Iceland welcomes two debutants for matches against Spain and England

As the international window kicks off, Iceland set out on their road to World Cup qualification — boosted by two new faces. Birta Georgsdóttir and Elín Helena Karlsdóttir have both received their first senior call-ups.

Their path will be anything but straightforward. In Group A3, Iceland will face Ukraine as well as the finalists of the last two major tournaments — England and Spain, the reigning world champions and two-time European winners.

Yet the Nordic side boasts star power of its own. Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir, now with Angel City, brings pace and attacking threat, while captain Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir — who also leads Bayern Munich — anchors the defence with authority and experience.

Experience from Italy

That experience will now be complemented by fresh energy. Birta Georgsdóttir and Elín Helena Karlsdóttir have both earned their first senior call-ups. Georgsdóttir adds depth to the attack, bringing experience from Italy’s Serie A, where she joined Genoa in January and has already found the net.

Karlsdóttir, the same age as Georgsdóttir, bolsters the defence. She plays for Icelandic champions Breiðablik — the same club Georgsdóttir represented before her move to Genoa. Whether head coach Þorsteinn Halldórsson will throw the newcomers straight into high-profile fixtures against England and Spain remains to be seen.

The stakes are clear: the winners of Group A3 will secure automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, while the remaining sides will have to navigate the play-offs.