Iceland men's national basketball team explained

Country:	Iceland
Nickname:	Strákarnir okkar (Our Boys)
Coach:	Craig Pedersen
Joined Fiba:	1959
Fiba Zone:	FIBA Europe
National Fed:	KKÍ
Wc Appearances:	None
Zone Championship:	EuroBasket
Zone Appearances:	2
Zone Medals:	None
Zone Championship2:	Championship for Small Countries
Zone Appearances2:	3
Zone Medals2:	Gold: (1988, 1990) Bronze: (1994)
Zone Appearances3:	14
Zone Medals3:	Gold: (1991, 1993, 2007) Silver: (1987, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2015) Bronze: (1989, 1995, 1997, 2013, 2017, 2019)
H Body:	0048E0
H Pattern B:	_thinsidesonwhite
H Shorts:	FFFFFF
A Body:	0048E0
A Pattern B:	_thinwhitesides
A Shorts:	0048E0
First Game:	38–41 (Copenhagen, Denmark; 16 May 1959)
Largest Win:	123–59 (Reykjavík, Iceland; 15 April 1968)
Largest Loss:	51–124 (Murcia, Spain; 24 June 1992)

The Iceland men's national basketball team (Icelandic: Íslenska karlalandsliðið í körfubolta) represents Iceland in international basketball tournaments. The team is controlled by the Icelandic Basketball Association.

Iceland has qualified for the EuroBasket twice, with the national team making their first ever appearance in 2015. They also participate at smaller European tournaments, such as the Games of the Small States of Europe. Although Iceland has yet to make their debut entrance on to the global stage at the FIBA World Cup.

History

EuroBasket 2015

On 28 August 2014, Iceland qualified for the EuroBasket 2015, entering the finals of the top European competition for the first time in its history. The national team though didn't fare too well in their maiden voyage at the EuroBasket. Finishing (0-5) in their Group B pool, played in Berlin with defeats at the hands of Germany, Italy, Serbia, Spain, and Turkey. Overall it was a memorable moment for Iceland, where they finally achieved the feat of competing at a major international tournament, after numerous failed qualifications in the past.^[1]

EuroBasket 2017

On 17 September 2016, Iceland repeated their success and qualified to the continental tournament once again. The national team finished its qualification group as the runners-up behind Belgium, and above Cyprus and Switzerland, with four wins and two losses.^[2] ^[3] ^[4]

As in the previous edition though, Iceland finished their participation with five loses in five matches played in their Group A pool in Helsinki.^[5]

EuroBasket 2022 qualification

After failing to qualify for the 2019 FIBA World Cup,^[6] Iceland turned the page toward EuroBasket 2021. To attempt to qualify for three consecutive EuroBasket appearances, Iceland was placed into Group C to begin their pre-qualifying campaign, which began with two straight loses to Portugal, and Belgium. Although the national team would pick up their first win in their third game, a rematch with Portugal at home in Reykjavík. In their final match of group play the team fell to Belgium, and would have to survive the final window of pre-qualifiers if they were to advance.

For the final phase of pre-qualifiers, Iceland was placed into Group H, alongside Portugal once again, and Switzerland. The national team opened up group play with a tough loss on the road against Portugal 80–79. Looking to even their record at (1-1), Iceland was at home against Switzerland. The match stayed close throughout until Martin Hermannsson's heroics showed up late in the fourth quarter for Iceland; where his jumpshot in the final seconds gave the home side an momentous 83–82 victory.^[7] Heading into their next match the national team looked to capitalize on their last win. They did so in thorough fashion, dismantling Portugal 96–68 to set up one last show down with the Swiss.^[8]

Heading into the final match day with a place in the qualifiers on the line, Iceland needed to defeat Switzerland on the road in an hostile environment. The specifics for Iceland was clear, either win to clinch a spot, or avoid losing by 18 or more points. Unfortunately, the unthinkable happened. As the national team not only lost to Switzerland, but failed to cover the point difference needed to advance. Losing 109–85, eliminating any chance for Iceland to reach the finals for the third straight time.^[9]

Competitive record

FIBA World Cup

World Cup					Qualification
Year	Position	width=30		width=30		width=30		width=30	width=30	width=30
1963	Did not enter	Did not enter
1967
1970	Did not qualify				Did not qualify
1974	Did not enter				Did not enter
1978	Did not qualify	EuroBasket served as qualifiers
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2019	6	2	4
2023	20	12	8
2027	To be determined				To be determined
Total	0/16				26	14	12

