Ukraine Edge Out Iceland in Thrilling 5-3 Victory to Boost 2026 World Cup Hopes

Ukraine’s national team claimed a crucial victory in Reykjavík, overcoming Iceland in dramatic fashion to take a major step towards securing second place in Group D of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers.

In one of the most exhilarating matches in recent Ukrainian football history, the Blue and Yellows snatched a 5–3 win in the final five minutes, turning a potentially disastrous result into a landmark moment in their qualification campaign.

Ukraine’s recent journey has been defined by resilience—and at times, by cleaning up their own messes. This is the same team that left it late in the UEFA Euro 2024 playoffs against Bosnia and Iceland. A team that, in last year’s UEFA Nations League, flirted with both relegation and promotion going into the final round. The 2026 qualifiers are no different: had Ukraine held on for a win in Baku a month ago, the group table would look drastically different. But drama, it seems, is part of the script—and fans will need to buckle up for more.

The first-half hero in Iceland was none other than Ruslan Malinovskyi, marking his return to the national team with a brace. The Atalanta midfielder fired two well-placed efforts that helped give Ukraine a strong 3–1 lead. But it wasn’t all good news.

Young talent Heorhii Sudakov suffered a shoulder injury after a rough, almost hockey-like challenge in midfield, casting doubt over his availability for the next match. And despite Iceland's lack of tempo, they found a way through. In the 35th minute, Mikael Ellertsson beat Yukhym Konoplia down the left flank and squeezed a shot past Anatoliy Trubin at the near post to level the score at 1–1 temporarily.

After the break, the expectation was that Ukraine had learned their lesson. But the second half delivered even more fireworks. Albert Gudmundsson struck twice for the hosts, sending a wave of excitement through the Icelandic crowd and momentarily turning the game on its head.

Yet, as has so often been the case in recent years, Ukraine finished strong. Substitute Ivan Kaliuzhnyi delivered a crucial blow with a brilliant low strike from the edge of the box. Just three minutes later, Oleg Ocheretko scored his first international goal, finishing a move started by Artem Bondarenko, who notched the assist.

Final score: Iceland 3–5 Ukraine. A chaotic but vital win that keeps Ukraine in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Next up: a home clash in Kraków on October 13 against Azerbaijan. After a rollercoaster night like this, fans will be hoping for something a little less nerve-wracking.

FIFA World Cup 2026, Qualifiers

Iceland - Ukraine 3:5 (1:3)
Goals: Malynovskyi, 14 (0:1); Ellertsson, 35 (1:1); Hutsuliak, 45 (1:2); Malynovskyi, 45 (1:3); Gudmundsson A., 59 (2:3); Gudmundsson A., 75 (3:3); Kaliuzhnyi, 85 (3:4); Ocheretko, 88 (3:5)

Iceland: Olafsson E.; Gretarsson; Ingason S.; Palsson; Haraldsson; Jóhannesson Í.B. (Willumsson W., 86); Gudmundsson A.; Ellertsson (Thordarson G., 87); Thorsteinsson (Hlynsson Kr., 69); Magnússon S. (Tómasson, 69); Gudjohnsen A. (Anderson Mik., 86)
Substitution: Tómasson (from 69); Hlynsson Kr. (from 69); Anderson Mik. (from 86); Willumsson W. (from 86); Thordarson G. (from 87)
Bench: Valdimarsson H.R,; Einarsson А.; Helgason; Gunnarsson A.; Gudjohnsen D.; Thordarson S.; Bjarkason
Yellow Cards: Gudjohnsen A. 41

Ukraine: Trubin; Matviyenko; Konoplya; Zabarnyi; Mykolenko; Malynovskyi (Bondarenko A-m, 87); Sudakov (Voloshyn N., 39); Kaliuzhnyi; Vanat (Dovbyk, 70); Hutsuliak (Veleten, 87); Shaparenko (Ocheretko, 70)
Substitution: Voloshyn N. (from 39); Ocheretko (from 70); Dovbyk (from 70); Bondarenko A-m (from 87); Veleten (from 87)
Bench: Bushchan; Riznyk D.; Svatok; Bondar V.; Mikhaylichenko B.; Brazhko; Nazarenko Ol-r
Yellow Cards: Matviyenko 65; Konoplya 68; Mykolenko 83; Ocheretko 92