Isaac Price slots home Northern Ireland winner
NI's Brodie Spencer sent off early in second half
Northern Ireland's final game before the start of 2026 World Cup qualifying
FT: Northern Ireland 1-0 Iceland
Image source, Press EyeThat's all from tonight, folks.
It was a gritty win for Michael O'Neill's side, and you can read Jonathan Bradley's report from Windsor Park here.
Keep an eye out on the BBC Sport website and app for highlights and reaction, and we'll see you soon for the start of World Cup qualifying.
Enjoy the rest of your evening and we'll see you soon!
FT: Northern Ireland 1-0 Iceland
Stuart Dallas
Former Northern Ireland midfielder on BBC Two NI
It is tough starting with the two away games [in World Cup qualifying]. away will be so tough so getting something in Luxembourg will be crucial.
are obviously group favourites but if we start well and then come home in October then who knows.
FT: Northern Ireland 1-0 Iceland
Josh Magennis
Northern Ireland striker on BBC Two NI
Of course anything can happen but, realistically, second place [in World Cup qualifying] is our most realistic target.
I am busting to get back in September and help the boys get off the mark.
FT: Northern Ireland 1-0 Iceland
Josh Magennis
Northern Ireland striker on BBC Two NI
This is such a young group but Michael O'Neill already has a score group forming with the likes of Dan Ballard, Trai Hume, Shea Charles and Isaac Price.
FT: Northern Ireland 1-0 Iceland
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill speaking to Nicola McCarthy for BBC Sport NI:
I'm pleased with the character we showed down to ten men. We didn't start very well but they didn't create too many chances.
We had enough chances that we probably should have scored another but we are happy with the win.
Isaac (Price) always steps up for us and he scored another brilliant goal tonight.
FT: Northern Ireland 1-0 Iceland
Stuart Dallas
Former Northern Ireland midfielder on BBC Two NI
You never go out to lose any game but, even though this is only a friendly, it is so important to move towards Luxembourg in September with momentum and positivity.
FT: Northern Ireland 1-0 Iceland
Stuart Dallas
Former Northern Ireland midfielder on BBC Two NI
When we qualified for Euro 2016, we were so hard to beat and this side is looking that way. They may be a couple of years away from seriously competing but they are building something special.
FT: Northern Ireland 1-0 Iceland
We all know the ability of Pierce Charles on the ball, but that save at the end could be the moment he can kick on with his shot stopping.
It was a deep cross and Johannesson's header was going in, but he got down low to push it away and Ruairi McConville cleared it off the line, got back to his feet and put in a big tackle to get to the ball agan.
FT: Northern Ireland 1-0 Iceland
Josh Magennis
Northern Ireland striker on BBC Two NI
He is only 21 years old and he already has nine goals for his country. Sometimes he can drift in and out of games which can be frustrating but that will come as he gets older.
He is already an incredible talent and has such a massive future.
FT: Northern Ireland 1-0 Iceland
Daniel Ballard speaking to Nicola McCarthy for BBC Sport NI:
We started so poor and then going down to ten men, we really made it hard for ourselves but we felt comfortable at the back.
It was tough at the end but we only gave them half-chances.
FT: Northern Ireland 1-0 Iceland
I know it's only a friendly but that feels like a big, big win.
Northern Ireland finished the game without a player over the age of 28 on the pitch and ground that one out.
Northern Ireland 1-0 Iceland
Stephen Craigan
Former NI & Motherwell defender on BBC Two NI
Michael O'Neill's side deserve this. They have been putting their bodies on the line and are fully worth their victory.
Image source, Press EyeThe 10 men of Northern Ireland freeze out Iceland.
Northern Ireland 1-0 Iceland
PIERCE CHARLES WITH A HUGE SAVE AND IT'S HACKED OFF THE LINE BY McCONVILLE!
Northern Ireland 1-0 Iceland
Stephen Craigan
Former NI & Motherwell defender on BBC Two NI
Northern Ireland have grown into this game and it has been a really mature performance from half an hour on.
This young team is so exciting for the future.
Northern Ireland 1-0 Iceland
We're into the final minute and Iceland have it in Northern Ireland's half.
Northern Ireland 1-0 Iceland
Terry Devlin and Brad Lyons are on for the final few minutes.
Isaac Price and Conor Bradley make way to huge cheers.
Northern Ireland 1-0 Iceland
We're going to have four minutes of additional time.
Northern Ireland 1-0 Iceland
Stephen Craigan
Former NI & Motherwell defender on BBC Two NI
Northern Ireland look happy to flood the middle of the park and allow Iceland the wide areas to launch balls into the box.
It can be a risky strategy but it is working so far.
Northern Ireland 1-0 Iceland
This has been such a gritty second half from Northern Ireland.
Not that this young group lack any belief, but if they can see this one out it could be huge for their mentality.
