Fresh off of a gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, the United States Women’s National Team returns to action and begins the long wait before the next World Cup. There will be several friendlies and minor tournaments along the way as the program looks to continue enjoying the immediate success brought by manager Emma Hayes. Next on the schedule are two friendlies against Iceland, which has shown signs of growth over the past 15 years but is yet to break into Europe’s upper tiers. The first match is set for Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, a 20,738-seat soccer-specific stadium with a Platinum TE Seashore Paspalum hybrid grass surface; Nashville, Tennessee’s Geodis Park – a 30,109-seat venue with a Latitude 36® Bermudagrass surface – will host the latter fixture. This is the 16th all-time meeting between the two nations, with the USWNT holding an 13-0-2 advantage and triumphing (5-0) in the most-recent match at the 2022 SheBelieves Cup.
Ranked 13th internationally by FIFA, Iceland qualified for the 2025 UEFA Women’s Championship with a second-place finish in Group 4, avoiding the playoff and opening up a spot in the calendar for the pair of friendlies. The tournament run included victories over Poland, a split with Germany, and a draw and a win against Austria. Thorsteinn Halldórsson was appointed to the manager role in January of 2021, seeking “the continuation of the team’s development” and noting “good performances.” The federation extended his contract “until at least 2026” with “clauses in connection with the 2027 World Cup.” The 56-year-old retired defender secured qualification for two consecutive European championships and has “enjoyed the job since taking over” and praises his players for doing “great things.”
Halldórsson named a 23-player roster for the pair of friendlies featuring the majority of the group that was present during European qualifying. The entirety of the squad competes in Europe, with six call-ups on the books in the domestic Besta deild kvenna. Alexandra Jóhannsdóttir and Bryndís Arna Níelsdóttir withdrew “due to injuries” and were replaced by Ásdís Karen Halldórsdóttir and Heiða Ragney Viðarsdóttir.
GOALKEEPERS
- Telma Ívarsdóttir (Breiðablik)
- Fanney Inga Birkisdóttir (Valur)
- Cecilía Rán Rúnarsdóttir (Inter Milan)
DEFENDERS
- Guðný Árnadóttir (Kristianstads DFF)
- Ingibjörg Sigurðardóttir (Bröndby IF)
- Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir (Bayern Munich)
- Guðrún Arnardóttir (FC Rosengard)
- Natasha Moraa Anasi (Valur)
- Sædís Rún Heiðarsdóttir (Valerenga)
MIDFIELDERS
- Sandra María Jessen (Þór/KA)
- Berglind Rós Ágústsdóttir (Valur)
- Hildur Antonsdóttir (Madrid CFF)
- Katla Tryggvadóttir (Kristianstads DFF)
- Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir (Bayer 04)
- Selma Sól Magnúsdóttir (Rosenborg BK Kvinner)
- Amanda Jacobsen Andradóttir (FC Twente)
- Hafrún Rakel Halldórsdóttir (Bröndby IF)
- Heiða Ragney Viðarsdóttir (Breiðablik)
FORWARDS
- Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir (VfL Wolfsburg)
- Hlín Eiríksdóttir (Kristianstads DFF)
- Emilía Kiær Ásgeirsdóttir (FC Nordsjælland)
- Diljá Ýr Zomers (OH Leuven)
- Ásdís Karen Halldórsdóttir (LSK Kvinner Fotballklubb)
Halldórsson typically employs a 4-3-3 formation and is said to “stick to the basics and opt for route-one football” by “avoiding any intricate build-up patterns and looking to play higher up the pitch and win second balls.” Relying on long-ball tactics, the team can be “difficult to break down” with a crowded defensive half and is also “dangerous from set pieces.”
Despite her young age and the presence of experienced players on the depth chart, Fanney Inga Birkisdóttir played every minute during EURO 2025 qualifying and appears to have an inside track on the number-one role. The 19-year-old Valur goalkeeper was in net for two consecutive domestic league championships and has put in strong performances by displaying a “confidence in all actions” that belies her youth.
