Two-time world champions France will host Iceland in their second 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Tuesday night.
Both France and Iceland claimed victories without conceding a goal in their previous qualifier. But Iceland are ahead in the ranking due to their much superior goal difference.
Les Bleus, who have played back-to-back FIFA World Cup finals, are one of the favourites to go the distance in the 2026 edition. Didier Deschamps’ France are 6/1 with UK betting sites to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
France Looking to Regain Control After Ukraine Scare
France began their FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification journey with a match against Ukraine at Stadion Miejski on Saturday. Michael Olise fired the visitors in front in the 10th minute, but the early goal did not peg Ukraine back.
The hosts regrouped and launched multiple assaults, creating four big chances and hitting the woodwork once. Fortunately for France, Ukraine’s finishing was not up to the mark, which allowed them to hold on to their slender advantage.
Finally, in the 82nd minute, captain Kylian Mbappe applied a thumping finish to send Aurelien Tchouameni’s hopeful delivery into the back of the net.
📊 Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s first 500 career games are quite surprising 😮 pic.twitter.com/kKbJktyBUb
— Sholy Nation Sports (@Sholynationsp) September 7, 2025
In the other Group D qualifier, Iceland locked horns with Azerbaijan. They were not exactly rapid off the gates, but went into the half time leading, thanks to an injury-time strike from Victor Palsson.
Only a couple of minutes into the second half, Isak Johannesson made it 2-0 for the hosts. In the 56th minute, he applied another clinical finish to make it 3-0. Albert Gudmundsson (66′) and Kristian Hlynsson (73′) scored one goal each to seal a 5-0 win for Iceland.
On Tuesday, France and Iceland will approach the game in very different ways. The hosts will be eager to assert control, to show why are one of the favourites to win the FIFA World Cup next year.
Iceland, meanwhile, are likely to take a more conservative approach. A draw against France would greatly boost their chances of qualifying for the World Cup for the second time in history.
France vs Iceland Match Details
⚽Teams: France vs Iceland
🗓️Date: Tuesday, September 9, 2025
🏆 Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier Group D – Round 2
🟥Ref: Antonio Nobre
⌚KO: 7:45 PM BST
📺TV: Amazon Prime Video
🏟️Stadium: Parc des Princes
France vs Iceland Stats and H2H – World Cup Qualifier
- France are unbeaten in 15 meetings with Iceland: 12 wins and 3 draws
- France have scored 42 goals in 15 games, Iceland 12 goals
- In their last game, Euro Qualification Group H, France beat Iceland 1-0
- France’s biggest win over Iceland came in 1958 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in Reykjavik; 8-0 win for France
- Iceland have only qualified for the FIFA World Cup once (2018)
- France are two-time winners (1998, 2018) and two times runners-up (2006, 2022)
- Kylian Mbappe is the leading active scorer for France (51 goals)
- Gylfi Sigurdsson is Iceland’s top scorer (27 goals)
- France’s last five results (recent first): W-W-L-W-L
- Iceland’s last five results (recent first): W-L-W-L-L
| Competition | France | Draw | Iceland |
|---|---|---|---|
| European Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Euro Qualifying | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Friendly | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| World Cup Qualifiers (UEFA) | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 12 | 3 | 0 |
France vs Iceland Betting Odds – Main Markets
France did not live up to expectations in their FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier against Ukraine over the weekend. They lacked creativity and looked rather vulnerable at the back. They were quite fortunate to come away with a 2-0 victory.
Iceland, meanwhile, delivered a masterful display against Azerbaijan, especially in the second half. They scored four goals in the second half to record a 5-0 victory.
🤩🤩🤩 pic.twitter.com/EYkaqlw02e
— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) September 8, 2025
Despite the contrasting showings on Matchday 1, France are heading into the second World Cup qualifier as favourites. They are 1/10 with betting sites to beat Iceland on Tuesday night. The visitors, meanwhile, are priced 31/1.
There is likely to be plenty of goals in this one, with bookies offering 10/11 odds for the game to produce over 3.5 goals. Kylian Mbappe, who scored two goals in his last two games against Iceland, is priced at 1/2 to score again on Tuesday.
Interestingly, despite Iceland’s strong attacking showing against Azerbaijan, they are not the favourites to be on the scoresheet alongside France.
Match Odds
- France – 1/10
- Draw – 11/1
- Iceland – 31/1
Anytime Goalscorer
- Kylian Mbappe – 1/2
- Hugo Ekitike – 5/4
- Kingsley Koman – 11/8
Both Teams To Score
- Yes – 6/4
- No – 4/6
France vs Iceland Prediction and Best Bet
France are heading into the game as outright favourites, but we believe Iceland will not make it easy for the hosts. Arnar Gunnlaugsson’s side were bubbling with confidence against Azerbaijan, and they have the quality to make the most of France’s vulnerabilities.
So, while France are likely to triumph, we expect Iceland to crush Les Bleus’ clean sheet.
Our prediction: France 3-1 Iceland
Best Bet: Both Teams to Score Yes @6/4
