On 13 October 2025, at ReykjavĂk’s Laugardalsvöllur, Iceland host France in a World Cup qualifier that promises to be both intense and revealing. The hosts remain unpredictable and leaky in defense, while France aim to consolidate their position at the top of the group despite key absences.
Prediction Overview: Correct Score 0–2
The forecasted outcome is 0–2 in favor of France. The visitors’ superior quality, depth, and control-oriented approach under Didier Deschamps make them firm favorites to secure three points. Iceland’s erratic form and defensive lapses suggest France should manage a clean sheet while doing enough offensively to secure a comfortable, professional victory.
Iceland’s Form: Goals, Chaos, and Inconsistency
Iceland’s campaign so far has been a rollercoaster. They began with a dominant 5–0 home win over Azerbaijan, showing flashes of their attacking potential. However, they have since lost momentum - first falling narrowly to France (1–2) away, then conceding heavily in a 3–5 home defeat to Ukraine on Friday. These results highlight both their fighting spirit and their fragility at the back.
Remarkably, Iceland have gone 10 consecutive matches without a draw, alternating wins and losses while producing goal-heavy contests - 10 of their last 12 matches have seen over 2.5 goals. Despite their ability to score, their defensive organization remains unreliable. They’ve lost six of their last eight matches, often undone by individual mistakes or open transitions. Facing France, who punish such errors clinically, could expose those weaknesses again.
France: Clinical and Confident, Even Without Mbappé
France continue to justify their status as group favorites. They’ve made a perfect start to qualifying, winning all three matches - including a 2–1 home victory over Iceland and a 3–0 triumph against Azerbaijan on Friday. Across those games, Les Bleus have scored in both halves each time, reflecting their consistent attacking tempo and squad depth.
The key challenge for Didier Deschamps will be replacing Kylian Mbappé, who sustained an injury in the previous match and will likely miss this one. However, France’s roster remains loaded with talent: Ousmane Dembélé, Marcus Thuram, and Antoine Griezmann are all capable of stepping up. In midfield, Aurélien Tchouaméni’s absence continues, but Eduardo Camavinga and Adrien Rabiot provide balance and control. Defensively, France have tightened up, keeping clean sheets in three of their last four matches.
Match Dynamics & Tactical Outlook
The match is likely to follow a familiar pattern: Iceland playing with intensity and directness early on, before France gradually assert dominance through possession and territorial control. France’s patient buildup and pressing resistance should allow them to neutralize Iceland’s physical approach. The absence of Mbappé might slightly reduce their explosiveness, but their tactical structure and midfield superiority should compensate.
Given Iceland’s defensive instability and France’s professionalism, a 0–2 scoreline fits logically. Expect France to strike once before halftime and add a second to close out the contest efficiently, without turning it into a goal fest. The French will likely focus on game management, maintaining control and avoiding unnecessary risks.