Highlights: Price strike sees ten-man Northern Ireland past Iceland
Northern Ireland held on for a narrow friendly victory over Iceland despite playing for more than half an hour with 10 men.
The hosts had taken the lead through Isaac Price's 36th-minute strike and came close to extending their advantage on several occasions either side of the break before Brodie Spencer was dismissed 12 minutes into the second half.
The Huddersfield Town defender was the last man when he pulled back Hakon Arnar Haraldsson, with Danish referee Morten Krogh quick to brandish the red card.
But the hosts defended stoutly with Price clearing an Andri Gudjohnsen header off the line and then, in added time, Isak Bergmann Johannesson was denied by an excellent save from Pierce Charles.
It confirmed a battling victory that boss Michael O'Neill will hope gives his side momentum heading into their first 2026 World Cup qualifying fixture away to Luxembourg in September.
Watch: Isaac Price 'wants more' after hitting winner
Returning home after Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Denmark, Northern Ireland will have expected to make use of the Windsor Park advantage.
Yet, after former heroes Jonny Evans and Steven Davis were honoured just before kick-off, the crowd were quickly silenced by an efficient Iceland outfit.
Fresh off beating Scotland 3-1 at Hampden Park, the visitors took any sting out of the opening exchanges without asking much of Pierce Charles in the home goal.
In of their own spells in possession, the hosts' efforts will have felt disappointingly similar to their defeat in Copenhagen as, too often, they were quickly caught on the ball and turned over.
The spark that brought the game to life came with O'Neill switching Conor Bradley from right wing-back into a more attacking position, with the Liverpool man almost making an instant impact.
With his side suddenly more threatening, it was only moments later when, nine minutes before half-time, Price picked the ball up, drifted inside from the left and curled a low effort into the bottom corner.
The West Bromwich Albion man, who scored a hat-trick on this ground against Bulgaria in October, celebrated his ninth international goal - the same number as George Best and Norman Whiteside netted for the country.
A team transformed, Northern Ireland came close to doubling their lead in first-half injury time when Ross County striker Ronan Hale was denied a debut goal by the crossbar and Price fired the rebound over.
Ronan Hale saw an effort come back off the crossbar in added time at the end of the first half
Paul Smyth was replaced by Ethan Galbraith at half-time with Northern Ireland carrying their momentum from the first half into the second.
It was the substitute's clever flicked header from a Shea Charles free-kick that looped just the wrong side of the post, while Hale looked to be in shortly afterwards as he charged towards goal only for his effort across the face to miss both the far corner and the sliding Price.
But it was in a rare foray forward during the opening exchanges of the second half that Iceland's Haraldsson broke through with Spencer adjudged to have been last man as he tugged back the visiting skipper.
In the frantic minutes that followed, Dan Ballard, Galbraith and Price all made timely interventions, while the former had a chance at the other end with a header.
As the game opened up, Kristian Hlynsson flashed an effort wide before Lee Bonis, on in place of Hale, was almost put in the clear by an incisive Bradley .
Following Spencer's dismissal, the subsequent atmosphere from the crowd, and the determination of O'Neill's side to hold their lead, the intensity of the contest was far above the level often witnessed in friendlies at this stage of the season.
So too were the celebrations at the final whistle as Northern Ireland secured a confidence-boosting victory before the more serious business of World Cup qualifiers in three months' time.
Manager: Michael O'Neill
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager: Arnar Gunnlaugsson
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Michael O'Neill
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager: Arnar Gunnlaugsson
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Friendlies
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
After winning their first two home games against Iceland (2-0 in 1977 and 3-0 in 2001), Northern Ireland lost their most recent home encounter with them 3-0 in September 2006.
Iceland have won their last two meetings with Northern Ireland, winning 3-0 away and 2-1 at home in EURO 2008 qualifying.
Having won just one of their first 12 (D1 L10) away games against British nations (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales) between 1977 and 2020, Iceland have now won two of their last three (1-0 v England and 3-1 v Scotland).
Northern Ireland are unbeaten in their last five home games in all competitions, winning four and drawing one. They last had a longer run without defeat at home between October 2014 and November 2016 (10).
Iceland won 3-1 at Scotland last time out – they last won back-to-back meetings with fellow European sides back in June 2021 (vs Liechtenstein and Faroe Islands).
Northern Ireland’s last two friendlies have seen them lose 5-1 to Sweden (March) and 2-1 to Denmark (June). They last lost three consecutive friendly matches between May 2014 and March 2015, while they last lost three friendlies in the same calendar year back in 2011.
Isaac Price has scored six goals in his last six appearances in all competitions for Northern Ireland, with this run including four goals in three home games.
Andri Gudjohnsen has been involved in four goals in his last five starts for Iceland (3 goals, 1 assist), with his last two goals both coming on British soil (vs Wales and Scotland).