Olympic Games

Olympic Games					Qualifying
Year	Position	width=30		width=30		width=30		width=30	width=30	width=30
1960	Did not enter	Did not enter
1964
1968
1972
1976	Did not qualify				5	0	5
1980	Did not enter	Did not enter
1984
1988
1992	Did not qualify	6	0	6
1996 to 2016	Did not qualify
2020
2024	3	1	2
Total	0/17				14	1	13

Games of the Small States of Europe

Games of the Small States of Europe
Year	Position	width=40		width=40		width=40
1987	bgcolor=silver		3	2	1
1989		3	2	1
1991	bgcolor=gold		4	4	0
1993	bgcolor=gold		5	5	0
1995		4	3	1
1997		4	3	1
2001	bgcolor=silver		5	4	1
2003	bgcolor=silver		5	4	1
2005	bgcolor=silver		4	3	1
2007	bgcolor=gold		5	5	0
2009	4th	5	3	2
2013		4	2	2
2015	bgcolor=silver		3	2	1
2017		5	2	3
2019		4	2	2
Total		63	46	17

EuroBasket

EuroBasket					Qualification
Year	Position	width=30		width=30		width=30		width=30	width=30	width=30
1959	Did not enter
1961
1963	Did not enter
1965
1967
1969	Did not qualify				3	1	2
1971	Did not enter	Did not enter
1973
1975	Did not qualify	5	1	4
1977	5	3	2
1979	Did not enter				Did not enter
1981	Did not qualify	4	3	1
1983	5	2	3
1985	4	1	3
1987	9	4	5
1989	3	0	3
1991	4	0	4
1993	4	2	2
1995	5	3	2
1997	6	3	3
1999	15	3	12
2001	15	4	11
2003	6	0	6
2005	Division B				4	2	2
2007	Division B				8	4	4
2009	Division B				8	3	5
2011	Did not enter				Did not enter
2013	Did not qualify				10	1	9
2015	24th	5	0	5	4	2	2
2017	24th	5	0	5	6	4	2
2022	Did not qualify				8	3	5
2025	To be determined				To be determined
Total	2/31	10	0	10	141	49	92

Championship for Small Countries

FIBA European Championship for Small Countries
Year	Position	width=40		width=40		width=40
1988	bgcolor=gold		5	4	1
1990	bgcolor=gold		5	5	0
1994		5	3	2
Total		15	12	3

Results and fixtures

2025

Team

Current roster

Roster for the EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers matches on 22 and 25 February 2024 against Hungary and Turkey.^[10]

Depth chart

Head coach position

Hilmar Hafsteinsson – (1984)
Einar Bollason – (1985–1987)
László Németh – (1988–1990)
Torfi Magnússon – (1990–1995)
Jón Kr. Gíslason – (1995–1999)
Friðrik Ingi Rúnarsson – (1999–2003)
Sigurður Ingimundarson – (2004–2009)
Peter Öqvist – (2011–2013)
Craig Pedersen – (2014–present)

Individual records

Players with the most caps (games played)

Players in bold are still active.

Rank	Player	Years	Caps
1.		1987-2003	169
2.	Valur Ingimundarson	1980-1995	164
3.	Jón Kr. Gíslason	1982-1995	158
4.	Logi Gunnarsson	2000-2018	147
5.	Torfi Magnússon	1974-1987	131
6.	Hlynur Bæringsson	2000-2019	125
7.	Guðjón Skúlason	1988-1999	122
8.	Jón Sigurðsson	1968-1984	120
9.	Teitur Örlygsson	1986-2000	118
10.	Friðrik Stefánsson	1997-2008	112
11.	Herbert Arnarson	1991-2002	111
12.	Falur Harðarson	1989-2000	106
13.	Jón Arnar Ingvarsson	1990-2000	102
14.	Jón Arnór Stefánsson	2000-2019	100

Past rosters

2015 EuroBasket

finished 24th among 24 teams

3 Martin Hermannsson, 4 Axel Kárason, 5 Ragnar Nathanaelsson, 6 Jakob Sigurðarson, 8 Hlynur Bæringsson (C),
9 Jón Arnór Stefánsson, 10 Helgi Már Magnússon, 13 Hörður Vilhjálmsson, 14 Logi Gunnarsson, 15 Pavel Ermolinskij,
24 Haukur Pálsson, 29 Ægir Steinarsson (Coach: Craig Pedersen)----2017 EuroBasket