

No. Name Matches
1 Birkir Bjarnason3
Alfreð Finnbogason3
Aron Gunnarsson3
Hannes Halldórsson3
Hörður Magnússon3
Birkir Sævarsson3
Björn Sigurðarson3
Gylfi Sigurðsson3
Ragnar Sigurðsson3

Goalscorers

In the match v Argentina on 16 June 2018, Alfreð Finnbogason scored the first goal for Iceland in FIFA World Cup history.

No. Name Goals
1 Alfreð Finnbogason1
Gylfi Sigurðsson1

See also

References
  1. Nunns, Hector (14 November 2013). "BBC Sport – World Cup play-offs: How Iceland can set World Cup record". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  2. "Iceland become smallest nation ever to qualify for World Cup finals". Guardian. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  3. "Iceland 2 Kosovo 0". BBC Sport. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  4. "Match report – Group D – Argentina v Iceland" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 16 June 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  5. "Match report – Group D – Nigeria v Iceland" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 22 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  6. "Match report – Group D – Iceland v Croatia" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
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