Match Overview
The 7th round match of the 2026 FIFA qualifiers between Iceland and Ukraine will take place on October 10th at Laugardalsvöllur Stadium in Reykjavík. This comprehensive preview offers a prediction, betting odds, and key statistics for the Iceland vs. Ukraine encounter.
Iceland Team Analysis
The Icelandic national team began their group stage campaign impressively, securing a dominant 5-0 victory over Azerbaijan on home turf. In the subsequent fixture, the Icelanders traveled to face France and suffered a narrow 1-2 defeat against the group leaders. Arnar Gunnlaugsson’s squad currently sits second in their group with 3 points, notably having scored the most goals (6) among the four teams. It’s also worth highlighting their qualifying record: in their last 9 matches, they’ve managed just 2 wins, alongside 3 draws and 4 losses.
Key Statistics: Iceland
- At least 3 goals have been scored in 6 of Iceland’s last 8 qualification matches.
- On home soil, the national team has suffered only 2 defeats in their previous 14 matches in this tournament (9 wins and 3 draws).
- Iceland has not conceded a goal in the second half in 11 of their last 14 home qualifying fixtures.
Probable Line-up: Iceland (4-3-3)
Hakon Rafn Valdimarsson – Sverrir Ingason, Victor Pálsson, Aron Gunnarsson, Daníel Leó Grétarsson – Stefán Thórdarson, Ísak Bergmann Jóhannesson, Hákon Haraldsson – Albert Gudmundsson, Saevar Magnússon, Andri Guðjohnsen.
Ukraine Team Analysis
Serhiy Rebrov’s team has been struggling to find form. In their opening match, they fell to France with a 0-2 scoreline at a neutral venue. The following game saw them surprisingly draw 1-1 away against Azerbaijan. Consequently, the national team occupies third place in their group with just 1 point. Ukraine has also been unable to secure a victory in this tournament for three consecutive matches, recording 1 draw and 2 defeats.
Key Statistics: Ukraine
- In their previous 12 qualification matches, Ukrainians have suffered only 2 defeats (3 wins and 7 draws).
- Both teams scored in 9 of Ukraine’s last 12 matches in this tournament.
- In 6 of their previous away qualifying matches, the national team opened the scoring 5 times.
Probable Line-up: Ukraine (4-5-1)
Anatoliy Trubin – Yukhym Konoplya, Illia Zabarnyi, Vitaliy Mykolenko, Mykola Matviyenko – Oleksandr Nazarenko, Yehor Yarmolyuk, Mykola Shaparenko, Georgiy Sudakov, Oleksiy Hutsuliak – Artem Dovbyk.
Team News: Ukraine Injuries
Key players sidelined due to injuries include goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, midfielder Oleksandr Zubkov, and forwards Roman Yaremchuk and Viktor Tsygankov. Defender Oleksandr Zinchenko has also not been called up for the national squad.
Match Prediction
Match Dynamics
This upcoming clash between these two rivals is set to be a pivotal fixture in Group D. With France likely to dominate the top spot, both teams will be intensely focused on competing for second place. Performing well against each other is crucial, as it’s their best path to potentially securing a playoff berth for a spot. Currently, Iceland appears to have a slight edge, especially given their strong home record, where they have scored in 9 of their last 11 qualifying matches.
Ukraine’s Away Threat
Nevertheless, it’s too early to discount Ukraine. This national team frequently plays out draws, often with goals, in the qualification rounds. Furthermore, Ukraine has found the net in 10 of their last 12 matches in this competition. The team also poses a significant threat on the road, remaining undefeated in 7 of their last 8 away qualifiers. Notably, in this sequence of away fixtures, Ukraine failed to score on only one occasion. Therefore, I anticipate both teams will score in Reykjavík.
Final Betting Pick
My prediction is ‘Both Teams to Score – Yes’ with odds of 1.82.
1.82