About Iceland

The Football Association of Iceland (KSÍ) was founded on 26 March 1947 in Reykjavík, joining FIFA the same year and becoming a UEFA member in 1954. Based in Reykjavík, the association governs domestic league football — the Úrvalsdeild — as well as national teams across men's, women's, and youth categories, plus a futsal programme.

Iceland produced one of the most celebrated underdog stories in modern football. At UEFA Euro 2016, the country became the smallest nation by population ever to qualify for and compete at a major men's tournament. They dramatically eliminated England 2–1 in the Round of 16, causing a major shock across the football world. Two years later, Iceland qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup — their first — further cementing the country's remarkable rise. The national team's famous "thunderclap" celebration became one of the iconic images of contemporary international football.

In 2021, the federation was rocked by a governance crisis: allegations emerged regarding mishandling of sexual assault cases involving professional players, leading to the resignation of the entire 16-member board under public and sponsor pressure. The crisis prompted significant institutional reforms in how the KSÍ addresses safeguarding and abuse reports.