Preview: France vs Iceland - prediction, team news, lineups

France will hope to avoid an upset in the World Cup qualifiers in Group D when they welcome Iceland to Parc des Princes on Tuesday.

Both sides have three points after their first group game, with Les Bleus beating Ukraine 2-0 on Friday, while Iceland triumphed 5-0 against Azerbaijan on the same date.

Match preview

France were no doubt fortunate to keep a clean sheet against Ukraine given their opponents created four big chances, hit the woodwork and squandered golden opportunities in the box.

The victory did little to dampen the criticism that boss Didier Deschamps has frequently faced, with his detractors arguing that his brand of football does not maximise the star power at his disposal.

Les Bleus were runners-up in World Cup 2022, eliminated in the semi-final of Euro 2024 by winners Spain and finished third in the 2024-25 Nations League, and Deschamps has only won one major competition despite being in charge since 2012.

The hosts have netted two or more goals in eight of their last 10, and they have kept three clean sheets in the four games leading up to Tuesday's clash.

France's past two results were 2-0 triumphs, but they did lose two and draw one of their previous five outings.

Deschamps's side have proven difficult to beat at home given their record of three wins, one defeat and one stalemate in their last five in France.

Iceland were only winning 1-0 at the half-time interval against Azerbaijan - they netted in the second minute of stoppage time - and they should be credited for their strong defensive display in the second 45 minutes considering they prevented their opponents from producing a single shot.

The visitors have faced France 15 times in their history, failing to win once, and they have lost four and drawn one of their five encounters since 2012.

Head coach Arnar Gunnlaugsson was appointed in January 2025, and his team have conceded seven times in his five games in charge.

Iceland head to French soil on the back of two victories from three, a period in which they netted eight goals and lost once in.

As for Strakarnir okkar's form on the road, they have been defeated in three of their last four away fixtures.

France World Cup Qualifying - Europe form:

France form (all competitions):

Iceland World Cup Qualifying - Europe form:

Iceland form (all competitions):

Team News

France will be forced into making at least one change from the XI that beat Ukraine considering winger Desire Doue has picked up an injury, so perhaps fans will see Hugo Ekitike come into the team.

Kylian Mbappe, Bradley Barcola and Michael Olise are almost certain to make up the rest of their side's attack.

Manu Kone and Aurelien Tchouameni could be stationed together in the middle of the pitch ahead of Ibrahima Konate and Dayot Upamecano.

Meanwhile, the visitors are unlikely to make any alterations to the team won 5-0 against Azerbaijan, so expect Victor Palsson, Sverrir Ingi Ingason and Daniel Gretarsson to play in a three-man defence.

Icelandic midfielders Stefan Teitur Thordarson and Isak Bergmann Johannesson may be asked to support striker Andri Gudjohnsen.

France possible starting lineup:

Maignan; Kounde, Konate, Upamecano, Digne; Tchouameni, Kone; Ekitike, Olise, Barcola; Mbappe

Iceland possible starting lineup:

Olafsson; Palsson, Ingason, Gretarsson; Thorsteinsson, Thordarson, Johannesson, Ellertsson; Haraldsson, Gudjohnsen, Gudmundsson

We say: France 3-1 Iceland

France should be seen as favourites considering they boast some of the world's most talented players, and their record against the visitors is excellent.

Iceland may pose some challenges, especially after their confidence-boosting victory against Azerbaijan, but it is difficult to see them overcoming the hosts' qualities.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.