Iceland vs Azerbaijan prediction: EUROPE: World Championship – Qualification betting tips on match 2025-09-04 18:45.
[p]Iceland begin their quest to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a clash against Azerbaijan in Reykjavik.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Iceland start their World Cup qualification (WCQ) campaign in desperate need of a feel-good factor after their UEFA Nations League relegation to Group C was confirmed in March, with their final three games in that tournament contributing to them winning just one of their last five matches (L4). Arnar Gunnlaugsson’s side will be expected to battle with Ukraine for second spot in Group C, which includes France as the highest-ranked nation, with the Nordic nation aiming to secure only a second appearance in the finals following a tournament debut at Russia 2018. That preceded a poor showing in 2022 WCQ when they finished fifth in their qualifying group (W2, D3, L5).[/p]
[p]Azerbaijan’s hopes of reaching the finals appear outlandish at best, by virtue of a lowly FIFA ranking of 122nd and the fact they are winless in each of their last ten games (D2, L8). The responsibility of changing that narrative falls to Fernando Santos, who has managed at each of the last three World Cups for Greece and Portugal, but it would take something incredible to continue that run in North America next year by taking Azerbaijan to their first ever major tournament as an independent nation.[/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]This is only the second meeting between the two sides, with the first coming in the form of a friendly hosted by Iceland in August 2008 which ended in a 1-1 draw.[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Iceland have scored in nine of their last ten matches.[/p]
[p]Iceland have only drawn one of their last 19 games.[/p]
[p]Azerbaijan have failed to score more than once in their last ten games.[/p]
[p]Azerbaijan have lost nine of their last ten WCQs.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Andri Gudjohnsen, who followed in his legendary father Eidur’s footsteps by moving to English football this summer to play for Blackburn Rovers, has opened the scoring for Iceland in the eighth minute in his last two scoring internationals. Renat Dadashov found the net for Azerbaijan in their 2-1 friendly defeat to Hungary last time out, albeit three of his five international goals have come in victories. [/p]
[p]Aron Gunnarsson is suspended for Iceland, while Azerbaijan don’t have any fresh injury concerns heading into the match.[/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Given Iceland scored in each of their last five home games and Azerbaijan’s atrocious WCQ record, backing the hosts to win by 2+ goals seems like a sensible bet.[/p]
[p][i]Author: James Hilsum[/i][/p]