World Cup Qualification 2026: Iceland-Azerbaijan, the likely lineups

Group D of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers kicks off with the match between Iceland and Azerbaijan. Kickoff at 8:45 p.m. at ‘Laugardalsvollur’ in Reykjavìk. The two national teams, along with France and’Ukraine, will play for a pass to the World Cup overseas.

The hosts have to do without the disqualified Gunnarson: Gunnlaugsson should therefore go for Johannesson and Willumsson in the middle of the field, with purple Gudmundsson, Haraldsson and Thorsteinsson making up the line of trequartists behind forward Gudjohnsen.

Azerbaijan, on the other hand, will present itself with a classic 4-4-2 designed by Santos: Mahmudov and Nuriyev will act on the outsides, while the midfield pair will be formed by Ibrahimli and Bayramov. Up front, space will be given to the Emreli-Dadashov pair.

Probable lineups

Iceland (4-2-3-1): Valdimarsson; Palsson, Ingason, Gretarsson, Thomasson; Johannesson, Willumsson; Gudmundsson, Haraldsson, Thorsteinsson; Gudjohnsen. Coach: Gunnlaugsson.

Azerbaijan (4-4-2): Jafarov; Guseynov, Krivotsyuk, Mustafazade, Dashdamirov; Mahmudov, Ibrahimli, Bayramov, Nuriyev; Emreli, Dadashov. Coach: Fernando Santos.