Iceland pulled off a gutsy performance on Monday night, October 13, 2025, to snatch a dramatic 2-2 draw with France in their 2026 World Cup qualifier at Laugardalsvollur, Reykjavik. It was one of those nights where everything seemed to go right for the underdogs, and France couldn't quite believe it. However, Softfootball accurately predicted a draw in the pre-match analysis but got the scoreline wrong. Despite believing the game would be close, Softfootball could not have predicted the madness that took place in the game.
The hosts shocked everyone by taking a 1-0 lead just before halftime. Captain Victor Palsson bundled the ball in from close range in the 39th minute after chaos followed a free-kick from Albert Gumundsson. France's defense froze for a moment, Saliba's clearance was poor, and Palsson reacted quicker than anyone else to poke it home.
Without Kylian Mbappe, who scored and assisted in the 3-nil win over Azerbaijan, and with Didier Deschamps trying out a mixed lineup, France looked flat in that first half. Christopher Nkunku had a couple of half-chances, one straight at goalkeeper Elias Rafn Olafsson, while Michael Olise's free-kick almost slipped through the keeper's hands but not quite. Even Kounde and Lucas Digne tried their luck, but Iceland held firm. One big moment came when Mikael Egill Ellertsson cleared Mateta's rebound right off the line.