Mansion Sports – An exciting clash is set to unfold in the UEFA Zone Group D of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers as Iceland national football team hosts France national football team at the historic Laugardalsvollur Stadium in Reykjavik. Kick-off is scheduled for Monday, 13 October 2025, at 18:45 local time.

France enters this fixture with a strong determination to maintain their flawless qualification record. 

Les Bleus have collected nine points from three matches and are eager to extend their impressive form despite facing an injury crisis. 

On the other side, Iceland will aim to bounce back from consecutive defeats that have shaken their confidence.

Before the match begins, here is a comprehensive preview and predicted lineups for both sides.

Current Conditions of Both Teams

France

Under the guidance of Didier Deschamps, France has displayed remarkable consistency throughout the qualifying campaign. 

Three consecutive victories against Azerbaijan, Iceland, and Ukraine have highlighted their depth and tactical discipline. 

Their dominant 3–0 win over Azerbaijan in their most recent match proved that the team can still perform at a high level despite the absence of key players.

However, Deschamps faces significant challenges ahead. Kylian Mbappé and Bradley Barcola — the goalscorers in the previous meeting against Iceland — are unavailable due to injury.

Additionally, the absence of Marcus Thuram, Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé, and Ibrahima Konaté has forced the French coach to rethink his attacking strategy.

Even so, France remains a formidable opponent. Adrien Rabiot and Florian Thauvin impressed in the last match against Azerbaijan, proving that the team’s strength does not rely on a handful of individuals. 

As two-time world champions and 2022 finalists, France remains the clear favorite to dominate Group D and secure a place in the finals.

Iceland

For Iceland, the mission is far more challenging. Their 3–5 loss to Ukraine dealt a heavy blow to their ambition of finishing in the top two of the group. 

However, with only a one-point gap separating them from Ukraine, their qualification hopes remain alive.

Iceland made a confident start to the qualifiers with a 5–0 win over Azerbaijan, but two straight defeats have disrupted their momentum. 

Facing France is far from an ideal opportunity to recover, but the home crowd in Reykjavik could provide a much-needed boost for Arnar Gunnlaugsson’s squad.

Their head-to-head record tells a different story. Since 1957, Iceland has never defeated France in 16 meetings — suffering 12 losses and securing only 4 draws. 

France has won all three of their most recent encounters, including a 2–1 victory last month courtesy of goals from Mbappé and Barcola.

Despite the statistics, Iceland is known for their fighting spirit, particularly at home. If they can maintain defensive discipline and efficiency in attack, stealing at least one point is not out of reach.

Current Group D Standings

Predicted Lineups for Iceland vs France

Iceland (4-3-3)

Iceland will be without Andri Guðjohnsen, who is serving a suspension. His absence is a significant loss, as he has scored 10 goals in 36 appearances. 

Daniel Guðjohnsen is expected to start up front as his replacement. Head coach Arnar Gunnlaugsson is unlikely to make major changes to his starting lineup, with Victor Pálsson and Albert Guðmundsson set to remain key figures in midfield.

• Goalkeeper: Olafsson
• Defenders: Palsson, Ingason, Gretarsson, Ellertsson
• Midfielders: Gudmundsson, Johannesson, Haraldsson
• Forwards: Magnusson, D. Gudjohnsen, Thorsteinsson
• Head Coach: Arnar Gunnlaugsson

France (4-2-3-1)

France is also dealing with multiple injuries and suspensions. In addition to Mbappé and Barcola, the absences of Konaté, Thuram, Doué, and Dembélé present selection headaches for Deschamps. Aurélien Tchouaméni is also unavailable due to suspension.

Adrien Rabiot is expected to dictate play in midfield, while Jean-Philippe Mateta could be handed his first start as the central striker.

• Goalkeeper: Maignan
• Defenders: Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano, T. Hernandez
• Midfielders: K. Thuram, Rabiot
• Attacking Midfielders: Coman, Olise, Ekitike
• Forward: Mateta
• Head Coach: Didier Deschamps

A Clash Between Determination and Dominance

This encounter is shaping up to be an intriguing battle. Iceland will look to harness the passionate support of their home fans to spring a surprise, while France aims to extend their perfect record in the group.

Despite missing several key players, Les Bleus still possess a well-structured lineup and remain strong favorites. 

Iceland, however, has plenty of motivation to prove that they are no easy opponent. Football fans can expect a gripping contest that will likely go down to the final whistle.