Iceland advances to next World Cup qualifying round after beating Great Britain

Iceland's men's national basketball team secured a dramatic 88:86 victory over Great Britain in a 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifier, advancing to the next stage of the tournament.

The game, held in Manchester, was a tense affair from the start. While Iceland's defense showed improvement compared to their previous match against Italy, a mid-game substitution of key players allowed Great Britain to take a 24:19 lead by the end of the first quarter. The home team extended their advantage to 49:41 by halftime, despite efforts from Kristinn Pálsson and Jón Axel Guðmundsson, who led Iceland with eleven points in the first half.

Iceland rallied in the second half, improving their defense and fighting back into the game. Although Great Britain maintained a lead throughout the third quarter, ending it at 69:62, Iceland mounted a strong comeback in the fourth. Martin Hermannsson proved instrumental, sinking three critical free throws in the closing moments to secure the narrow two-point victory.

Iceland will face Turkey, Bosnia, and Serbia in the next phase of the qualifiers in August.