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Football Centre FRF (Buftea, Romania). The U19 youth national teams of Finland and Iceland faced each other in a qualification game for the 2026 UEFA European U19 Championship. Despite the Icelandic team levelling the score two times, Finland won the clash at the end (3-2).

2026 UEFA European U19 Championship qualification (Group 7). Beside Finland and Iceland, Andorra and the hosts Romania represented the quartet, with the stakes that the two best teams can qualify for the Elite round. This “Nordic clash” was played in the morning, as group opening match, in the Central Stadium of the Romanian National Football Centre, in Buftea town.

Finland, led by coach Peter Lundberg, opted for a 4-3-3 (attacking) formation, while Iceland coached by Þór­hall­ur Sig­geirs­son set up in a 4-2-3-1 shape. Both teams demonstrated confidence and fluidity in team-play; the intense Finnish pressing in the opposition half made some trouble for the blue shirt team, while the Icelandic offense was carried on with dynamic and agile players on the wings (Tómas Óli Kristjánsson on the left side & Jónatan Guðni Arnarsson on the right) as well as in the Number 10 position (Gunnar Olsen). Despite Iceland’s striker Viktor Daðason (player for FC København in Denmark, scored his first UEFA Champions League goal in his tournament debut against German giants Borussia Dortmund back in October) showcased his exceptional abilities, especially his physical attributes, finishing and awareness, he found himself facing a worthy opponent, in the person of Finland’s team captain (and right centre-back) Ilari Kangasniemi. The Kangasniemi — Ville Kumpu centre-back duo worked together effectively, not only in the defensive situations but also in offering support from the back. Finnish striker Rudi Vikström (player for FF Jaro in the Veikkausliiga) definitely should be highlighted too, as turning into a ‘hat-trick hero‘ by scoring three brilliant goals, which secured the win for his team by the final score of 3-2.

After this qualification round, Finland secured the 2nd position in the group (behind Romania) with four points collected and earned the right to compete in the Elite round; Iceland finished 3rd, with three points (as they defeated Andorra by 3-0 in Matchday 2).

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