Iceland become smallest nation ever to qualify for World Cup finals

Iceland built upon its incredible 2016 European Championship campaign by becoming the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup on Monday, October 9.

They sealed a place in Russia with a 2-0 victory against Kosovo in Reykjavik as Heimir Hallgrimsson’s team knew a win against Group I’s bottom side would guarantee top spot and an automatic qualifying place.

Iceland players celebrating their goal. Source: The Guardian

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Everton star Gylfi Sigurdsson settled their nerves with a superbly taken goal five minutes before half-time.

The midfielder also set up the second for Johann Berg Gudmundsson midway through the second half as Iceland completed the campaign by winning their final three games.

Fireworks were set off after the match at a packed Laugardalsvollur Stadium, and Iceland’s captain, Aron Gunnarsson, immediately led the crowd in the traditional chant.

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The chant entered the spotlight when Iceland made its major-tournament debut at the Euros in France last year, when it stunningly reached the quarterfinals after drawing with Portugal in the group stage and eliminating England in the round of 16.

Iceland players doing the Viking chant. Source: nytimes.com

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The previous smallest country to have reached the finals was Trinidad & Tobago in 2006 (1.3m people) followed by Northern Ireland (1.85m), Slovenia (2.08m), Jamaica (2.89m) and Wales (3.1m).