Everyone remembers 2016. The "Viking Clap." The historic upset over England. The tiny island of roughly 370,000 people suddenly became the world's favorite underdog. But honestly, if you're still looking for Gylfi Sigurðsson or Birkir Bjarnason to lead the charge, you’re stuck in the past. The current crop of iceland national football team players looks radically different, and frankly, they might have a higher ceiling than the legends of a decade ago.
We’re in a transition. It’s been messy at times. There have been coaching changes and growing pains, but the raw talent coming out of Reykjavik and the surrounding fjords right now is kind of insane. We aren't just talking about "hard-working" guys anymore; we’re talking about technical players starting in Europe’s top five leagues.
The New Captain and the Rise of the Youth
In early 2025, the federation made a bold move. They appointed Arnar Gunnlaugsson as the head coach, a man who built a mini-dynasty at Víkingur. One of his first major decisions? Handing the captain’s armband to a 20-year-old.
Orri Steinn Óskarsson is that guy.
Currently leading the line for Real Sociedad in La Liga, Óskarsson represents everything the "old" Iceland wasn't. He’s a pure, clinical finisher with elite movement. While the 2016 squad relied on grit and set-pieces, Óskarsson is a modern striker who can dismantle a defense with a single touch. Having a 20-year-old captain is a massive statement. It tells the world that the era of the "Old Guard" is officially over.
💡 You might also like: El Salvador partido de hoy: Why La Selecta is at a Critical Turning Point
Then you've got Hákon Arnar Haraldsson. He’s the vice-captain and arguably the most creative player in the squad. Playing his club football at Lille in Ligue 1, Haraldsson has this uncanny ability to find pockets of space that simply shouldn't exist. He’s the bridge between the midfield and the attack.
Key Midfield Anchors
You can't talk about Iceland without mentioning the engine room. It’s where the games are won or lost.
- Ísak Bergmann Jóhannesson: Currently at Fortuna Düsseldorf, Ísak is one of the most valuable players in the squad. He’s got a left foot that can pinpoint a pass from 40 yards out. He’s only 22, yet he already plays like a veteran with over 30 caps.
- Kristian Nökkvi Hlynsson: The Ajax/Sparta Rotterdam connection. Hlynsson is a technician. If you watched Iceland's 2–2 draw against France in late 2025, you saw him score a goal that showcased exactly why he’s a regular in the Eredivisie. He’s calm under pressure. He doesn't panic.
- Mikael Egill Ellertsson: Playing for Venezia in Italy, Ellertsson brings that tactical discipline you only get from the Italian leagues. He’s versatile, able to play centrally or out wide.
Iceland National Football Team Players: The Defensive Wall
Defensively, the team is still leaning on a bit of experience, but the faces are changing. Sverrir Ingi Ingason remains a rock at the back. Now at Panathinaikos, his leadership is vital because the guys around him are relatively green.
Logi Tómasson has basically locked down the left-back spot. He’s aggressive, loves to get forward, and represents the high-intensity style Gunnlaugsson wants to play. In goal, the competition is fierce. Hákon Rafn Valdimarsson (Brentford) and Elías Rafn Ólafsson (FC Midtjylland) are fighting for the number one shirt. Having two goalkeepers playing at that level is a luxury Iceland hasn't always had.
📖 Related: Meaning of Grand Slam: Why We Use It for Tennis, Baseball, and Breakfast
Why the 2026 World Cup Cycle Feels Different
The 2026 World Cup qualification has been a rollercoaster. Iceland isn't just sitting back and defending for 90 minutes anymore. They’re trying to dominate the ball.
It's risky. Sometimes they get caught out. But the 2-2 draw against France at Laugardalsvöllur proved they can go toe-to-toe with the elite. When you have Albert Guðmundsson (Fiorentina) floating behind the strikers, you're always a threat. He’s probably the most naturally gifted player the country has ever produced, though his international availability has been a bit of a saga in recent years.
The Guðjohnsen Legacy Continues
Football is in the blood here. The Guðjohnsen name is still all over the scoresheet. Andri Lucas Guðjohnsen is now a physical powerhouse at K.A.A. Gent. He’s different from his father, Eidur; he’s more of a traditional target man who bullies defenders. And keep an eye on his younger brother, Daníel Guðjohnsen, who is already making waves at Malmö FF.
What Most People Get Wrong About Iceland
People think the "golden generation" was a fluke. They think the 2016-2018 run was a once-in-a-century event.
👉 See also: NFL Week 5 2025 Point Spreads: What Most People Get Wrong
Honestly? That’s wrong.
The infrastructure in Iceland—those famous indoor "Football Houses"—didn't go away. If anything, the coaching has improved. The players coming through now have been training on high-quality surfaces year-round since they were five years old. They are more technical than the 2016 squad. They might lack the same collective "scarcity mindset" that fueled the previous generation, but their ceiling is objectively higher.
The challenge for Arnar Gunnlaugsson is melding that talent into a cohesive unit. It’s about balance. You need the grit of a Victor Pálsson to allow the flair of a Kristian Hlynsson to shine.
How to Follow the Team Moving Forward
If you want to keep tabs on these players, don't just wait for the international breaks. Most of the action is happening at the club level.
- Watch the Eredivisie and Pro League: This is where the bulk of the young Icelandic talent develops. Follow Ajax, Sparta Rotterdam, and Gent.
- Track the "Big Five" Minutes: Watch how many starts Orri Óskarsson gets in La Liga and Haraldsson gets in Ligue 1. Their fitness and form directly dictate Iceland's success.
- Monitor the Nations League: This is where Iceland is testing their new aggressive system. The results there are often more telling than friendlies.
- Keep an eye on the injury reports: Iceland still doesn't have deep "replacement" depth. If Ingason or Haraldsson goes down, the drop-off is noticeable.
The iceland national football team players are no longer just a group of guys from a small island looking to swap jerseys with Messi. They are professionals playing at the highest levels of European football, and they’re hungry to prove that the Viking Clap wasn't a one-hit wonder.
To get the most out of following the team, you should focus on the development of the Jóhannesson-Haraldsson midfield partnership, as this is the engine that will determine if Iceland returns to the world stage in 2026. Keep an eye on the weekly match reports from the Danish Superliga and the Belgian Pro League, where many of the squad's fringe players are currently honing their craft to earn a starting spot in the national XI.