Argentina vs Iceland
Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina will finish preparations for their World Cup 2026 campaign on Wednesday when they face Iceland at the Jordan Hare Stadium in Alabama for an international friendly.
La Albiceleste dominated the South American qualifiers, winning the CONMEBOL league by nine clear points, meanwhile the Icemen missed out on qualification, finishing third in a tough group containing France and Ukraine. While Argentina have their eyes on a successful title defence, their opponents are on a rebuild plan under Iceland manager Arnar Gunnlaugsson, who had a successful stint as Vikingur head coach before taking up the national job in 2025.
With a population of just 400,000 people, Iceland has less that one per cent of the talent pool of Argentina, a country of over 45 million citizens, but they do pack a punch, and this will be a useful warm up for Scaloni’s men.
Talking Points
I’m backing a successful Argentina campaign
This SBOTOP writer is putting his cards on the table right now. The World Cup 2026 betting odds have pitched together the European trio of Spain, France and England as the front-runners with Argentina, Brazil and Portugal the joint fourth candidates. I can make a case for any of the six but, I see one of the South American giants picking up the title, as Brazil did when the tournament was last in the USA, back in 1994. The Selecao have a squad packed with flair, but it is Argentina’s combination of style and steel which draws me to the La Albiceleste.
The pre-tournament World Cup 2026 news headlines will be dominated by talisman Lionel Messi, and maybe too when the action begins; but Scaloni can call on any number of leaders on the field of play with a pair of Martinez stars who can win their battles at either end of the pitch. Inter Milan striker Lautaro led I Nerazzurri to Scudetto success and he scored a penalty in a 2-0 win over Honduras on Sunday, while in defence Manchester United centre back Lisandro is a gifted ball player with a vicious bite in the tackle.
Keeper Emiliano Martinez showed just how much a winner he is during the penalty shootout triumph in the Qatar final, while 25 year old Enzo Fernandez has become one of the best midfielders in Europe, as a dominant force at Chelsea. Alongside Martinez and Messi in the attack line, Julian Alvarez is a class act, impressing at Atletico Madrid, while his clubmate, the 23 year old Giuliano Simeone scored in the win over Honduras to stake his claim.
I like the look of this squad, and I think they will enjoy the hot conditions in the USA, while MLS hero Messi will have the crowd behind him wherever he plays.
Iceland’s evolution
Gunnlaugsson certainly impressed as Vikingur head coach where he won two league titles, four Iceland Cups and two Iceland Super Cups, before taking up the national job in 2025. A former forward with Bolton Wanderers and Leicester City, he won 32 caps for Iceland between 1993 and 2003. And he is the man tasked with getting Iceland back on the big stage, at the 2028 European Championships.
The 36-year old former Everton star Gylfi Sigurdsson has 28 goals in 85 games, and he is still the man who makes the Icemen tick, providing a link to Iceland’s most successful period, in 2018 and 2020. And now there is a new generation of players making a name for themselves in the big European leagues.
Brentford’s 24-year old keeper Hakon Valdimarsson has 22 caps for Iceland while Genoa’s wingback Mikail Egill Ellertsson, also 24, is another fine prospect. Lille’s 23-year old midfielder Hakon Harraldson can play behind the front line or on the wing but Iceland fans are most excited by Real Sociedad star Orri Oskarsson who, at just 21 years of age has scored nine international goals in 17 games, and he forms a lively partnership with Fiorentina’s Albert Gudmundsson who has racked up 14 goals in 46 games.
History
Argentina and Iceland met just once before, drawing 1-1 at the 2018 World Cup which hit the headlines then, mainly because Messi missed a penalty!
In terms of recent form, La Albiceleste has won its last six games, scoring 18 goals and conceding just one while the Icemen have won one, drawn two and lost three, scoring five goals and conceding ten.
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